UFC Fight Night 263: Ante Delija full media day interview
UFC Fight Night 263’s Ante Delija spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at media day for his heavyweight bout vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
LAS VEGAS – Eye pokes have been the topic of conversation in MMA in the last few days, and former PFL champion and 32-fight veteran Ante Delija has his take.
Last Saturday, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall suffered an illegal eye poke from Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. Aspinall said he couldn’t see, and the fight was ruled a no contest, with a rematch now pending between the two fighters, as the Englishman couldn’t continue fighting. Delija (26-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who’s a teammate of Aspinall’s, fully supports Aspinall’s decision not to continue fighting despite all the criticism it’s generated online.
“I think he did a great job with not continuing and if more fighters do the same thing, I think we can prevent the same thing on happening again,” Delija said at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 263 media day.
Fighters often fight through pain and injuries caused by fouls, but Delija believes that fighters choosing not to continue fighting while impaired only encourages fouls. He believes more fights ending the way Aspinall’s did would encourage fighters to be more careful.
“Absolutely, 100 percent, I think more fighters should do the same thing and more fighters should be punished for behaving that way, and I do believe we’ll stop with that whatsoever,” Delija said.
Apart from Gane getting a no contest result on his record along with Aspinall, no sanction or fine was issued, as the eye poke was deemed accidental. Delija thinks there should be bigger punishments handed to the fighters committing fouls.
“I really don’t understand. I’ve had 33 fights, and I’ve never poked someone in the eye,” Delja said. “I do believe that punishment for that should be severe.”
Delija returns to the cage this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 263 (ESPN+), which takes place at the UFC Apex. He takes on heavyweight contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in a three-round bout. This will be Delija’s second UFC fight since switching over from PFL.
