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Nelson
Photo Credit: Jerry McCarthy/KO Media

Earlier this week MMA Plus reported that representatives of UFC welterweight Gunnar Nelson were likely to launch an appeal following the 28-year-old’s controversial loss to Santiago Ponzinibbio in the headline bout of UFC Fight Night 113 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Following the event at the SSE Hydro, photo and video footage circulated online, highlighting a series of clear and reckless eye pokes that went unnoticed, significantly affecting the course of the bout which lasted 1 minute and 22 seconds before Argentina’s Ponzinibbio was awarded a knockout stoppage over the Icelandic fighter.

Video evidence previously shared via YouTube – of which showed conclusive slow motion replays of at least four eye pokes – has since been removed.

MMA Plus can confirm that Mjölnir MMA, Nelson’s management, has entered discussions with the UFC, but is it not yet possible to determine the outcome, whether that be the declaration of a no-contest, an immediate rematch or no further action.

It is understood that the UFC will have full discretion over the widely criticised result in which the stoppage itself was achieved due to the effects of a foul.

A final gouge dragged across Nelson’s eye and left him open for a finishing blow

Last November British light-heavyweight Darren Stewart had a TKO victory overturned to a no-contest. A dominant performance from Stewart was tainted in the final seconds upon an accidental clash of heads with Brazilian opponent Francimar Barroso at UFC Fight Night 100 in Brazil. The clash was deemed by Brazilian regulatory body CABMMA as having a direct influence on the stoppage and so was overturned with Barroso taking a unanimous decision victory in the rematch. The UK/Scotland does not yet possess a government recognized regulatory body, despite the presence of the UKMMAF, and so the decision falls to the promotion itself.

The ABC’s Unified Rules of MMA dictate that ‘fingers pointing at the opponent’s face/eyes, will be a foul.’

Ponzinibbio denies any wrongdoing, however, is known for having a suspicious history of directing fingers towards his opponent’s eyes, in previous bouts with Nordine Taleb and Lorenz Larkin.