Jasmin Frank-Imagn Images

Herb Dean: Stricter, Enforced Penalties Coming for Eye Pokes in MMA

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Nov 11, 2025 10:28 PM ET

Longtime referee Herb Dean says the days of leniency on eye-poke fouls are ending. Appearing on Believe You Me, Dean explained that officials intend to enforce existing rules and begin taking points proactively after the fallout from UFC 321’s Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane no-contest.

“We made a rule it’s a foul to extend the fingers towards the eyes… that rule has been there, but we haven’t been enforcing it,” Dean said. “We should start taking points… before it actually happens to hurt somebody.”

Dean noted the outsized impact of deductions in three-rounders.

“We have a one-point sport… most of the time the score is 29-28. You take one point, you’ve taken a majority of wins and turned it into a draw. But we’re going to have to do something… That’s something that’s going to happen.”

Translation: expect quicker, preventative point deductions for extended fingers especially when fighters repeatedly “paw” with open hands at range.

| Herb Dean reveals that MMA officials have agreed to enforce immediate point deductions for fighters who extend their fingers toward opponents.

While the rule has been in place for years, many referees have admitted to being lenient in enforcing it.

@BYMPod pic.twitter.com/OueJQJPzrd

— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) November 11, 2025

Clarifying the foul: “fingers up” may still be illegal

Beyond enforcement, Dean says officials are drafting clearer guidelines defining the foul regardless of finger angle.

“That last foul… the fingers were up, right? …We might have to change that… because a lot of times even when you’re pawing… at the end of your reach, your fingers start to come down.”

Look for language that penalizes any extended fingers toward an opponent’s face not just downward-pointing digits.

A model to follow: Sean Strickland’s closed-hand parry

Dean pointed to former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland as an example of staying active defensively without risking fouls.

“When Sean Strickland fights… he’s my favorite when I see him come out with his fingers closed, and he’s parrying all around. I don’t have to worry about the fingers.”

The bottom line

Immediate shift: Referees are poised to take points earlier for eye-poke risk behavior (open fingers extended toward the eyes).
Rule refinement: Expect clearer definitions that capture “fingers up” pawing as a foul.
Fighter adjustment: Closed-hand framing and parries à la Strickland will be the safer technical standard.

If implemented as Dean describes, the sport could see fewer no-contests and a stronger incentive for disciplined hand position at range.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: