April 26, 2014: Jones vs. Teixeira changed MMA eye poke rule, UFC 172

Jon Jones' light heavyweight title defense over Glover Teixeira in 2014 is historically significant for a couple reasons. It's been 12 years since Jones, who was 26 at the time, left Teixeira a bloody and mangled mess in the UFC 172 main event in Baltimore on April 26, 2014. Jones swept the judges' scorecards for a dominant decision and extended his UFC record with a seventh straight light heavyweight title defense.

But along with Jones' legitimate violence through elbows and head kicks and spinning attacks and an entire litany of offense, Jones continued to be criticized – and in fact has never been criticized more – for his use of extended fingers toward opponents' faces, particularly their eyes. Against Teixeira, it reached a boiling point, and afterward UFC CEO Dana White said something needed to be done about it. So did officials, other fighters, athletic commissions – and by 2016, the Unified Rules of MMA were amended to make leading with a finger-extended hand a foul, even if it doesn't lead to an eye poke.

These days, it's a regular warning from referees to fighters to close their hands. Call it the "Jon Jones Rule," if you must. Has it made a difference?

Some would argue it hasn't mattered a bit. (Ask Tom Aspinall. ) The other thing to note about Jones' win over Teixeira is, it really was the last time fans had a Jones fight that wasn't also tainted with some kind of Jones-related controversy.