Referee Marc Goddard Addresses UFC Vegas 122 Point Deduction

Following his decision to penalize Christian Leroy Duncan in the second round of their middleweight bout, referee Marc Goddard offered clarity on his officiating during UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Duncan. Goddard stated that the move was intended as a teachable moment regarding the ongoing effort to minimize eye pokes in mixed martial arts.

Goddard explained that he issued a warning to Duncan in the first round regarding outstretched fingers. He noted that he reminded the fighter again before the start of the second round to remain mindful of his hand placement. When the foul occurred, Goddard chose to take definitive action.

The official emphasized that addressing eye pokes remains a firm priority for himself and his colleagues. While acknowledging the difficulty of altering ingrained athletic habits, Goddard indicated that referees are increasingly focused on both preventative measures and corrective actions to improve rule enforcement.