MMA community erupts after Vyacheslav Kiselev creates an absolute mess as a referee at UFC 267

MMA community erupts after Vyacheslav Kiselev creates an absolute mess as a referee at UFC 267

Vyacheslav Kiselev at UFC 267

The welterweight contest between Benoit Saint-Denis (8-0) and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (22-7) witnessed one of the worst referees we have seen inside the UFC octagon. The fight happened at the prelims of UFC 267, and everyone was shocked by the level of officiating in this one.

After a tough 1st round, Saint Denis was stunned by a big shot from Zaleski. Zaleski realized his opponent was hurt, and he just teed off on him, Denis was definitely out of it, but the referee refused to stop the fight, he just allowed the action to continue, and Denis took unnecessary shots before eventually taking the fight to the ground.

Denis was hurt by an accidental eye poke at the starting of round number 3, and he told the referee that he couldn’t see, the referee ignore his request and ordered him to keep fighting. Denis had no choice but to continue, and he landed an accidental knee to the groin, and the referee deducted a point from him.

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MMA experts were shocked that the referee was even allowed to step inside the octagon, and here are some of the most outrageous reactions from them,

Daniel Cormier, John McCarthy, Michael Chiesa and others reacts to Vyacheslav Kiselev distarous officiating at UFC 267

Daniel Cormier was in the commentary team for this one and he was in awe after what he saw. He took to Twitter to express his concern, he wrote, “Honestly the worst performance I have seen from a referee in my life. Honestly a hard job but man unreal. Makes you respect the good ones like @JasonHerzogMMA @JohnMcCarthyMMA @HerbDeanMMA and many more. I hated watching that I hope Benoit is heading to hospital right now !”

Michael Chiesa was disappointed by this incident and he wrote, “The most important role of an MMA referee is to protect the fighters. This referee is doing a terrible job of that, in more ways than one. #UFC267”

Long-time MMA referee and fight promoter, John McCarthy urged the commission to suspend the referee, he wrote, “Holy Hell, @marcgoddard_uk @MarcRatnerUFC I just watched the worst job of officiating at an @UFC event ever!!! Please just don’t let him do another fight….. EVER!!!”

Mike Bohn hoped that the referee was pulled out from any other assignments for the night, he wrote, “Let’s not use referee Vyacheslav Kiselev for the rest of the night. UFC broadcast team accurately tearing him a new one for fumbling this fight. #UFC267”

After a lot of drama, Vyacheslav Kiselev was pulled out from any further assignments for the night.

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