‘Cheating’ controversy erupts as UFC stars win after illegal blows

Fighters were absolutely livid when two UFC stars’ illegal moves were allowed to stand and they were awarded hugely controversial wins.

Illegal strikes rocked the UFC.

Some devastating strikes and controversial finishes took centre stage at a UFC fight card in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Belal Muhammad defeated Vicente Luque via unanimous decision in the main event but before that there was a fiery end to the clash between Martin Buday and Chris Barnett, which saw the judges favour Buday on the scorecards as he scored a win by technical decision despite his opponent’s protests.

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Buday rocked Barnett with an illegal elbow to the back of the head but referee Dan Miragliotta declared it was accidental. The fight was stopped and the judges had Buday ahead at the time, so he won after landing the blow that brought a premature end to the contest.

Barnett complained after the fight was stopped and plenty thought Buday’s rogue elbow was intentional, suggesting he should have been disqualified.

30-27
30-27
30-27

Martin Buday scores a technical unanimous decision victory at #UFCVegas51pic.twitter.com/5yu3YcINxk

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 16, 2022

UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou said on Twitter the elbow was “clearly intentional” while Junior dos Santos wrote: “Clearly intentional! I don’t know what kind of s*** is going in on those guys heads. And the referee saying it was an accident. BS.

“Elbow on the back of the head is never, never an accident. Why it’s so hard for those *** apply the f rules.”

So if I get up in a fight all I have to do is land an illegal shot so the dr stops it and I win? Hmm interesting!!

— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) April 16, 2022

How is that not intentional? Seriously. The man has his back turned against the cage, what else could he be aiming at? #UFCVegas51

— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) April 16, 2022

MMA has to be the only sport where it's OK to cheat as long as it is an "accident." #UFCVegas51

— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) April 16, 2022

The controversy kept coming when Caio Borralho defeated Gadzh Omargadzhiev via another technical decision in similar circumstances. Borralho’s illegal knee to his grounded opponent was ruled accidental and he escaped with the win because he was ahead on the judges’ scorecards — but nobody agreed with the call.

MMA journalist Shaheen Al-Shatti tweeted: “How on earth are we dealing with this again? If that’s not an intentional strike, no strike is intentional.

“The lesson from tonight: Always cheat. Always. Because no one in MMA knows the rules.”

Others in the future and you are almost encouraging a fighter to take this route. The stakes are too high and ppl cheat. That is why this situation is in the rule book, probably an entire section.

— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) April 17, 2022

Nevada really needs to change that rule.

It's a remarkably bad rule without a knee on the ground to count that as an illegal strike. #UFCVegas51

— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) April 17, 2022

These illegal strikes tonight should be a DQ or no contest at the very least…🤷🏼‍♂️ #UFCVegas51

— John Wood (@bigwoodmma) April 17, 2022

The fight ended due to a strike that was deemed illegal. How can that not be a DQ?

That'll surely be appealed. #UFCVegas51

— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) April 17, 2022

Earlier, Devin Clark knocked William Knight senseless in the third round of their fight — the final bout on the preliminary card in Sin City. A left hook rocked Knight and sent him tumbling down against the Octagon, before Clark followed up with a vicious barrage of blows that forced the referee to jump in and stop proceedings.

Devin Clark with a STATEMENT in a new division pic.twitter.com/e4q6ke9AS4

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) April 17, 2022

On the main card, Andre Fialho obliterated Miguel Baeza in the first round. A left hook followed by some uppercuts saw blood pour from Baeza’s face, then another savage left hand sent him crashing to the canvas.

Fialho finishes Baeza with authority 👊⚡️ ️#UFCVegas51pic.twitter.com/6SynvSvxL2

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 17, 2022

Results

Main card

Belal Muhammad defeated Vicente Luque via unanimous decision (49-46 x 2, 48-47)

Caio Borralho defeated Gadzh Omargadzhiev via technical decision (29-27 x 3)

Andre Fialho defeated Miguel Baeza via TKO (4:39, R1)

Mayra Bueno Silva defeated Wu Yanan via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27)

Pat Sabatini defeated TJ Laramie via unanimous decision (30-26 x 3)

Mounir Lazzez defeated Ange Loosa via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)

Preliminary card

Devin Clark defeated William Knight via TKO (3:21, R3)

Pannie Kianzad defeated Lina Lansberg via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)

Drakkar Klose defeated Brandon Jenkins via (0:33, R2)

Rafa Garcia defeated Jesse Ronson via submission (4:50, R2)

Martin Buday defeated Chris Barnett via technical decision (30-27 x 3)

Jordan Leavitt defeated Trey Ogden via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x 2)

Sam Hughes defeated Istela Nunes via majority decision (29-27 x 2, 28-28)

Alatengheili defeated Kevin Croom via TKO (0:47, R1)

Originally published as ‘Cheating’ controversy erupts as UFC stars win after illegal blows