Dvalishvili Alleges Gaethje Eye-Poked Topuria in Round 1 of UFC 250 Upset
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 29
Dvalishvili Alleges Gaethje Eye-Poked Topuria in Round 1 of UFC 250 Upset
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 29
Summary
Merab Dvalishvili said Justin Gaethje poked Ilia Topuria in the eye in the first round, leaving Topuria effectively "blind" during their lightweight title unification fight.
Gaethje still won by fourth-round TKO at the UFC White House card after Topuria's corner stopped the bout because he could not see, though referee Marc Goddard neither called nor warned for a foul.
Dvalishvili said the alleged eye poke, along with facial damage including a suspected broken nose and orbital injury, was central to Topuria's collapse despite moments when he hurt and dropped Gaethje.
He called for a rematch and predicted Topuria would reclaim the belt, but the report said another contender is more likely to get the next title shot because Topuria was finished.