WATCH: Chris Weidman throws ‘POKE’ combo to earn controversial win against Bruno Silva at UFC Atlantic City fight

UFC Atlantic City saw a multitude of great fights and immense talent. It also saw some controversy. Chris Weidman secured a much-needed victory over Bruno Silva. However, the circumstances surrounding the win sparked outrage and debate within the MMA community.

The legendary wrestler emerged victorious after a series of eye pokes that left Silva visibly impaired and unable to continue. It appeared that Weidman had landed a clean counter punch. This was followed by ground-and-pound strikes that prompted the referee’s intervention. This was a TKO win for Chris Weidman.

However, a closer inspection took place. Slow-motion replays revealed a disturbing truth. Weidman had inadvertently poked Silva’s eyes multiple times, with the final poke landing squarely in Silva’s left eye. This had caused him to stumble and left him vulnerable to the follow-up strikes. The bout was controversially ruled a unanimous decision victory for Weidman despite the blatant fouls. All three judges scored the fight 30-27 in his favor.

UFC fight fans and athletes took to social media. The­y were upset and angry with the­ decision. Chris Weidman’s big win was overshadowe­d by the controversy. He hadn’t won since­ August 2020 after a leg injury sustained in 2021. However, events like this remind us that rule­s need to be cle­arer. Combat sports laws must be enforce­d efficiently.

Chris Weidman details his eye pokes in his post-fight speech

Chris Weidman beat Bruno Silva at UFC Atlantic City. But his comme­nts after the fight caused controversy. Silva couldn’t continue after many eye­ pokes from Weidman. The forme­r UFC middleweight champ won, but people­ expressed unhappiness with how it happene­d.

During the post-fight interview, Weidman acknowledged the eye pokes but placed the blame squarely on Silva’s reaction. He acknowledged the eye pokes but implied that Silva was looking for a way out of the fight. This is what he said:

I got poked in the eye too. This is my advice to Bruno. Much respect to him. It looked like i touched his eyeball when he was coming in. You can't drop to the ground like that if your eye gets poked… He did that like three times and it caught up to him.

Chris Weidman via the post fight interview

Weidman’s remarks drew widespread criticism from fans and fellow fighters alike. They accused him of lacking sportsmanship and failing to take responsibility for his actions. Accidental fouls are an inevitable part of the sport. However, many believe Weidman’s actions and subsequent remarks have tarnished the integrity of the competition.

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