(Photo via UFC.com)
Fighting on Sunday nights preliminary card for UFC on Versus 4, lightweight Charles Oliveira was able to stop opponent Nik Lentz in the second round with a rear-naked choke submission. Unfortunately for Oliveira, he set up the submission by scoring with an illegal knee to Lentz head who had one knee on the ground.
The illegal knee was totally missed by the referee, but was not though, missed by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission member who was cageside for the event, nor was it missed by the rest of the Consol Engery Center audience who voiced their displeasure with a chorus of boos immediately after the knee landed.
After Oliveira was announced as the winner, color commentator Joe Rogan told the audience that the Commission would be looking into the result of the fight, and may opt to overturn the result by making the bout a “No Contest”.
Oliveira, speaking to Tatame.com, felt that he should still be given the win saying it wasn’t the illegal knee that did all the damage and hopes the Commission will see it his way.
“I didn’t realize he was still (with a knee) on the ground… At the heat of the moment, I wanted to knock him out or submit him. The knee landed and the referee didn’t stop the fight, then I hit him again with another knee. The first one was illegal, but it didn’t hti him on the jaw, and he kept fighting, trying to take me down. The second one actually hurt him”.
“…I think it won’t happen (they won’t change the result). He didn’t go out, he kept on the fight and stood up, then he felt the second knee. There’s no reason to not give me the victory”.
The PSAC should announce their findings within the next day or two, we’ll post their findings once they’ve made their decision.