Marc Goddard issues public apology after missing eye poke from Stipe Miocic on Daniel Cormier
Marc Goddard issued a public apology to Daniel Cormier for missing an eye poke that caused the former two-weight champion not being able to see.
Cormier would continue fighting but lost a unanimous decision in his trilogy bout with Stipe Miocic. Following the event, “DC” spoke to Joe Rogan and opened up on the eye poke.
" I mean f—, look at my eye. I couldn't see the rest of the fight. I can't see anything out of my left eye. It's black."@dc_mma says he was unable to see after being poked in the eye by Stipe Miocic in the third round at #UFC252 pic.twitter.com/tC7bDDMjZL
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 16, 2020
“F**k, look at my eye. I couldn’t even f*****g, I couldn’t see the rest of the fight. I can’t see anything out of my left eye. It’s black. It is what it is. It doesn’t matter. I told (referee) Marc (Goddard) that he poked me, but he said it was a punch. But then after the fight, he said, ‘Yeah, I saw it on the replay.’ I just can’t see out of my left eye. It doesn’t matter, though. It is what it is.”
It was a talking point for many and after the round, the replay clearly showed Miocic poked Cormier in the eye. But, Goddard thought it was a punch which was not the case.
So, following UFC 252, Goddard took to social media to issue a public apology.
Acceptance. pic.twitter.com/JMNjKPzURz
— Marc Goddard (@marcgoddard_uk) August 16, 2020
“I practice what I preach, and as a man I stand tall and head on,” Goddard wrote. “If you accept plaudits then you must with mistakes too, that’s proof you are honest, listening, and implore improvement. Rough with the smooth, acceptance and ownership.
“Immediately after the fight when seeing the replay I apologized to Daniel Cormier and his team and do so publicly and unreservedly for missing what I shouldn’t have—but I cannot call what I do not see,” Goddard added. “I don’t have replays and multiple angles, it’s a one shot take in real time. I cannot convey just how much I have both lived and loved this sport for the past 20 years. I truly appreciate all who understand.”
Although the apology helps, it doesn’t change the result as Stipe Miocic is still the heavyweight champion.
