UFC Mexico Ends in No-Contest Disaster After Yair Rodriguez Eyepokes Jeremy Stephens
Official result: Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens ends in a no contest (accidental eye poke) just 15 seconds into the first round.
UFC Mexico City headliner Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens, a featherweight bout at Saturday’s UFC event at Arena Ciudad de Mexico.
Rodriguez, who has won nine of his last 10 fights, faced Stephens, who had lost two straight fights heading into his 31st UFC appearance, in the main event.
Herb Dean was the third man in the cage for tonight’s main event. Rodriguez was active with his legs early, going to Stephens’s legs and body.
An eye poke by Rodriguez quickly brings the action to a halt.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2sqJazJ_yJ/
Long break as Stephens is having trouble even opening his eye for the doctor to check on it.
If you guys think for even one second that @LiLHeathenMMA wasn’t legit hurt then you’re crazy. A swipe like that means that Yair likely accidentally tore Jeremy’s cornea. It doesn’t happen from pokes or happens from a swiping motion. Ask @TheJamesKrause how that feels #UFCMexico
— Laura Sanko (@laura_sanko) September 22, 2019
Dean implores the medical team to wait. After an extended wait, the bout is ruled a no contest, and fans start throwing plastic cups into the ring.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2spf3Il5SY/
Omg I'm heartbroken. And this crowd is fucking awful. Throwing shit in the damn cage. Poor Jeremy can't even open his eye. It's a NC. #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/fwwd5KNO2C
— ShayMyName (@ImShannonTho) September 22, 2019
These bottles flying into the octagon are brought to you by Modelo #UFCMexico #UFCMexicoCity pic.twitter.com/ii7KtTJzw1
— KAIROSMMA ON YOUTUBE (@kairosmma) September 22, 2019
SHORTEST NO CONTESTS in UFC History
0:11 – Carlos Junior vs. Casey
0:15 – Rodriguez vs. Stephens *
0:27 – Radach vs. Berger
0:39 – Bedford vs. Yahya
0:39 – Sanders vs. Munhoz