Marc Goddard explains point deduction for eye poke at UFC Vegas 122

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 290, referee Marc Goddard took a point from Christian Leroy Duncan after an eye poke against Brendan Allen early in the second round. This marked a departure from typical refereeing practices, which often involve multiple warnings before point deductions. Goddard detailed his reasoning on social media, emphasizing the importance of addressing fouls like eye pokes rigorously. He noted that California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster supports stricter enforcement of rules regarding such incidents. The fight later ended with Allen submitting Duncan, highlighting the possible impact of Goddard's decision on the fight's scorecards.

• 12:30 AMYahoo Sports — UFC Vegas 122 referee took a point after the first foul in the main event. He explains why