Marc Goddard apologizes for missing eye poke in UFC 252 main event: ‘I cannot call what I do not see’

Marc Goddard is taking responsibility for what he feels was an error on his part during the UFC 252 main event.

The veteran referee was the third man in the cage for Saturday’s heavyweight championship trilogy bout between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier, which saw Miocic win the rubber match by unanimous decision to retain his UFC title. Afterwards, Cormier complained of an eye poke at the end of the third round that limited his vision and there was visible damage to the area during the fight and Cormier’s post-fight interview (UFC President Dana White later said that he thought a clean punch caused the eye injury, which was further aggravated by the poke).

Cormier also said that Goddard admitted after the fight that he missed the foul, a claim that Goddard corroborated in an apology he shared to social media Sunday.

“Immediately after the fight when seeing the replay I apologized to Daniel Cormier and his team and I do so publicly and unreservedly for missing what I shouldn’t have — but I cannot call what I do not see,” Goddard wrote. “I don’t have replays and multiple angles, it’s a one-shot take in real time.

There was one other eye poke in the fight that occurred in the first round, with Miocic on the receiving end, and that foul did result in Goddard pausing the fight.

Goddard added that he feels it’s important to be held accountable for his actions, given the integral role he plays on fight night.

“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 that you are listening, honest, and implore improvement. Rough with the smooth, acceptance, and ownership.”

See Goddard’s full statement below:

I practice what I preach and as a man I stand tall and head on. If you accept plaudits then you must with mistakes too, that’s proof that you are listening, honest, 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 I do so publicly and unreservedly for missing what I shouldn’t have — but I cannot call what I do not see. 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 loves this sport for the past 20 years. I truly appreciate all who understand.