A headlining UFC match was called off when one fighter couldn't see after an accidental but painful eye gouge
- UFC Fight Night 187's feature fight between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad was ruled a no contest.
- Edwards accidentally gouged Muhammad eye in the second round, compromising his vision.
- Watch footage of the incident below.
A headlining UFC match was called off when one fighter couldn't see after an accidental but painful eye gouge.
Leon Edwards returned to the Octagon after almost two years on the sidelines when he fought Belal Muhammad in the main event of Saturday's behind-closed-doors UFC Fight Night 187 show that took place at the Apex in Las Vegas.
The UFC boss Dana White said earlier in the week that if Edwards looked spectacular he would be guaranteed a title shot in the welterweight division.
Edwards won the first round on all three of the judges' scorecards but before the second round had finished, the bout was brought to an unspectacular end as an accidental poke left Muhammad with compromised vision.
The unintentional foul took place 18 seconds into the second round when both fighters collided as Muhammad stepped to Edwards as the latter threw a body kick with his left hand, and fingers, outstretched.
Upon impact, Muhammad immediately withdrew while clutching his eye. A referee called time on the bout before a no contest (no result) was announced.
Watch the accidental gouge here:
"My heart is shattered my first main event ended like that, but God's the best of planners," said Muhammad in a statement on Instagram.
"I'm sorry to the fans and the UFC [because] you deserved a full fight," added Muhammad. "Alhamdillah, the vision is coming back and no permanent damage to the eye.
"I'll be back and want to run it back," he finished.
"I didn't mean to do it, you know. I went for the cross [and] head kick, he stepped into it, and I really apologize," Edwards said.
"I'd rather a loss than that. It's heartbreaking. I don't know what to say."