This video should serve as a reminder that sometimes, the baddest man in the cage isn’t one of the two fighters but the referee tasked with managing all of the captivating action.
Bob’s Blitz spotted this video featuring Ahmad Aswad and Nathias Frederick making their appearance on FIGHT UK MMA – Last Man Standing.
But this video isn’t about the fighters, their budding careers or what appears to be a swift knockout blow from Frederick. It’s about the third party who was in the cage with the two MMA fighters: referee Leon Roberts.
With 40 seconds left in the fight, Frederick drops a devastating left just a moment after connecting with a right. Aswad goes down, and his opponent follows to guarantee this bout has reached its very quick end.
Next Impulse Sports’ Kiley Kmiec spotted this video, breaking down the part that comes at about six minutes, 25 seconds into the above video: “At that moment referee Leon Roberts took it upon himself to make sure it didn’t continue. Just watch and enjoy the great form displayed by the referee who is not to be trifled with.”
Kmiec isn’t the only one impressed with the form, because one announcer chimes in with praise: “Leon Roberts with the slickest back take I have ever seen from an official.”
His colleague counters with, “Anybody who says refs don’t train, watch that.”
The two then take a second to let the remaining moments breathe, making sure of the result before adding any analysis. One announcer notes that Frederick already had the win, intimating the fighter could have been penalized for continuing to pound away.
We couldn’t track down any word from either fighter, but the embrace shared prior to the announcement of Frederick’s victory surely illustrates there was no ill will from either party.
Frederick, it would surely seem, was just caught up in the moment and proceeded to land blow after blow well after it was necessary.
Thankfully, there is a fail-safe in the form of one hulking official with the moves to guarantee a modicum of safety amid a knockout.
Roberts may not have his name by the decision in the fight, but he certainly delivered the most memorable submission of the bout.
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