The UFC made a grand return to T-Mobile Arena for the Noche UFC event on September 17, and it was an absolute banger of a show. Almost every fight on the card lived up to expectations, but Daniel Cormier doesn’t feel the same about one of the matches.
The match in contention is none other than the one between Daniel Lacerda and Edgar Chairez, as it ended in an abrupt manner. In what was later confirmed to be an error by referee Chris Tognoni, the bout went from being a submission win for Edgar to a no-contest ending.
As the fight ended in a way not many may have expected, Cormier expressed his disbelief by comparing the finish of this match to a WWE-like finish. Sharing disappointment through his X handle, the 44-year-old wrote, “Like WWE. When roddy piper put the sleeper you have to check the arm. Lift it up man. Make sure!” (Via: X)
Like wwe. When roddy piper put the sleeper you have to check the arm. Lift it up man. Make sure! https://t.co/OeBtY7nG2m
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 17, 2023
It must be noted that the match between Lacerda and Chairez was going on smoothly, but things took an unusual turn after Edgar locked up a standing anaconda choke along the cage. Even though it looked to be quite tight, Daniel still had the fight in him, but as his arms looked to have fallen limp, the referee rushed in immediately.
The fighter’s reaction after the breakoff looked like the referee had stopped the action prematurely, but after video replays, it was confirmed that Chris did not give Daniel enough time to defend the attempt. Therefore, the match ended controversially as the referee’s error took it from a submission end to a no-contest.
Fans react to controversial finish at UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko
It wasn’t just Cormier who couldn’t believe how the match between Edgar and Daniel ended, but fans also felt the same. The audience wasted no time in taking out their frustration after witnessing this controversial finish at UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko.
Suggesting how the UFC should restart matches after this type of finish, an MMA fan wrote, “I don’t see why they can’t just review it then restart the fight.” “Ref should have checked arm bad stop,” a combat sports lover recommended. Referring to the stop by referee was horrible, another audience member said, “Horrible stoppage…atleast give the guy a chance.” (Via: X)
Looking at how UFC fans have also shown disappointment towards the controversial ending to the Chairez vs. Lacerda bout, it’s clear that they are unhappy. However, nothing much can be done about it, but this incident can at least be considered as an example so that no such controversy occurs in the future. Or maybe the fight should be resumed in such cases. What do you think?
