2016 has already been an ugly year for MMA fouls.

Most notably, UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione suffered a pair of eye pokes during his doomed bout with Travis Browne on Jan. 17.

Mitrione went from arguably winning a fight one moment to becoming a gruesome internet meme the next as his right eye began to swell. Many, Mitrione included, believe the fouls undoubtedly led to the TKO loss he suffered late in round three.

Speaking with Stephie Hayne of Bloody Elbow, UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes more needs to be done to protect athletes.

"I think the fouls, especially the eye pokes, need to be addressed," Rogan said. "A lot of times when a fighter gets poked very badly and chooses to continue they get beat up. That doesn't seem fair at all. Something radical needs to be done. Taking a point away isn't enough. I firmly believe that 99.99 percent of fouls are unintentional. That said, when someone gets badly damaged, maybe where they can't see, I don't think one point is enough.

"I don't think it should be a warning and then a point. If people keep doing it fighters are going to be wounded to the point of potentially losing sight in their eye. Right now, we're just sticking our head in the sand and not doing much."

Rogan wouldn't mind seeing the UFC shift their gloves to more of a curved "PRIDE style," but really, he seems to be pushing for harsher penalties for offenders.

"They're devastating," Rogan said of eye pokes. "It's not a small thing. It's not worth a point. It's worth a lot more than a point. First of all, automatic point deductions. No matter what. When a guy gets poked in the eye, 'Oh, I know it's unintentional.' No. None of that. There's no accidental. Take a point away.

"Just because you didn't mean to damage a guy and effectively take away some of his vision doesn't mean you shouldn't be penalized for it. You did it. That guy lost something so his opponent should lose something, as well. Instant point deduction."

Rogan would also like to see all groin kicks be reviewed by referees, partly to settle cases where there may be a dispute.

"There are certain things that the ref and I can't see so when a guy gets kicked low they should review the tape," Rogan said. "Instantly. The ref should always review the tape. It should be a law and if the kick went low? One point. F**k it. One point for low kicks and one point for eye pokes. I guarantee you that s**t would decrease dramatically.

"People would be pissed off, lose fights and say, 'It was only because this guy faked that groin kick,' or whatever, but all you'd need to do is make sure it never happens. That might be the only way to make sure it never happens outside of changing the equipment."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'I think it's fair.' Anderson Silva says Chris Weidman deserves an immediate rematch against UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

You would certainly hope so. If CM Punk loses in UFC debut, Dana White will leave fighting again "up to him."

Still in limbo. Yoel Romero still awaiting B-sample results on alleged drug-test violation.

Brush it off. Matt Serra's advice to Sage Northcutt on haters? "You gotta have a thick skin."

Cowboy vs. Cowboy. Alex Oliveira moves up to 170 pounds to take on Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Pittsburgh.

MEDIA STEW

UFC and Bellator fighters make their Super Bowl picks.

Fabricio Werdum explains why he pulled out of UFC heavyweight title bout.

Roy Nelson's top 5 KO's.

Tim Means explains his situation with USADA.

Johny Hendricks getting that weight off.

Aljamain Sterling and Al Iaquinta break down Hendricks vs. Thompson.

Long watches.

If I Did It: Sage Northcutt's quick tap, Bendo goes to Bellator, Iowa aftermath

...

The UG Show 3, featuring Guest Panelist Dan Hardy

...

TWEETS

You think?

Hmm.

Just know, Oct 2006 - Oct 2007, I fought 8 times All televised fights as well. @ufc wants that part of the monster back HUGE news coming — Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) February 5, 2016

You @stipemiocicufc keep an eye out, because that bag doesn't hit back... — Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) February 5, 2016

Hey, @FabricioWerdum just said "no Rothwell, he not ready for @ufc title" I say "that's exactly what fear sounds like" "I Coming4U" — Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) February 5, 2016

That damn media again.

To @lorenzofertitta and @danawhite, mad #Respect, nothing but love to you guys...reporters always push for a quote to use as a headline... — TheOnceAndFutureKing (@BensonHenderson) February 5, 2016

Longer look.

Get well soon.

Having to get my wisdom teeth out next week.. They've been bothering me for a while pic.twitter.com/pKLWdWfbWa — Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) February 4, 2016

Three Horsewomen.

Celebrating the Rowdy ones birthday last night! We missed you @MarinaShafir https://t.co/bItdvQsGxl pic.twitter.com/m4ikdRG97j — Jessamyn Duke (@jessamynduke) February 4, 2016

Buds.

@DiegoSanchezUFC @Cowboycerrone thanks man. I will get it worked out — tim means (@MeansTim) February 4, 2016

Thank you @mark_munoz for a great wrestling practice today at @rvcasport headquarters. Camp is... https://t.co/vQwRuxNkE8 — michael (@bisping) February 4, 2016

This great athlete/person @tonyfergusonxt showed me some tricks today! This guy understands the... https://t.co/5tTnNfoR7z — Rico Verhoeven (@RicoVerhoeven) February 4, 2016

This was me telling Randy "The Natural" Couture that ISIS has been making threats and is actively trying to kill me. Posted by Tim Kennedy on Thursday, February 4, 2016

Beef.

Or what?

You lost 45% of all your fights.

Not exactly Ronda Rousey are you.... https://t.co/YluuhuYLNv — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 5, 2016

.@piersmorgan @SusanSarandon wow, you googled me? 'Cause I sure as shit don't know how many fights YOU'VE won.... — Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) February 5, 2016

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Feb. 4 2016)

Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Oliveira at UFC Fight Night: Pittsburgh

Timothy Johnson vs. Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night: Zagreb

Mairbek Taisumov vs. Damir Hadzovic at UFC Fight Night: Zagreb

170 Alessio Di Chirico vs. Bojan Velickovic at UFC Fight Night: Zagreb

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.