Watch: “Referee of the year”- Fans troll referee after fighter gets knocked out twice in regional MMA event
Recent MMA event video exposes a referee's lapse during a knockout, raising concerns about fighter safety and the crucial role of referees in combat sports.
Referee lapse causes double knockout (Image via: X/Art of War)
Referees are an integral part of combat sports. Unlike other sports where the referees ensure fairness, the role of a referee in combat sports is much more. A referee in combat sports’ primary duty is to ensure the health and safety of the fighters.
Popular X account Art of War recently uploaded a video of a referee lapse in a regional MMA event. In the video, a bald fighter knocks out the other fighter with a spinning heel kick. However, the referee does not stop the fight. As the fighter gets up, another right hook knocks him down again. The way he fell was like when Jiri Prochazka knocked out Dominick Reyes with a spinning elbow.
The bald fighter had a superior skillset than the fighter in the blue corner. He was visibly more fluid and explosive than the other fighter. Moreover, he had an exponentially longer reach, which he used to full advantage. Furthermore, his fight style mimicked that of Michael Venom Page, who recently signed with the UFC.
Page had a successful career in Bellator MMA. Even though he did not become a champion, he scored several highlight-reel knockouts at Bellator. Page’s contract had ended before Bellator merged with the PFL, and hence the UFC signed him. He will make his debut against Kevin Holland at UFC 299.
Netizens react to the referee lapse at a regional MMA event
The officials cageside at the regional MMA event, showed immediate displeasure at the late stoppage by the referee. The video spread like wildfire on social media platform X. It already got views of close to 500K in a very short span. Some sided with the referee whilst others criticized him.
See how the netizens on X reacted to the video of the referee lapse.
From the responses on X, it became evident that it was a tricky situation for the referee. However, that does not mean he is not at fault. Moreover, one fighter with a superior skillset did not help matters either. One fact lost in the debate was the technical proficiency of the winner of the bout.
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Safeer Marottickal Sakeer
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