BUFFALO, N.Y. — It looked like it was going to be an instant classic, until fight officials spoiled the fun and sent the night into chaotic discord.
Gegard Mousasi and Chris Weidman were putting on a show during their middleweight co-main event bout at UFC 210 on Saturday night, when referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the bout in the second round following a Mousasi knee to Weidman’s head.
After originally calling an illegal knee, officials changed the ruling to a legal knee deeming that Weidman only had one hand — not two — on the mat during impact. However, Miragliotta stopped the fight after Weidman seemed disoriented from the knee, and Mousasi was declared the winner of the fight via TKO.
Weidman was visibly upset in the octagon and told reporters he felt okay to continue fighting. He also was upset the officials changed the ruling in the first place, because the New York State Athletic Commission doesn’t allow replays.
Fans booed Mousasi feverishly following the ruling, while the 31-year-old didn’t smile post-fight and told his corner to stop celebrating because of the way the fight ended. Meanwhile, fans around the world lost a chance to see a great fight that could’ve gone either way.
All in all, this was a terrible look for the NYSAC, which has come under fire for the second straight time during a UFC event in the state of New York.
Thumbnail photo via Joshua Dahl/USA TODAY Sports Images
