Eye pokes remain a major point of discussion in MMA, having recently influenced the outcomes of significant fights.
Two weeks prior, at UFC Seattle, Henry Cejudo was unable to continue his match against Song Yadong because of an eye poke, leading to a fourth-round stoppage.
While that fight concluded with a finish, eye pokes also heavily impacted last weekend’s UFC Vegas 103 main event, as noted by Cejudo.
This situation has prompted numerous fighters to propose solutions to this persistent problem, ranging from stricter penalties to improvements in glove design.
For the third consecutive week, eye pokes are again a central topic in MMA, following the conclusion of a main event in Europe due to this issue.
Cage Warriors 183 Main Event Ends Prematurely Due to Eye Poke
On March 8th, Cage Warriors, a European MMA promotion, held CW 183 in Rome, Italy, featuring two title fights as main attractions.
The headline event featured Liam Gittins, teammate of Paddy Pimblett, defending his bantamweight title against Alessandro Giordano, a rising Italian contender.
The champion, Gittins, was gaining momentum in the third round with his relentless pace and pressure, appearing likely to retain his title.
However, an eye poke halted the fight, with Giordano using the full five-minute recovery period.
In contrast to the Cejudo-Herzog situation in Seattle, where the fight continued and could have resulted in a technical decision in the fourth round, the Cage Warriors main event concluded in the third round.
Despite Gittins retaining his title due to a no contest caused by an unintentional eye poke, fight fans on social media criticized Giordano, rather than calling for a rematch.
One viewer on X commented, “Giordano played that up. No rematch needed.” Another remarked, “Damn CW, what was that ending lol #CW183 Giordano quitting, NC?”
Need for Action on Eye Pokes
The events of the last three weeks have highlighted the serious issue of eye pokes, demanding immediate attention.
In instances like Manel Kape’s victory over Asu Almabayev, intervention is difficult if the referee misses a significant eye poke.
UFC veteran Jim Miller suggested implementing pay cuts as a penalty, arguing that the issue lies not in glove design but in the lack of sufficient punishment.
While there`s no easy solution, it`s evident that eye pokes are significantly affecting fight outcomes and fighter careers, while also diminishing the quality of the fights themselves.
