New York: UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad has claimed that Ian Machado Garry repeatedly used eye pokes to his advantage during their recent fight at UFC Qatar, where Muhammad ultimately lost via unanimous decision.
Muhammad, who previously faced a similar incident against Leon Edwards that ended in a no-contest due to an eye poke, described the experience as a deja vu. Despite multiple interruptions for eye pokes, the referee did not penalize Garry during the bout.
“Got poked in the eye three times. What are you going to do, right? Ian was very smart at figuring out ways to win fights and understood that poking an eye early could win the fight, especially when no points are deducted,” Muhammad said on his YouTube channel.
He further stressed that the UFC rules regarding eye pokes need to be updated:
“The rules need to be changed. There needs to be repercussions. Otherwise, guys are going to keep doing it. What’s the point?”
Muhammad is not alone in criticizing the loopholes regarding eye pokes. UFC President Dana White has recently emphasized the need for stricter penalties to prevent fighters from exploiting such fouls.
Praise Amid Frustration
Despite the controversy, Muhammad acknowledged Garry’s skill:
“Ian was very smart with distance management. By the third round, we figured out the style, but it was already too late. We’ve got to start faster in a three-round fight and adapt sooner,” he said.
Muhammad also reflected on his own performance, acknowledging the need for improvement while expressing frustration over fouls that affected the fight outcome.
