8 Times Fighters Won When They Should Have Been DQ'd

8. Santiago Ponzinibbio Rakes Gunnar Nelson In The Eye Before Knocking Him Out

One of the most common rule infractions in all of MMA is the eye poke.

Due to the fingerless design of MMA gloves, it's not exactly surprising that fighters will often retreat with outstretched fingers in order to maximise their reach, inadvertently poking their opponent in the eye in the process.

This has proved a bigger issue in the UFC than it did in promotions such as the former Japanese MMA giant PRIDE, which may be due to the design of the gloves, that UFC president Dana White has been attempting to remedy for years now.

When an eye poke is involved in the finishing sequence of a fight it is even more frustrating for both the fighter affected and also for fans who are left wondering how the fight would've played out if the foul hadn't taken place.

A prime example of this came when welterweight contenders Gunnar Nelson and Santiago Ponzinibbio faced off in the main event of UFC Fight Night 113 in Glasgow. As Nelson closed the distance to attack with an uppercut, Ponzinibbio's outstretched finger caught the Icelandic fighter in the eye, and within a minute, Ponzinibbio capitalised and Nelson was KO'd.

Though the offence almost certainly wasn't intentional, Nelson's attempt to have the result overturned was denied, and Ponzinibbio was given a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.