Ex-UFC Champ Calls for Major Change After Eye Poke Travesty at UFC Vegas 85

Fighters are sick of eye pokes.

Following the 11-second eye poke stoppage during the Makhmud Muradov vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev bout at UFC Vegas 85, former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling is advocating for the UFC to change their gloves.

UFC Fight Night Results: Fight Ends After 11-Second Eye-Poke

"Funk Master" took to Twitter immediately after the result, remarking, "Eye pokes suck. .... They alter fights and could affect quality of life."

"Eye pokes suck man," Sterling said. "We need to curve these gloves indefinitely already. Are we waiting until people lose a couple more eyes first?"

One user suggested using RIZIN's style of gloves, which curve at the knuckle and force the fingers downwards. Sterling replied, "As long as it's better, anything other than what we've been using for decades now."

PRIDE Fc Glove (Left) vs. Older UFC Glove (Right) :: TheEpicSalad/Twitter

In a study on fights from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022, it was found that almost 10% of UFC fights contained eye pokes.

One such solution was the ONX MMA glove designed by coach Trevor Wittman back in 2021. Wittman and the UFC failed to come to negotiations to implement the gloves into the octagon, but they were vouched for by numerous athletes, including Sterling.

Wittman's glove design, as used by Justin Gaethje in training / ONXlabs on IG

At the moment, fight fans must wait to see whether the UFC intends to address this concern.

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