WATCH: Referee flies to save UFC vet after BRUTAL knockout at OKTAGON 51

Referee takes the spotlight as he jumps into action after Karlos Vemola Karlos Vemola gets brutally knocked out against Samuel Kristofic.

WATCH: Referee flies to save UFC vet after BRUTAL knockout at OKTAGON 51

Referee jumps into action after Karlos Vemola's gets brutally knocked out against Samuel Kristofic (via X)

Oktagon 51 was recently held in Prague, Czech Republic. This event gave the MMA world one of the most spectacular knockouts in history. Samuel Kristofic knocked out UFC veteran Karlos Vemola in a vicious fight. At 1:48 of the first round, Kristofic landed a powerful two-punch combination that left Vemola stiff and crashing to the mat.

The referee’s prompt and decisive response made this knockout particularly remarkable. As soon as  Vemola became stiff, the referee sprang into action, diving over the collapsed Vemola to protect him. The referee’s quick action stopped any additional follow-up strikes. This demonstrated the necessity of prompt officiating to protect the fighters’ safety.

YouTube video

Karlos Vemola, famed for his several first-round knockouts during his career, came into the fight as a huge favorite. Kristofic, who has a 17-6 record, was desperate to snap his two-fight losing streak. Kristofic’s short left, followed by a strong right, ended the bout in a dramatic manner. It ended up turning off Vemola’s lights. This comes after a long time of trash-talking between the two.

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After the referee’s intervention, Samuel Kristofic celebrated his victory. He made a joyful return to the win column since his unanimous decision win over Zdenek Polivka at Oktagon 36 in October.

Oktagon MMA starts using open scoring for fights, starting from this event.


Oktagon MMA declared its adoption of open scoring for all fights, commencing with the recent Oktagon 51 event in Prague on December 29. This event featured the famed fight between Karlos Vemola and Samuel Kristofic. This decision distinguishes Oktagon MMA, as the European promotion becomes one of the few organizations worldwide to use open scoring. Its decision to embrace open scoring reflects a commitment to innovation and the well-being of its fighters.

Oktagon MMA adopts open scoring system atarting from the Okatagon 51 event
Oktagon MMA adopts an open scoring system starting from the Okatagon 51 event (via Yahoo Sports UK/ Oktagonmma.com)

After each round, open scoring reveals judges’ scores to fighters, coaches, spectators, and viewers. This offers real-time insights into the ongoing event. The athletes and coaches in the corner will have instant access to the scores.

This will allow them to modify their plans based on the perceived condition of the fight. This change is in response to fighters’ requests for increased openness in scoring throughout the years. This will empower combatants with information on their performance standing during the fight.

While open scoring is a great step towards resolving fairness problems, critics say that it may result in tactical adjustments in the last phases of a fight. Fighters with a substantial lead on the scorecards may take a more conservative approach to safeguard their advantage, which may reduce the overall excitement of the contest.

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