Daniel Cormier was caught in his left eye by Stipe Miocic during her very physical headlining fight at UFC 252 on Saturday night, resulting in a tornado.
Daniel Cormier had a torn cornea last night, Cormier told me this morning. No recovery schedule yet. Doctors said he does not need surgery yet, but they should check how it is healing before they are sure. He was discharged from the hospital late Saturday night.
– Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 16, 2020
The poke, which happened in Round 3, was pretty kneeling and did not show Cormier from his left eye for the rest of the fight. Cormier went to the hospital after the fight and said he felt his poked eye played a role in his eventual unanimous decision loss to Miocic.
Referee apologizes to missing eyeball
Fighters are typically given extra time when they face each other, but that was not granted to Cormier. Referee Marc Goddard did not see Miocic poke Cormier in the eye, and when Cormier complained, Goddard ruled it like a punch.
Goddard apologized for missing the poke on Sunday morning in a statement he posted on Twitter. “data-reactid =” 35 “>Goddard apologized for missing the poke on Sunday morning in a statement he posted on Twitter.
‘I practice what I preach and as a man I stand tall and stand up. If you accept plaudits, then you also have to deal with mistakes, which is the proof that you are improving listening, being honest and asking. Rough with the smoothness, acceptance and ownership. Right after the fight while watching the replay, I apologized to Daniel and his team and I do so in public and without reservation that I miss what I should not – but I can not name what I do not see. I do not have replacements and multiple angles, it is a take recording in real time. I can not convey how much I have lived and loved this sport both for the last 20 years. I truly appreciate all who understand it. ”
