Belal Muhammad accuses Ian Machado Garry of blatantly playing dirty with eye pokes, likens it to flopping in the NBA

Belal Muhammad has voiced strong concerns about eye pokes becoming a deliberate tactic in mixed martial arts, accusing Ian Machado Garry of exploiting the foul during their November fight in a manner Muhammad compares to flopping in professional basketball.

Muhammad, preparing for his UFC Vegas 118 bout against Gabriel Bonfim on Saturday, is coming off consecutive losses—a title-defense defeat to Jack Della Maddalena and a decision loss to Garry in which he sustained multiple eye pokes. The welterweight believes those fouls directly altered the fight's momentum and outcome, disrupting his vision, mental focus, and offensive rhythm at critical moments.

In interviews with MMA Fighting, Muhammad outlined how eye pokes disrupt a fighter's ability to reset mentally and re-enter their combat mindset after each stoppage. He argued that because referees rarely impose immediate penalties—typically issuing warnings rather than point deductions—savvy fighters have begun incorporating eye pokes into their game plans. Muhammad specifically cited Garry as a "strategist" who deployed early eye pokes to halt his opening offensive sequences before they could build.

Muhammad noted the paradox facing fighters: refusing to continue after an eye poke risks being labeled cowardly, which discourages complaints and emboldens opponents to repeat the tactic. He called for stricter enforcement, arguing that consistent point deductions would immediately deter the behavior. "Once these guys start getting repercussions right away, I think it will make them change," Muhammad said.

Frustrated by the lack of accountability, Muhammad suggested he might feel compelled to retaliate in kind if officials continue ignoring the fouls. While he expressed reluctance about fighting fire with fire, he indicated future opponents should expect immediate payback if they eye-poke him. The issue highlights ongoing concerns in the sport about foul enforcement and fairness during high-stakes competition.