Marc Goddard deducts another UFC point, this time for illegal strikes

Referee Marc Goddard is making fighters pay for fouls. Goddard refereed the lightweight preliminary bout between Nurullo Aliev and Grant Dawson at UFC 333 on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.Nurullo Aliev penalized for back-of-head strikes against Grant Dawson at UFC 333 After dropping Dawson in the first round, Aliev landed several shots to the back of his opponent’s head. Goddard stopped the action and deducted a point, saying he had already issued warnings. Dawson rallied behind relentless pressure and ground work to earn a unanimous decision, handing Aliev his first professional defeat. Goddard also deducted a point from Christian Leroy Duncan for an eye poke against Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 122 on Oct. 10. The referee later explained that he had warned Duncan about his outstretched fingers before penalizing him in the second round. Allen ultimately submitted Duncan with a rear-naked choke in the fifth.Marc Goddard IMMEDIATELY took a point after Nurullo Aliev landed 3 back of the head shots on Grant Dawson at UFC 333 😳👀 Referees are finally taking fouls seriously 🙌 https://t.co/IbopwfWLef— Title Fight (@TitleFightMedia) October 24, 2026