UFC veteran Jim Miller has taken to social media to voice his frustration over the dearth of motion relating to eye pokes in MMA, following the untimely stoppage of Henry Cejudo’s bout as a consequence of an unintentional poke. Cejudo, a former two-division champion, was compelled to cease preventing within the fourth spherical of his match after struggling a watch poke in opposition to Track Yadong.
Jim Miller on Eye Pokes within the UFC
Jim Miller is among the longest-tenured fighters in UFC historical past and he didn’t mince phrases in his critique of the game’s tradition and the governing our bodies’ inaction on the matter. In a collection of posts on X (previously Twitter), he highlighted his personal experiences with eye pokes and referred to as for instant and extreme penalties.“If only humans could control their fingers, then these accidents wouldn’t keep happening… I’ve been poked twice in fights, and both caused permanent damage to my vision. Will it take someone losing an eye before pokes start being penalized?” Miller wrote.
The UFC and athletic commissions have lengthy struggled to handle the issue, with options akin to modified gloves and stricter officiating being mentioned however by no means absolutely applied. Nevertheless, Miller believes the difficulty isn’t just in regards to the tools however somewhat the tradition surrounding eye pokes in MMA.“It’s not the gloves, it’s the culture. The shameless, win-at-all-costs mentality amongst fighters and the ‘eye pokes are an accident and not a foul’ mentality most people seem to have. The good news is that we can change the culture,” Miller continued.
“Penalize the foul immediately during the pause in action after confirming a strike or post was thrown with outstretched fingers. I believe not only a point deduction but also a purse deduction would have a rapid effect on how many pokes we see.”
Miller, who has competed within the UFC for almost twenty years, argued that harsh monetary penalties may very well be the simplest deterrent. He recommended a right away level deduction or perhaps a purse deduction for fighters answerable for eye pokes, advocating for the usage of on the spot replay to verify the infractions. “If a strike or post is thrown with fingers extended and an eye poke occurs, a point should be deducted. Or better yet, a purse deduction. Use replay to confirm while time is called. They’ll stop happening overnight.”
The talk over eye pokes has continued for years, with quite a few high-profile fights affected by such incidents. Whereas the UFC has experimented with new glove designs that would probably restrict finger extension, no widespread change has been applied. In the meantime, referees typically subject warnings somewhat than instant level deductions, permitting unintentional fouls to affect the end result of fights with out vital penalties. It stays to be seen whether or not the UFC or athletic commissions will take decisive motion or if eye pokes will proceed to be an unavoidable hazard of the game.
If solely people might management their fingers, then these accidents wouldn’t hold taking place… I’ve been poked twice in fights, and each brought about everlasting injury to my imaginative and prescient. Will it take somebody shedding a watch earlier than pokes begin being penalized? https://t.co/jJwDBmov8v
— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) February 23, 2025
