“Needs To Be Fired” – Fans Erupt as UFC Shanghai Fighter Continues After Brutal Illegal Knee

Referee Marc Goddard shockingly allowed Kiefer Crosbie to continue against Taiyilake Nueraji after illegal knee at UFC Shanghai.

“Needs To Be Fired” – Fans Erupt as UFC Shanghai Fighter Continues After Brutal Illegal Knee

UFC Shanghai illegal knee mishap between Taiyilake Nueraji and Kiefer Crosbie (via UFC on X)

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The UFC has seen its fair share of lopsided victories and illegal moves. However, fighters depend on referees to decide whether a move is unlawful. The moves also give a fighter an advantage as they damage their opponent to the point of no quick recovery. The UFC Shanghai event just recorded a controversial fight between Taiyilake Nueraji and Kiefer Crosbie that has left fans divided.

The welterweight matchup included Nueraji making his UFC debut after a successful Road to the UFC season. However, he landed an illegal knee while Crosbie was already on the ground in the first round. Popular referee Marc Goddard was expected to stop the fight and disqualify Nueraji after his illicit knee strike. However, Goddard allowed Crosbie to continue and deducted two points from Nueraji.

Crosbie’s decision to continue acted in favor of his opponent. With a vicious cut from the illegal knee, leaking blood all over the Octagon, the Irishman moved forward. Unfortunately, this resulted in a brutal knockout as Nueraji wasted no time and elbowed the head of his opponent just thirty seconds after the controversial moment.

Crosbie had previously suffered two straight first-round UFC submission defeats, the first to Kevin Jousset by rear-naked choke at UFC 293, and the second to Sam Patterson via arm-triangle choke at UFC 304. These defeats have put Crosbie in a challenging position in the promotion.

Illegal knees have a long and controversial history in the UFC, often changing the outcome of major fights and sparking debates about rules and fighter safety.

One of the most infamous examples came at UFC 259 in 2021, when Petr Yan landed an illegal knee on a grounded Aljamain Sterling. This resulted in a disqualification that crowned Sterling as the new bantamweight champion, marking the first title ever won in the UFC by DQ.

Fans react to Marc Goddard’s decision to continue the fight between Taiyilake Nueraji and Kiefer Crosbie at UFC Shanghai

The UFC Shanghai event was a significant success, with many fights ending in a finish. However, the fight between Taiyilake Nueraji and Kiefer Crosbie is under controversy due to the decision of referee Marc Goddard not to end the fight as soon as the illegal strike landed. Goddard has often been under pressure due to fans questioning his choices.

Taiyilake Nueraji vs Kiefer Crosbie at UFC Shanghai
Taiyilake Nueraji vs Kiefer Crosbie at UFC Shanghai (via MMA Fighting)

However, fans are divided regarding the controversial fight between Nueraji and Crosbie. Neither fighter had seen victory in the UFC until the UFC Shanghai event, and they were hungry for their moment. Fans are criticizing Goddard and are asking for his immediate removal from the position.

Crosbie’s decision to fight on ultimately led to a first-round TKO loss, leaving fans and analysts debating whether a disqualification would have been the fairer outcome. The incident illustrates both the critical role of referees in maintaining fighter safety and the risks competitors take when choosing to persevere through illegal strikes.

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