NZ heavyweight Justin Tafa suffers eye injury in UFC fight versus ...
Screenshot/Twitter
New Zealand heavyweight Justin Tafa was poked in the eye in his UFC fight against former NFL player Austen Tate in Florida, US.
New Zealand heavyweight Justin Tafa says his rival UFC fighter should have been disqualified for poking him in the eye.
Tafa had his fight against former NFL player Austen Tate ruled a no-contest when he was unable to continue after suffering the eye-poke less than 30 seconds into the first round in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday (NZ time).
“I deserve my Win bonus that’s a DQ man,” Tafa tweeted later.
Attempting to avoid a left hook from Tafa, Lane caught the New Zealander in the eye with his spread fingers.
Tafa was immediately in pain and during his five-minute recovery period allowed, said he could not see out of the injured left eye, which was also bleeding while being examined by a doctor.
With Tafa’s lower eyelid also swelling, the doctor had little option but to advise referee Dan Miragliotta to end the fight, with no victor.
“Justin Tafa… I apologize. Not how I wanted it to go down. That shit is on me and I hope your eye is alright,” Tate tweeted later.
