The main event of UFC Fight Night 159 — a highly anticipated featherweight showdown between Jeremy Stephens and Yair Rodriguez — ended in just 15 seconds, but it didn't give fans the ending or excitement they had hoped to see. Instead, fans were left with the disappointment of a no contest after an accidental eye poke left Stephens unable to continue.
Rodriguez opened the fight by firing off some kicks before attempting to paw away Stephens after a missed strike, inadvertently poking him in the eye. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight and allowed Stephens the full five minutes of allowed time to recover. To Dean's credit, he attempted to give Stephens every opportunity to recover and continue the fight; however, spasms prevented him from opening his eye for the ringside physician.
Dean was forced to call off the fight, ruling it a no contest. The crowd in Mexico City wasn't happy and rained down garbage and ice cubes in the Octagon. When things calmed down a bit, Rodriguez was given a chance to address his hometown fans.
"I apologize a great deal," Rodriguez said following the fight.
"We both trained very hard for this. Everyone spent a lot of money to come down and support us. Jeremy, I feel very bad about this, let's do it again."
Rodriguez was asked if he still wanted to fight Stephens in his next outing, to which the fighter responded: "It doesn't matter who I fight as long as it's the top. I'm ready to do this again. Viva Mexico."
Stephens was unable to open his eye when he made it back to the locker room telling his team he felt a tremendous amount of pressure, and according to
ESPN, he will be sent to an emergency ophthalmologist.