"Chris Tognoni is a f***ing buffoon" - MMA pros and fans blast UFC Vegas 96 referee for "zero sense of urgency" during eyepoke

Chris Tognoni, the referee for the UFC Vegas 96 bout between Viacheslav Borshchev and James Llontop, has come under fire for his handling of an eye poke incident during the fight.

The fight was a back-and-forth affair with both fighters landing significant strikes. However, the contest was temporarily halted when Llontop accidentally poked Borshchev in the eye. Despite the obvious injury, Tognoni took an extended amount of time to separate the fighters and assess the situation.

This delay in action sparked immediate criticism from both MMA professionals and fans. Many took to social media to express their frustration and disappointment with Tognoni's handling of the situation. Some called him a "buffoon" and accused him of having "zero sense of urgency."

One fan wrote:

“Chris Tognoni is a f**king buffoon bro”

Another fan added:

"Chris Tognoni has zero sense of urgency"

Popular journalist Mike Heck wrote:

“God, Tognoni is awful.”

Journalist Marcel Dorff wrote:

“Tognoni......what's new.”

Check out some of the comments below:

MMA world reacts to Chris Tognoni's referee work at UFC Vegas 96

The incident is not the first time Tognoni has faced criticism for his officiating. In the past, he has been criticized for making incorrect calls and stoppages. UFC president Dana White has even publicly admonished him for his mistakes during the Ed Herman vs. Mike Rodriguez fight:

“It’s hard not to bang on this guy. The worst I’ve ever seen. That was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. That kid wins by knockout, technical knockout and loses the fight. It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen"

Check out Dana White's comments below:

During the fight between Herman and Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN+ 35, Tognoni mistakenly identified a clean shot from Rodriguez that dropped Herman as a low blow. This crucial error allowed Herman time to recover, and he eventually came back stronger in the third round, forcing Rodriguez to tap out.