'Get this guy to a hospital': Aussie UFC beast cops all-time sickening ...
Austen Lane’s UFC debut didn’t quite go to plan.
The former Jacksonville Jaguar defensive end’s heavyweight bout against Justin Tafa on Sunday morning AEST lasted just 29 seconds, deemed a no contest after a sickening accidental eye gouge.
In the opening round of the main card bout at Jacksonville’s VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, 12-3 Lane inadvertently poked his 6-3 Australian opponent in both eyes, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to step in and call time-out.
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Tafa, who had blood leaking from his right eye, was allotted five minutes to recover, but repeatedly said he couldn’t see out of it – his bottom eyelid appeared to have swollen shut.
Miragliotta eventually waved off the bout, much to the crowd’s disappointment, prompting an argument between the two corners.
Following the bout, 29-year-old Tafa claimed he deserved a win, posting to Twitter on Sunday: “That’s a DQ man.”
Lane apologised for the incident on Twitter: “Justin Tafa … I apologise. Not how I wanted it to go down. That s*** is on me and I hope your eye is alright.
“To the city I call home. The energy you gave me as I was walking out will be something I’ll remember the rest of my life. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you show.”
UFC pros were appalled at the sickening incident, sharing their concern for the NZ-Australian star – a former Melbourne Storm under-20s player.
