DUSTIN POIRIER claimed Michael Chandler used an illegal move during their UFC 281 bout in New York.
The American lightweight beat Chandler via a third round submission at Madison Square Garden.
But earlier in the bloody encounter Chandler, 36, tried himself to submit Poirier.
And as he attempted a rear naked chokehold Chandler’s fingers appeared to be inside Poirier’s mouth.
Poirier later accused Chandler of pulling up with his fingers when they were inside his mouth.
The action, known as ‘fish-hooking’, is banned in the UFC.
Speaking after their fight at UFC 281, which was headlined by Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira, Poirier revealed he had spoken to the referee about the incident.
And, describing Chandler’s actions, Poirier said: “He stuck his fingers in my mouth to lift my neck [yanking up motion] to try to get me in a rear naked chokehold.
“I was telling him, ‘Come on, dude’.”
Chandler himself admitted his fingers had gone inside Poirier’s mouth.
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But the beaten fighter denied any wrongdoing.
He said: “I will admit yes his mouth was open and my hand went inside of there and was on his mouthpiece.
“He bit down, I was trying to pull it out.
“It wasn’t as though I was trying to pull it out and he was biting it and I couldn’t get it out. It was more just the angle.”
