Eye pokes continue to be a source of controversy year after year in the UFC and Jorge Masvidal thinks he has the answer.
The inaugural “BMF” champion has a harsh suggestion for fighters recklessly jabbing their opponents’ eyeballs, going as far as to not only demand an immediate point deduction but also a 20 percent purse penalty as punishment.
“Go Japan style,” Masvidal said on the Deep Waters show. “Hit him with the yellow card right away. Pay deductions and points. I’ve been eye poked in a fight
two different times and one of them actually stuck with me for, like, three weeks. Colby [Covington’s] bitch ass f*cking dug his nails in my eye and that was, like, three weeks later I was still seeing spots and it was bad and my eye was swollen, I had to go to the doctor to get it checked. I had to get medication, antibiotics on my eyes, it sucked. It happened with [Lorenz] Larkin as well and it was really, really bad. Both eye pokes were horribly bad.
“I’ve never eye poked anybody in my whole career. I’ve got 52, 53 fights, so there is something that it is in our hands. I know that things could happen in a fight and you could get poked by accident, but a lot of times as a referee, we can tell when it’s intentional or when this guy’s just doing this stupid shit, you know a little bit Jon Jones-ish, every time you come in I’m going to give you a little eye check. Just step back with my hands open. Immediate point deduction, yellow card. Take money from the purse, too. Take 20 percent.”
Deep Waters co-host Dustin Poirier added that there are degrees to eye pokes and agreed that particularly harmful infractions need to be addressed immediately as opposed to with repeated warnings.
For Masvidal, taking money out of a fighter’s wallet for the foul makes the most sense. At least that’s what would make him change his behavior.
“Hit them where it hurts because I’m a fighter and you immediately say anything about my paycheck, I’m going to be like, ‘Oh, you’re saying if I’m late here I’m going to get deducted?’ I’ll never be late,” Masvidal said. “But if you don’t say that, I’ll show up whenever I want, you know?
“[The money goes] to the other fighter. Not to no commission, not no damn commission. I’m done with these commissions getting exchange, all to the guy that got poked in the eye. Everybody’s robbing us, man.”
Masvidal acknowledged there are other fouls that need addressing, but maintained eye pokes are the most injurious and typically the most influential on the outcome of a fight. He’s not taking a hard stance on the 20 percent, but he believes if promotions and commissions want to see change, they know what area to target.
“Maybe five percent on the first one, five percent,” Masvidal said. “I’m telling you, ain’t nobody eye poking no more. That’s how it should be, don’t f*cking eye poke people.”
TOP STORIES
FORE! Colby Covington tells all in a no holds barred interview while hitting the links with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck.
Boss? Ronda Rousey could see herself running MVP MMA if the promotion is a success.
Real? Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua is set! … but after Joshua has a tune-up fight in July first.
Optimistic. Carlos Ulberg hopes his UFC 327 knee injury doesn’t sideline him for longer than eight months.
Onward. Gilbert Burns plans to stay busy now that his fighting career is over.
Dare. Carlos Prates never bought into talks that he might fight Conor McGregor.
Fed up. Mayra Bueno Silva is in a slump, but that doesn’t mean she’s putting up with online abuse.
Debut. The UFC officially heads to Serbia for the first time on Aug. 1.
VIDEO STEW
Swing Rounds with Mike Heck and Colby Covington.
José Youngs talks Anything But Fighting with Denzel Freeman.
Alexander Volkanovski and Action Bronson, why not?
Francis Ngannou in camp.
JDM returns this weekend.
Behind the scenes with Casey O’Neill.
Aljo on Aljo.
ICYMI: UFC Vegas 116 post-fight show.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
Fighter vs. Writer. Damon Martin and Matt Brown react to Dana White’s wild response to being at the site of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, with Brown recounting his own harrowing experience.
On to The Next One. Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee make matchups for UFC Vegas 116’s winners, including figuring out whether Aljamain Sterling has done enough to earn the right to challenge Alexander Volkanovski.
Severe MMA. Seán Sheehan and Ian O’Neill break down this past Saturday’s cursed Cage Warriors event, Aljamain Sterling’s big UFC Vegas 116 win, another disastrous night for the UFC commentary team, and more.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
The best knockouts of the week.
Facts.
Please don’t hurt Frankie.
Rico strongly considering backing out after watching this.
Real talk.
Cover boys.
Meh.
Game always evolving.
Pitch in if you’re able.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Frankie Edgar (wrestling); RAF 9, May 30
FEED ME MORE
Does “The Baddy” have his next fight lined up?
FINAL THOUGHTS
It sounds simplistic, but messing with peoples’ wallets does tend to make an impression on them. Then again, taking money away from fighters that are already underpaid feels unsavory.
Definitely need your opinion on this one, everybody.
EXIT POLL
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