Austen Lane’s UFC debut didn’t quite go to plan.

The former Jacksonville Jaguar defensive end’s heavyweight bout against Justin Tafa on Sunday morning AEST lasted just 29 seconds, deemed a no contest after a sickening accidental eye gouge.

In the opening round of the main card bout at Jacksonville’s VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, 12-3 Lane inadvertently poked his 6-3 Australian opponent in both eyes, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to step in and call time-out.

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Tafa, who had blood leaking from his right eye, was allotted five minutes to recover, but repeatedly said he couldn’t see out of it – his bottom eyelid appeared to have swollen shut.

Miragliotta eventually waved off the bout, much to the crowd’s disappointment, prompting an argument between the two corners.

Following the bout, 29-year-old Tafa claimed he deserved a win, posting to Twitter on Sunday: “That’s a DQ man.”

Lane apologised for the incident on Twitter: “Justin Tafa … I apologise. Not how I wanted it to go down. That s*** is on me and I hope your eye is alright.

“To the city I call home. The energy you gave me as I was walking out will be something I’ll remember the rest of my life. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you show.”

UFC pros were appalled at the sickening incident, sharing their concern for the NZ-Australian star – a former Melbourne Storm under-20s player.