The ongoing discussion surrounding Tom Aspinall`s eye poke incident at UFC 321 continues to elicit varied opinions from the mixed martial arts community, with former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka now contributing his viewpoint.
During what was supposed to be his inaugural defense of the undisputed heavyweight championship, Tom Aspinall suffered two eye pokes from his opponent, Ciryl Gane, late in a highly competitive first round.
Consequently, Aspinall was rendered unable to continue the bout, resulting in his title defense being declared an anticlimactic `No Contest`.
As numerous fighting personalities have weighed in on the unfortunate event, Jiri Prochazka is the latest prominent figure to express his thoughts on whether Aspinall could or should have proceeded with the fight.
Jiri Prochazka Emphasizes the Paramount Importance of Victory
Having amassed a significant following since his arrival in the Octagon, former light heavyweight kingpin Prochazka has joined the chorus of voices discussing Aspinall`s predicament.
Aligning with the perspective shared by former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier, the Czech combatant stated that, regardless of the severity of an eye poke, victory would be his utmost priority in such a situation.
“I really don’t know how much it was in the last week’s title fight, but for me it’s essential to win,” Prochazka shared via his official social media channels.
Notably, Prochazka himself experienced a significant eye poke during his return to action following a challenging rematch against his consistent rival, Alex Pereira.
Prochazka`s Unwavering Stance on Fouls Like Eye Pokes
Earlier this year, the former Rizin FF champion marked a triumphant return to form with an impressive win over fellow ex-champion Jamahal Hill.
During this third-round knockout victory against the Contender Series alumnus, Prochazka was inadvertently poked in the eye by Hill, leading to a temporary pause in the action.
In his post-fight interview with the media, Prochazka articulated a clear and resolute philosophy regarding eye pokes and other fouls.
“I will play the game for the doctor, no way to stop the fight because of an eye poke,” Prochazka asserted after the fight. “I’ve got one more eye. This is the true sport of man.”
He further clarified his stance: “Fighting with eyes, no eyes, doesn’t matter. Fight until the end.”
