Dana White Advocates Stronger Penalties to Address UFC Eye Poke Issues

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Dana White Advocates Stronger Penalties to Address UFC Eye Poke Issues

Tom Aspinall is currently recovering from an eye poke he sustained during his fight against Ciryl Gane. This unfortunate incident marked the end of his first title defense as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion in October. Although the referee paused the fight after the foul, no immediate penalty was imposed on Gane, and the contest was ultimately ruled a no-contest.

Dana White Calls for Stricter Penalties on Eye Pokes

In the aftermath of this incident, discussions have emerged regarding the handling of eye pokes in the UFC. UFC CEO Dana White stresses that the focus should not solely be on technical issues, but rather on discouraging fighters from committing such fouls. On the Triggernometry podcast, he stated, “Getting poked in the eye by anybody isn’t good.”

The Need for Enhanced Awareness

White believes that imposing harsher penalties could lead fighters to be more cautious during bouts. He explained, “If there are harder penalties for doing it, guys would be a lot more conscious of it.” He pointed out that eye pokes typically occur in dynamic situations where fighters extend their hands, and despite the frequency of events, the actual incidence of eye pokes is relatively low compared to thousands of fights. He mentioned that there have been around a hundred documented eye pokes.

Impact on Main Events

The 321st UFC event saw Aspinall unable to continue due to this foul, drawing significant attention to the issue. White acknowledged the critical role referees play, possessing the discretion to impose penalties like point deductions or disqualifications to mitigate fouls during matches.

Public Perception and Fighter Reactions

White noted that public perception can skew the narrative following such incidents. He stated, “Tom took it a little too hard, but you’ve got all these people saying, ‘he quit!’” He emphasized that those commenting often do so without understanding the physical realities faced by fighters.

The Ongoing Challenge of Eye Pokes

Eye pokes, like all other fouls, are a recurring challenge in UFC. White remains realistic about potential solutions, stating, “We will definitely figure something out.” However, he recognizes that no invention will eliminate eye pokes entirely. He concluded, “It’s not like we’re going to create something that stops eye pokes forever.”