The former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson took on Bobby Green in the main event of UFC 291 in Utah on Saturday.
Green defeated Ferguson via submission (arm triangle choke) during round three.
Ferguson had a good start to the fight as he dropped Green on the floor with a right-hand punch in the opening round but then he was dominated by the “King” for the next two rounds.
In the last stages of the final round, Ferguson committed a mistake which turned out to be his last of the fight.
The MMA star went for a takedown but ended up giving Green an upper position who took full advantage of the American’s mistake and decided to finish the fight with a choke.
However, after the fight, Ferguson, in an Instagram post, accused the 36-year-old of poking his eye.
“Walked into the Delta Center to show the world I was back on track The preparation for this fight was exceptional & it was one of the best camps I’ve had As the fight began, I was in the Xone, flowing & feeling confident Bobby knew the direction of the fight & I believe he knew what he was doing when he poked my eye,” Ferguson posted on his Instagram.
“He has a big History of moves like this. It significantly impaired my vision, making it difficult to see clearly out of my eye. Despite this eye poke I never considered stopping the fight although the doc wanted to. Throughout my career, I’ve always pushed through challenges & never given up. This time was no different.”
Tony Ferguson continued: “Unfortunately, in sports, setbacks like this are part of the journey. While I won’t use the eye poke as an excuse for the outcome, I know for a fact I have more to give. Moving forward, I plan to work closely with Dana, Hunter & my entire team to assess what’s next.
“I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to my wife, my Family & my fans, Your support means the world to me & it’s what drives me to keep pushing forward & striving for greatness Thank you all for being by my side through the highs & lows of this sport that I love. Eye appointment tomorrow, some recovery & back after it Love you all- Champ -CSO- #ufc291 Salt Lake City, Utah.”