WATCH: Drunk Merab Dvalishvili vents out frustration at referee Marc Goddard for Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira stoppage

Exploring the differing reactions of Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili to Marc Goddard's controversial stoppage at UFC 295, highlighting the subjective nature of refereeing in MMA.

WATCH: Drunk Merab Dvalishvili vents out frustration at referee Marc Goddard for Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira stoppage

Merab Dvalishvili criticizes Marc Goddard for early stoppage on UFC 295 main event (Image via: IMAGO, MMA fighting)

Top-ranked bantamweights Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili were at a watch party for UFC 295. The main event in MSG between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira for the event ended in controversy. Referee Marc Goddard called off the fight at the end of the second round after successive elbows from Pereira made Prochazka fall over.

The stoppage by Goddard upset Dvalishvili. He was visibly drunk at the party. The sentiment was shared live on air by Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan, but they came around after further review. However, the Georgian bantamweight did not mince his words about the stoppage. This is what Dvalishvili had to say about the stoppage:

Yeah, bro, it's too much. Bro, Marc Goddard has to stop this, early stoppage, bro, early stoppage, bro......I'll tell you this, bullsh*t, come on, bro, it was a push, push.
Merab Dvalishvili via YouTube.
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Dvalishvili and Sterling are close friends, but their opinions on the stoppage differ. Sterling agreed with the stoppage and believed the result would not have changed if it had gone longer. On the other hand, Dvalishvili showcased intense frustration with the decision of Marc Goddard. It needs to be noted that Dvalishvili had one of the best come-from-behind victories in the UFC. It was against Marlon Moraes at UFC 266.

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Moraes badly hurt Dvalishvili in the first round of their fight and was on the verge of getting finished. However, referee Keith Peterson let the fight go on, resulting in a second-round TKO for Dvalishvili. Interestingly, Marc Goddard was the referee when Aljamain Sterling lost to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. He was also the referee in the heated title fight between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington at UFC 245. Both fights ended in a questionable stoppage.

Merab Dvalishvili blasted Marc Goddard for stopping UFC 292 main event

Sean O’Malley became the undisputed bantamweight champion at UFC 293. He earned the victory with a second-round TKO over Aljamain Sterling. O’Malley dropped Sterling with a counter right straight and followed with ground strikes. Marc Goddard stopped the fight before Sterling took further damage.

Merab Dvalishvili criticizes Marc Goddard for early stoppage on the UFC 292 main event
Merab Dvalishvili criticizes Marc Goddard for early stoppage on the UFC 292 main event (Image via: MMA Mania)

Merab Dvalishvili was in Sterling’s corner for the fight and was very upset by the stoppage. At the moment, Sterling also protested the stoppage but accepted the stoppage as timely. Dvalishvili even vented his frustration on X (formerly Twitter). This is what Dvalishvili tweeted:

Another F**king Early Stoppage! I pray that me or my teammates don't have Mark Goddard in the cage again. We are FIGHTERS … let us fight til the end ! #UFC292"

Marc Goddard has had his fair share of opposition from fighters. Merab Dvalishvili and Colby Covington are at the forefront of the protestors. Nevertheless, Goddard continues to be one of the best referees in the world. Both Sterling and Prochazka have accepted the referee’s decision for their respective losses. Only Colby Covington continues to blame Goddard for his loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC 245.

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