“Like a soccer player when they get fouled,” Daniel Cormier controversially defends Chris Weidman’s ‘eye-poke’ win over Bruno Silva

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier is a close friend of Chris Weidman. The duo hosts the Weigh-In Show during PPV events. Weidman’s victory against Bruno Silva last weekend created much controversy. At UFC Atlantic City, Weidman won despite clear eye-pokes in the fight finishing sequence. This did not sit well with some fighters. However, Cormier was not one of them.

Days after the fight, Daniel Cormier defended the decision to award Chris Weidman the win. The UFC Hall of Famer and Chael Sonnen discussed in depth on The Good Guy/Bad Guy show. According to DC, the whole result was well within the rules, and Weidman deserved the win.

There’s a rule in place, that if you go past a certain point in the fight, it’s scored. If there is an illegal blow, they score the fight and if you score that fight, Chris Weidman wins. Bruno Silva when Bruno reacted the way that he did from the eye poke. I’m only saying this because, to me, it felt like a soccer player when they get fouled and they’re rolling around on the ground when the guy barely touches them. Bruno Silva got eye poked, but I think he understood where he was in the fight. He was getting beat. He was losing. He fell to the ground.

Daniel Cormier via Good Guy/Bad Guy

DC felt Silva lost the first two rounds and looked for an out in the third round. After getting poked in the eye twice, Silva dropped to the ground. Cormier referenced soccer/football tackles to indicate that one should never react that way in an MMA fight. Once Silva dropped to the ground, Weidman pounded him to win via TKO.

Many fight fans and experts showed their objections to the fight on social media platforms. DC’s comments might not sit well with anyone. His comments indicate the bias in favor of his friend rather than calling for a No-Contest result. However, DC did criticize the officiating involved at the UFC Atlantic City event.

Daniel Cormier strongly opposed bad refereeing at UFC Atlantic City

UFC Atlantic City had several unusual and controversial moments. It was filled with groin strikes, eye pokes, and early stoppages by referees. Fight fans felt it was one of the most controversial fight cards regarding the outcomes. 

Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen said something similar on the Good Guy/Bad Guy show. He and Sonnen agreed on the matter as both were astonished by certain moments involving the referees.

Yeah, it was crazy. They had some real weird officiating last weekend. Couple bad stoppages, referees getting involved. But hey it's Atlantic City so, what more do you expect but bad?

Daniel Cormier via Good Guy/Bad Guy Youtube

Referees and judges at every event are appointed by the State Athletic Commissions in order to make it fair for the fighters. The UFC has nothing to do with it and can’t control the frequent controversies regarding fight outcomes. 

After suffering from eye pokes and an unfortunate loss, Bruno Silva has planned to appeal to the New Jersey Commission. According to the fighter, the referee was unfair and should have declared the fight no-contest. A decision overturn remains unlikely as only a few times have an official decision ever been overturned by an Athletic Commission.

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