Chris Weidman‘s return to the winner’s circle did not come without controversy.
On the main card of UFC on ESPN 54, Weidman defeated Bruno Silva by TKO after a series of punches. However, Silva immediately protested that he was poked in the eye, which was confirmed on video replay.
After review, the official result was changed from a TKO win for Weidman to a unanimous decision. Naturally, the strange moment prompted a lot of conversation on social media. Check out the reactions below.
Alan Jouban
Chris fighting very smart this first round. #UFCAtlanticCity
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 31, 2024
Terrance McKinney
This ref is cheeks
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) March 31, 2024
Belal Muhammad
Punch a hole in his fudging eye
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 31, 2024
Justin Gaethje
Too bad UFC don’t want to change those shit gloves.
— Justin Gaethje ðºð¸ (@Justin_Gaethje) March 31, 2024
Derek Brunson
Wow double eye pokes to the finish . That was wild !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 31, 2024
Jared Gordon
What a weird night
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) March 31, 2024
Diana Belbita
Common⦠It has to be No Contest!!!
— Diana BelbiÈÄ (@DianaBelbita) March 31, 2024
Adrian Yanez
That's unfortunate ð
— Adrian Yañez (@yanezmma) March 31, 2024
Alan Jouban
They are taking a look at it. It might be turned to a No contest. ??
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 31, 2024
Brian Kelleher
Another pokey poke , what do we have here. Ko ? Tko ? Reviewing it ? lol what about the last guy who lost his paycheck
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) March 31, 2024
Dustin Jacoby
Love seeing the homie @chrisweidman getting his hands raised! #UFCAtlanticCity
— Dustin Jacoby (@thehanyakdj) March 31, 2024
Sodiq Yusuff
That's just wrong man. With every thing that comes with losing a fight, I feel for Bruno
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) March 31, 2024
Nolan King
Chris Weidman finishes Bruno Silva with strikes in Round 3. This building is vibrating. A replay appears to show two eye pokes from Weidman prior to the finish. #UFCAtlanticCity
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 31, 2024
MMA Junkie
Chris Weidman gets the third-round TKO of Bruno Silva at #UFCAtlanticCity despite multiple eye pokes: Fair or foul? pic.twitter.com/XnzozVGBXh
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 31, 2024
Matthew Wells
Wow. Weidman poked Silva in the eyes with BOTH hands before that finishing sequence. #UFCAtlanticCity
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) March 31, 2024
Simon Samano
That was an EGREGIOUS eye poke by Weidman before the finish. No contest has to be incoming if there's replay. #UFCAtlanticCity
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) March 31, 2024
Nolan King
The result has changed, per @BrendanFitzTV.
Chris Weidman wins by unanimous decision. The commission went to the scorecards at the point of the foul, and Weidman won that way. #UFCAtlanticCity
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 31, 2024
Danny Segura
Controversy aside, Weidman looked pretty good. He's obviously not prime, but thought that was a decent showing from his part. #UFCAtlanticCity
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) March 31, 2024
Nolan King
Not a good night to be an eye.
Chris Weidman sporting quite the shiner after his #UFCAtlanticCity win. pic.twitter.com/uOFDihxcmd
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 31, 2024
Merab Dvalishvili
Yes @chrisweidman !! #UFCAtlanticCity
— Merab "The Machine" Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) March 31, 2024
Ode Osbourne
These eye pokes tonight.. Sheesh. #UFCAtlanticCity
— Ode' âï¸sbourne (@OdeOsbourne) March 31, 2024
Damien Brown
S%&t happens, who cares. He was up on the scorecards, It's solid to see Chris Weidman get the Dub. #UFCAtlanticCity
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) March 31, 2024
Matheus Nicolau
Absurdo ! Isso foi um combo de duas dedadas no olho. Juiz deveria, no mÃnimo, parar a luta e dar o tempo necessário para Bruno Blindado se recuperar. #UFCAtlanticCity #UFCFightPassBr
— Matheus Nicolau (@NicolauMatheus) March 31, 2024
Charles Johnson
Chris Weidman just went full Captain Insano ð
Swipe swipe ftw
— Charles "InnerG" Johnson (@InnerGmma) March 31, 2024
Jamahal Hill
ð¤ð¤ð¤ð¤
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) March 31, 2024
Will Brooks
I'm happy for Chris for everything he's gone through, but man, that was some nasty work with the jab cross eye pokes. https://t.co/XRL3m2MlyD
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) March 31, 2024
