There was confusion aplenty throughout Saturday’s scrap between Jake Matthews and Neil Magny at UFC Perth.
With solely seconds left within the first spherical, Matthews cinched in a rear-naked choke on Magny. As referee Jim Perdios moved in, Magny’s arm appeared to go limp, prompting him to seemingly cease the struggle. Matthews popped up believing he’d simply scored himself a first-round end.
Then controversy reared its ugly head.
After being separated, Magny appeared to be conscious and immediately protested the stoppage. Peridos mentioned that the struggle was nonetheless on and allowed the scrap to maneuver onto the second spherical regardless of breaking apart the fighters simply earlier than the bell.
Like many followers watching from all over the world, UFC vice chairman of worldwide and content material Dave Shaw thought the struggle was over, and believes Peridos made a mistake.
“The entire state of affairs was unusual,” Shaw mentioned on the UFC Perth post-fight press conference. “There was confusion the place we have been sitting. There have been a lot of us simply speaking via the particulars. I feel in the long run, and everybody goes to have a special place, however as we noticed it, the arm appeared to go a little bit bit limp. Magny’s arm type of got here out and flopped a little bit bit as if he’s about to exit. My solely assumption – I don’t need to speculate – my solely assumption is that the ref assumed that he was going out and appeared to have stopped the struggle.
“I feel objectively, and to most individuals – possibly completely different individuals have completely different opinions right here – however it appeared like he stopped the struggle, and he stopped the struggle importantly earlier than the bell. Now, there didn’t appear to be a lot time earlier than the bell, and that’s the place the confusion began. Jake acquired off due to the bell; very clearly, the ref thought that Neil was coming to it, or he was positive, and allowed the struggle to proceed.”
“So, the place will we go from right here? Mathews’ camp is ready to launch some type of enchantment, however that is all within the palms of Western Australia Fight Fee, so it’s as much as them to find out what the subsequent step is, and I’m probably not certain what the scope of the method can be and whether or not or not they might levy a no-decision,” Shaw added. “However there gave the impression to be a mistake.”
Matthews planning to enchantment controversial choice at UFC Perth
Matthews continued to manage issues within the second stanza, however it all got here crashing down within the third after Magny pulled off an unimaginable come-from-behind end, submitting Matthews via a d’arce choke with two minutes left within the struggle.
Matthews and his workforce plan to enchantment the choice.
“Sure, we will likely be interesting,” Matthews’ workforce informed BJPenn.com in an e mail assertion.
