• Xenforo Cloud is upgrading us to version 2.3.8 on Monday February 16th, 2026 at 12:00 AM PST. Expect a temporary downtime during this process. More info here

Gaethjes eyepokes were disgusting

The first one was the Gaethje special. He got Barboza with a similar one before knocking him out. Extend his lead hand to gauge the range, maybe poke some eyes and follow with a haymaker right



The second looked accidental since it was the thumb and his fist was closed… But an eyepoke anyway.


I've seen the second one by Gaethje and other fighters a few times now.
Looks like it's crazy risky to break your thumb.
But for some reason it works. Maybe it's the UFC gloves.
 
I've seen the second one by Gaethje and other fighters a few times now.
Looks like it's crazy risky to break your thumb.
But for some reason it works. Maybe it's the UFC gloves.
The crazy risk to break a thumb would be if a fighter tucked a thumb away while punching so it couldn't possibly poke. That's pretty much the first thing you're taught in a novice striking class. Maybe they just shouldn't allow punches to the head at all. Why don't you ask UFC 9 how that worked out?
 
Yeah UFC brass and the refs need to have another meeting
And then do nothing

Hey now let's be fair. They did do something. And by something, I mean that they agreed to actually start enforcing the rules that are already on the books. And you can see that it's clearly working....
 
I can't really blame the thumb one although maybe it's a technique issue. I can't remember what fight it was at a past event, but there was a clear slowmo replay and the fighter threw the punch completely with their thumb extended to the side. I thought it was strange.
 
The first one was the Gaethje special. He got Barboza with a similar one before knocking him out. Extend his lead hand to gauge the range, maybe poke some eyes and follow with a haymaker right

<{hughesimpress}>

The second looked accidental since it was the thumb and his fist was closed… But an eyepoke anyway.
Im not sure how it could possibly count as a poke if your fingers aren't extended
 
That would actually explain why paddy looked like a deer in headlights at times.
 
Im not sure how it could possibly count as a poke if your fingers aren't extended
What would you call it? Eye punch with a finger? Second knuckle thumb tackle? The hitchhiker? The ol’ thumbs up?

<28>

I see what you mean, though!
 
Almost as bad as Jean Silva having almost all ten fingers in Allen’s gloves or grabbing his shorts.
That shit were intentional fouls.

Gaethjes? They looked incidental and not intentional
 
The first one was pretty blatant, but that second one was a punch where the thumb caught the eye. It sucks, but it happens.
yep. first one fingers out for sure but second one no way that thumb was intentional.
 
People really think this should be a point deduction? Should refs just tell fighters not to punch each other in the eye area?

GIF_1_25_2026_7_18_13_PM.gif
 
Seems like fans are more concerned about it then Pimblet himself. He didn't mention it at all or use it as an excuse. Not everyone is a whiny baby like Aspinall.
 
People really think this should be a point deduction? Should refs just tell fighters not to punch each other in the eye area?

GIF_1_25_2026_7_18_13_PM.gif
I guess not, but that shit is still straight to the eye. It’s like a leg kick to the thigh where the foot hits the cup. It’s not an intentional foul, but it’s a foul, no?

Paddy almost got finished straight after that and his eye looked bad. Hespect for fighting through that, the man didn’t protest or cry foul at all.
 
only happened once in the first round and the second tie in whatever round was a thumb and accidental. Justin cleaned up his act after the first round. Also Paddy got him with 2 low blows why aren't you crying about that then?
 
The only nerds crying about eyepokes are Aspinall fans. Pathetic bunch of nerds. Its a part of the sport, deal with it bitches.
 
The first one was pretty blatant, but that second one was a punch where the thumb caught the eye. It sucks, but it happens.
Agreed.

I've seen a number of posts claiming that Gaethje eyepokes a lot. I've watched all of his UFC fights (and some of the bangers before that) and never considered him a big eyepoker.
 
Back
Top