An MMA fighter nicknamed 'Zombie Girl' attracted backlash for desperately trying to gouge her opponent's eyes

• Gillian Robertson submitted Priscilla Cachoeira with one second remaining in the first round.
• But rather than that be the headline, Cachoeira's actions at the end overshadowed the result.

An MMA fighter nicknamed "Zombie Girl" attracted backlash for trying to gouge her opponent's eyeball during a UFC event Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It all went down in the very first match of the 14-bout UFC 269 card, when Gillian Robertson took on Priscilla Cachoeira.

Robertson defeated Cachoeira with a rear-naked choke with one second remaining on the first-round clock.

Victory advanced her pro MMA record to 10 wins (one knockout, seven submissions, and two decisions) against six defeats, and saw her rebound after suffering back-to-back losses.

It was not Robertson who attracted the headlines post-fight, but rather Cachoeira because of the way in which she tried to prevent defeat in those dying moments of the opening round.

When Robertson locked in her submission hold, Cachoeira attempted an eye gouge — an illegal move in mixed martial arts, and a dangerous one.

"Look at this," UFC commentator Joe Rogan said on the official ESPN broadcast.

"She definitely looked like she was trying to stick a finger in her eye. She does! 100%. That's so dirty! That is so nasty."

The "dirty" maneuver did not affect the outcome of the fight as Robertson went on to win in conclusive fashion.

"I'm definitely hoping that the ref just stops the fight at that point, wondering like why he's not even … I don't even think he gave her a warning," Robertson told reporters after her win.

"There was two that were pretty clear that were thumb straight in my eye."

Robertson said that she felt Cachoeira's body go limp, and assumed she was unconscious from the submission. However, she then felt another thumb in her eye, and knew that there was more work to do to get the win.

Robertson finished by saying that she does not hold any ill will toward Cachoeira.

"I'm fairly easy going," she said. "I still got the win — nothing I can complain about."

The fight was broadcast on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.