Controversy Erupts at UFC Vegas 110: Ante Delija's Knockout Loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta

The heavyweight co-main event at UFC Vegas 110 on November 1, 2025, ended in controversy as Ante Delija faced Waldo Cortes-Acosta. The fight took a dramatic turn when Delija appeared to secure a first-round knockout after landing a series of strikes. However, referee Mark Smith halted the action to review a potential eye poke suffered by Cortes-Acosta. Upon reviewing the footage, Smith confirmed the foul, allowing Cortes-Acosta time to recover before the fight resumed. Just moments later, Cortes-Acosta landed a powerful right hand that knocked Delija out at 3:59 of the first round, flipping the narrative of the fight.

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Following the fight, Delija expressed his frustration on social media, outlining five points of contention regarding the officiating and the fight's handling. He questioned whether he had indeed poked Cortes-Acosta in the eye, criticized the lack of a formal timeout, and expressed concern over the use of video replay after the fight had been paused. Delija stated, “I ask for nothing more, just honesty. I don’t run from defeat, I respect every opponent and every outcome. But not when rules are broken and I’m robbed. Not in this way. The sport hasn’t seen this yet!!”

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The incident has reignited discussions about the handling of eye pokes in mixed martial arts. Commentators Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier, who were cageside during the event, expressed disbelief at the decision to restart the fight after the eye poke, labeling it one of the most confusing situations they had ever witnessed. Cormier remarked, “I’ve never seen anything like that in all of my time that I’ve been involved in mixed martial arts.” Their comments reflect a broader concern regarding the consistency and clarity of officiating in the UFC.

UFC commentators blame veteran referee for ‘one of the craziest’ controversies ever at UFC Vegas 110

This incident follows a similar controversy just a week prior at UFC 321, where Delija's teammate, Tom Aspinall, faced a no-contest due to an eye poke from Ciryl Gane. Delija had previously defended Aspinall, advocating for stricter penalties for eye pokes, which adds another layer of complexity to the current situation.

Ante Delija releases first statement after being ‘robbed’ by UFC Vegas 110 eye poke ruling

The fallout from UFC Vegas 110 raises questions about the future of eye poke regulations and the need for clearer officiating protocols in the UFC's heavyweight division. As Delija and Cortes-Acosta both navigate the aftermath of this controversial bout, the incident may prompt the UFC to reevaluate its rules and procedures regarding fight stoppages and the use of video replays.

Ante Delija Condemns Eye-Poke Controversy, Claims He Was ‘Robbed’ After UFC Vegas 110 Knockout Loss

• “I’m not sure if I hit him in the eye, I think it’s near the eye and of course I want a video where you can see that stab!” — Ante Delija

Tom Aspinall’s teammate claims he was ‘robbed’ in first statement after controversial KO loss

• “I’ve never seen anything like that in all of my time that I’ve been involved in mixed martial arts, I’ve never seen anything like it.” — Daniel Cormier

UFC Vegas 110: Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier Call Out Referee After Chaotic Eye-Poke Incident

• “That might have been one of the craziest situations because obviously last week we had Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane, a crazy eye poke, have you ever seen anything like that DC, what happened tonight?” — Michael Bisping

UFC commentators blame veteran referee for ‘one of the craziest’ controversies ever at UFC Vegas 110

The events at UFC Vegas 110 will likely be remembered not just for the outcome but for the significant questions they raise about officiating standards in mixed martial arts.

Ante Delija Condemns Eye-Poke Controversy, Claims He Was ‘Robbed’ After UFC Vegas 110 Knockout Loss