{"id":243078,"date":"2025-10-27T08:33:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/243078\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T08:33:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:33:07","slug":"joe-rogans-proposed-fix-for-eye-pokes-gains-attention-again-after-ufc-321-main-event-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/243078\/","title":{"rendered":"Joe Rogan\u2019s Proposed Fix For Eye Pokes Gains Attention Again After UFC 321 Main Event Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

As if returning from a 14-month layoff wasn\u2019t challenging enough, Tom Aspinall also missed the chance to defend his undisputed heavyweight crown during the UFC 321 main event<\/a>. The fight against Ciryl Gane was halted just 4 minutes and 35 seconds into the opening round after Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in both eyes, in what many fans jokingly called his best Jon Jones impression. Referee Jason Herzog immediately stepped in and called for medical attention as the Englishman screamed in pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After being examined by two ringside doctors, Aspinall was ruled unable to continue, and the fight was declared a no-contest. While eye pokes have been a recurring issue in MMA for years, the UFC 321 incident has reignited debate over fighter safety and the need for preventive measures. Interestingly, Joe Rogan has previously discussed this problem on his podcast, proposing potential solutions to minimize such accidents, a conversation that has once again become relevant in the aftermath of the Abu Dhabi debacle.<\/p>\n

Joe Rogan Called for a Permanent Glove Redesign in September 2024 to Eliminate Eye Pokes in the Octagon<\/p>\n

In February 2025, Henry Cejudo suffered a brutal eye poke<\/a> during his fight against Song Yadong midway through Round 3. The former double champion immediately complained about the pain in his corner, later calling it the worst injury of his entire career.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was around that time when a clip from a September 2024 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience trended on social media. The clip showed the UFC commentator offering a practical solution to the problem that has plagued the sport since 1993. And with the latest incident at UFC 321<\/a>, it has become relevant once again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During JRE MMA Show #163<\/a> with Din Thomas, Rogan explained, \u201cI keep saying it, but I feel they should cover those fingertips. You\u2019ve got to cover the fingers. There\u2019s no reason to not cover the fingers like a bad glove.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cJust have a piece of leather that goes over the fingertips, so you have one thing. It\u2019s not gonna invade your grappling, and it\u2019s not gonna change your striking. It\u2019s not going to change anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC announcer Joe Rogan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

Rogan explained that this design would greatly reduce the risk of severe eye injuries. If a fighter were to get poked, the glove\u2019s rounded or blunt surface would make contact instead of a bare finger, causing a less dangerous, surface-level impact.<\/p>\n

He elaborated, \u201cThis way, at least if you get poked in the eye, you are getting a blunt thing, you are not getting something that goes into your eyeball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rogan concluded with, \u201cHave them all covered and have a soft-foamed ridge over the top of it. So even if you are getting poked in the eyes, you are not getting an individual thing going deep into your eyeball with an eyeball, which is what you get now. You get f***ing fingernails!\u201d<\/p>\n

ALSO READ: Khabib Nurmagomedov and Andy Aspinall Share Emotional Conversation About Their Late Fathers Ahead of UFC 321 Bouts<\/a><\/p>\n

He further added that a soft, foam-padded ridge across the top would reduce the likelihood of serious damage, as the padding and not the fingers would absorb the contact. Rogan emphasized that the current glove design often leads to dangerous situations where fighters accidentally jab their opponents in the eyes with their fingers or even their nails.<\/p>\n

UFC\u2019s Failure to Implement Trevor Whitman\u2019s ONX Glove Design<\/p>\n

For the unversed, the UFC had already introduced new gloves in April 2024 to help reduce eye pokes. But by UFC Vegas 102, the promotion reverted to the old design. Rogan had previously suggested adopting coach Trevor Whitman\u2019s ONX gloves, which many believe to be a safer and more effective alternative.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Just a reminder that Trevor Wittman designed a better MMA glove that turns the fingers in but UFC won\u2019t use em because they want to OWN the glove design without paying for it #UFCVegas21<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/jS6Ihnp6QT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MMA Mania (@mmamania) March 14, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n

However, Dana White and his team were unable to reach a deal with Whitman to bring them into the promotion. This problem has been seen repeatedly over the years\u2013 from Belal Muhammad\u2019s gruesome injury<\/a> against Leon Edwards in 2021 to Travis Browne\u2019s infamous eye poke on Fabricio Werdum at UFC 203.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And now in 2025, it was the first instance when a UFC title fight ended in a no-contest, with Aspinall being on the wrong end of proceedings. While Dana White has not commented on any design change, a revamp is the need of the hour.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n