TLDR
- Charles Jourdain lost his vision during the third round of his UFC 331 fight against Marlon Vera and stopped the bout himself
- Jourdain had undergone laser surgery on his retina earlier in 2026 after doctors discovered problems during a routine exam
- The loss ended Jourdain’s three-fight winning streak at bantamweight
- Vera ended a four-fight losing streak dating back to August 2023 with the victory
- No timeline has been announced for Jourdain’s return as he addresses the eye condition
Sources: yardbarker.com | mmafighting.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Charles Jourdain stopped his own fight at UFC 331 after losing his vision in the third round against Marlon Vera. The Canadian featherweight waved off the bout Saturday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to avoid taking more head strikes while unable to see.
Jourdain posted an explanation on Instagram after the loss. “Lost my eyesight in the third,” he wrote. “I waved the fight cause I don’t need to receive more strikes to the head. I lost. I failed.”
The stoppage came after Vera landed a body shot followed by strikes to the head that knocked Jourdain down. It was the second time Jourdain had been dropped in the fight, but the final knockdown triggered the vision loss that forced him to call off the contest.
Previous Surgery on Retina
Jourdain had undergone laser surgery on his retina earlier in 2026 after doctors discovered problems during a routine pre-fight medical exam. The issue forced him to pull out of a scheduled bout against Ricky Simon in 2025.
Doctors warned Jourdain he risked losing the eye completely if he fought without treatment. The surgery involved lasering his retina, though Jourdain said his vision stayed the same after the procedure.
Marlon chito Vera knocked out Charles Jourdain #UFC331 pic.twitter.com/NkS6bhIhhp
— talk of the town🪐 (@topclip79) September 20, 2026
The 30-year-old fighter had only been stopped by strikes once before in his professional career, in a 2024 bout against Jean Silva. This marked the first time Jourdain ever waved off a fight himself.
End of Winning Streak
The loss ended Jourdain’s three-fight winning streak at bantamweight. He had defeated Kyler Phillips, Davey Grant, and Victor Henry after moving down from featherweight to 135 pounds.
For Vera, the victory ended a four-fight losing streak dating back to August 2023. The former title challenger had not won a fight since defeating Pedro Munhoz over a year ago.
Jourdain’s record now stands at 18-9-1 overall and 8-9-1 in the UFC. Vera improved to 24-12-1 overall and 16-11 in the UFC.
Fighters rarely stop their own bouts, but Jourdain made the decision to protect his long-term health. It was unclear exactly what type of injury occurred to cause the sudden vision loss during the fight.
Jourdain’s medical team has not provided a timeline for his return to fighting. The fighter will need to address the eye condition that resurfaced under the lights at UFC 331.
The bout was part of the featured prelims at the Los Angeles event. Jourdain had been considered a dark horse contender in the bantamweight division before the loss.
Vera took the fight to Jourdain throughout the contest before landing the strikes that caused the stoppage. The win was crucial for Vera, who had been struggling through the worst losing streak of his career.
Jourdain will need medical clearance before he can compete again. The eye issue that forced surgery earlier in the year clearly remains a concern for the Canadian fighter.
