Justin Tafa lashes out after gruesome UFC Jacksonville eye poke, Austen Lane responds

UFC heavyweight Justin Tafa doesn’t really feel the proper name was made when his struggle with Austen Lane at UFC Jacksonville was declared a no-contest.

Hours after he was dominated out of Saturday’s occasion, Tafa posted to Twitter an image of his injured eye with a name for justice.

“I deserve my win bonus,” wrote Tafa. “That’s a [disqualification] man.”

Tafa vs. Lane was declared a no-contest just 29 seconds after the heavyweight contest began at VyStar Veterans Memorial Area in Jacksonville, Fla. Lane’s finger visibly went into Tafa’s left eye after an change, and Tafa instantly doubled over in apparent ache.

Blood could possibly be seen flowing from Tafa’s eye following the poke.

Referee Dan Miragliotta known as into the ring the cageside physician after asking Tafa if he was OK to proceed. After a short examination, the physician declined to clear Tafa from persevering with, and the struggle was known as off.

The important thing level within the official outcome was the no-contest triggered by Miragliotta’s willpower that Lane’s eye poke was unintended. Had the referee dominated it intentional, Lane would have been disqualified.

Right here is the sequence that produced the decision and the aftermath the attention poke, which drew immediate reaction from Tafa’s fellow fighters.

Shortly after Tafa’s put up, Lane responded to his opponent on Twitter and apologized for the unlucky incidence.

“Justin Tafa… I apologize,” he wrote. “Not how I wished it to go down. That s*** is on me and I hope your eye is alright.

“To the town I name dwelling. The power you gave me as I used to be strolling out will likely be one thing I’ll keep in mind the remainder of my life. I’m sorry I couldn’t provide you with present.”

Lane, an NFL defensive finish earlier than his flip to professional MMA, made his octagon debut at UFC Jacksonville after incomes a contract on The Contender Collection. He’s 12-3 as knowledgeable.