Saturday night’s fight card at the UFC APEX kicked off with a bit of controversy. Lightweight Max Rohskopf wanted out of his prelim fight with Austin Hubbard entering the third round, which he repeatedly told his coach Robert Drysdale.
Inside the corner of Max Rohskopf before the fight is called off at #UFCVegas3 pic.twitter.com/hZrfnaMObt
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 20, 2020
Drysdale wasn’t willing to accept his fighter’s surrender, despite pleas from the fatigued and hurt Rohskopf. The fight was finally called to a halt when Rohskopf himself informed an official.
Now, the Nevada Athletic Commission may get involved and impose a sanction on Drysdale and his fellow coaches.
“That’s something we will take a look at,” NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told ESPN. “We might want to take disciplinary action on them. That doesn’t sound like they are looking out for a fighter. Obviously, he didn’t want to come out [and fight)].”
For his part, Drysdale isn’t regretting how he handled the situation.
“I stand by what I did,” Drysdale said in a separate statement to ESPN. “I expect excellence from the people I train because I love them. He wasn’t seriously hurt, and I felt he needed a mental push. I would expect the same from my coach.
“We will be back. Max is a champion.”
Rohskopf, who was making his debut against Hubbard, stepped in as a late replacement for Joe Solecki. The 25-year-old NCAA Division I wrestler now drops to a professional record of 5-1.
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