UFC Debut Did Not Go Per Plan for 35 YO Ex-NFL Star, Thanks to a Three Finger Eye Poke

Achieving success across multiple sports genres is a rare feat accomplished by only a select few athletes. Deion Sanders is a notable example, who not only excelled in football but also left his mark on the MLB scene with exceptional athletic prowess. However, there are also a few individuals who left for the UFC and MMA, exploring unconventional avenues rather than typical baseball and basketball.

Austen Lane, a former NFL defensive end, has created a buzz in the NFL world with his recent UFC debut announcement. Nevertheless, the outcome of his first match did not end in the way one would normally expect.

A scary debut

After almost a decade of his last appearance in a football match, Lane popped back on the radar. His fight was taking place in Jacksonville, right where he started his football career. He was recruited to the UFC roster last September. However, he hadn’t gotten the chance to compete in a fight due to an injury. And when he finally had the opportunity to fight, it ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke.

29 seconds into the match, Lane accidentally put his fingers in both of Justin Tafa’s eyes. Following the injury, a significant deliberation lasting over three minutes ensued between the doctor and the referee, as they tried to consider whether the match should be declared a no-contest. The whole thing seems like a scene straight out of a horror movie. ESPN MMA posted a collage of pictures of Tafa post-match, where he can be seen bleeding beside the eyes.

Read More: “Take This Guy to the Hospital ASAP, Before He Loses His Sight” – Fans Shocked by “Terrible” Eye Poke From Ex-NFL Star at UFC Jacksonville

Tafa entered his seventh fight to break his 3-3 win-lose tie. However, as the eye-poke was unintentional, the match was ruled off as a no-contest. Several pictures and clips from the fight were shared online, resulting in numerous controversies.

Justin Tafa shares an update

After the gruesome incident, Tafa took to Twitter to share a photo of his post-match face. He seems to be squinting from one eye and minor bleeding is seen in two spots on his face. He posted the photo with a caption, “I deserve my Win bonus, that’s a DQ man,” aiming to highlight his belief that the match should have ended as a disqualification. A few hours after Tafa’s post, Lane also made a statement on Twitter. He apologized to his opponent and shared remorse about the whole situation.

The entire incident was unintentional. Fortunately, there is a high likelihood that the injury sustained by Tafa is minor, paving the way for his swift return to the ring. Only time will tell if a rematch between them is on the horizon.

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