Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Referee Kevin McDonald waved off a fight between Ion Cutelaba and Magomed Ankalaev pretty early at UFC Norfolk. On Twitter, pro fighters did not agree with him.
Ion Cutelaba was seemingly wobbly, but not out at UFC Norfolk.
After eating some hard shots from Magomed Ankalaev, it seemed like it was only a matter of time until the ‘Hulk’ got knocked out, but he was still up and throwing shots when referee Kevin McDonald stepped in and waved off the fight only 38 seconds into the first round. On Twitter, pro fighters did not agree with the result.
I mean he was def wobbly but… thoughts? #UFCNorfolk
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) March 1, 2020
You reap what you sow #UFCNorfolk
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) March 1, 2020
The rope-a-dope backfired there… weird. #UFCNorfolk
— Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) March 1, 2020
Horrible stoppage, Cutelaba was still fighting!!! #UFCNorfolk
— Mike Trizano (@TheLoneWolfMMA) March 1, 2020
Such a bad stoppage!!#UFCNorfolk
— Herbert Burns (@HerbertBurnsMMA) March 1, 2020
Oooh… that’s a bad one.
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) March 1, 2020
That was straight up stupid!! Knockout??? Are you fucking kidding me?!?! #UFCNorfolk OVERTURN!
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 1, 2020
He wasn’t hurt, he was playing around
— Mike “Biggie” Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) March 1, 2020
What the fuck was that?!? WORST STOPPAGE EVER!!!! #UFCNorfolk
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 1, 2020
Rough stoppage . The ref would love to have a do over ! #UFCNorfolk
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 1, 2020
Atrocious stoppage.. was shaping up to be a fun fight too #UFCNorfolk
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) March 1, 2020
What a horrible stoppage!!!! The man was fighting! This isn’t boxing!! Damn… that was gonna be a barn burner too! #UFCNorfolk
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 1, 2020
Wow I think that guy was playing possum and it back fired.
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) March 1, 2020
The kicks weren’t even landing #UFCNorfolk
— éS (@EricSpicely) March 1, 2020
What the heck did I just watch? #ufcnorfolk
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) March 1, 2020
This was a weird “incage”stare down
Survival mode , stoppage #UFCNorfolk— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) March 1, 2020
I disagree with that stoppage Cutelaba looked fine immediately after the stoppage, he immediately got his legs legs back after the ref stopped it, Bisping might be right he might’ve been baiting Ankalaev to rush him. At the very least it was too early. #UFCNorfolk
— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) March 1, 2020
Did Cutlaba just fake hurt himself into a Loss? #UFCNorfolk
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) March 1, 2020