Sunday's heavyweight bout between Travis Browne and Matt Mitrione was Exhibit A on how poor officiating can alter a fight for the worse.
Browne scored a victory in their main card bout at UFC Fight Night 81, winning via third-round TKO at 4:09 of the third round at TD Garden.
But what was a decent enough fight took a turn for the worse as Browne landed not one, but two fight-altering eye pokes to Mitrione's right eye.
Browne was not penalized for either blow by referee Gary Foreman, the first a pinky in the eye in the first round, the latter a brutal thumb in the second.