Dana White is hoping he can solve the UFC’s eye poke problem within the near future.
The UFC boss doesn’t imagine he’ll ever give you the option to eradicate the debilitating foul from MMA.
Nevertheless, Dana White insists something have to be done following the controversy at UFC 321 in October.
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall was unable to proceed after being poked in the attention by Ciryl Gane in the primary round of their major event matchup.
- EXCLUSIVE: UFC co-creator raises concerns over how Dana White’s focus could change as a consequence of the Paramount+ deal
Dana White wants harsher eye poke punishments
Dana White was asked how he can prevent a repeat of UFC 321 happening in the long run during a recent podcast appearance.
The fact is, he can’t. Still, the MMA mogul believes harsher punishments for those inadvertently eye poking their opponents would see fighters being way more careful about where they’re pointing their fingers.
“Getting poked in the attention by anybody isn’t good,” White said on the Triggernometry podcast.
“We’ve messed around with gloves, we’ve tried to do all this stuff.
“I believe the massive talk is that if there’s harder penalties for doing it, guys could be so much more conscious of it.
“We will certainly figure something out. It’s like bad decisions, bad referee calls.
“I mean, it’s never going to go away. It’s all the time going to be here.
“It’s not like we’re going to create some f—ing invention that no one can get eye poked again.
“It’s just not going to occur.”
You’re Dana White for the day, what’s the one change you’d make to the UFC?
Tell us within the comments.
Tom Aspinall’s eye update
Tom Aspinall was rushed to the hospital within the immediate aftermath of his no-contest with Ciryl Gane.
The English heavyweight has remained silent while dealing along with his eye injury in private.
The whole lot modified on Sunday when he released his medical reports and branded Gane a ‘big cheater’.
Do you understand why Tom Aspinall couldn’t proceed at UFC 321?
The medical report notes that Aspinall sustained “significant bilateral ocular trauma” due to Gane’s poke, in addition to persistent diplopia (double vision), orbital soft tissue trauma, and a minimally displaced fracture of the proper medial orbital wall.
It’s currently unclear when Aspinall might be fit enough to run it back with Gane.