Goddard Defends Duncan Point Deduction After Eye Poke

UFC referee Marc Goddard defended his decision to deduct a point from Christian Leroy Duncan after an eye poke during the second round of Duncan’s main-event fight against Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 122. Goddard said he had warned Duncan about keeping his fingers outstretched toward Allen’s face before the foul. The accounts differ on whether a warning was given before the deduction. Goddard explained his decision in a social-media post on October 11, saying referees review rules with fighters before bouts, including the risks of eye pokes. He said he warned Duncan in the first round about reaching toward Allen’s face, then reminded him to be careful with his hands before the second round began. After the eye poke, Goddard said, he took definitive action. One account of the bout said Goddard deducted the point without the prior warning referees usually give. That conflicts with Goddard’s description of the exchanges before the foul. The material provided does not resolve the disagreement over what was said in the bout. The deduction came early in the second round. Allen had complained about Duncan’s open-palmed fighting before the eye poke, according to one account.