Not everyone is piling in on referee Jason Herzog after his controversial lack of intervention in one record-setting fight at UFC Abu Dhabi.
There were plenty of impressive performances and notable results for fans and analysts to digest in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, including Reinier de Ridder’s win over Robert Whittaker in the main event and the latest victory in Petr Yan’s career resurgence in the co-headliner.
But as was the case after Derrick Lewis knocked out Tallison Teixeira earlier this month, one of the main talking points is the work of Jason Herzog.
The veteran referee was criticized for having a quick trigger at UFC Nashville, but the opposite was the case at UFC Abu Dhabi. Herzog allowed Mohammad Yahya to suffer eight knockdowns, six of which were officially recognized by the promotion to set a new promotional record.
Herzog was widely slammed in the aftermath by those who believe he failed in his responsibility to protect the fighter. But he does have at least one defender…
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Din Thomas backs Jason Herzog’s decision not to stop controversial UFC Abu Dhabi beatdown
During ESPN’s UFC Fight Night Post Show, former fighters Michael Bisping and Din Thomas gave their thoughts on Herzog’s controversial decision to let Yahya fight on for as long as he did.
After Bisping said in no uncertain terms that the veteran official made a mistake, Thomas went against the grain with his take. The ex-UFC lightweight surprisingly agreed with Herzog’s decision to give Yahya as much time as possible in front of his home fans.
“I am not one to allow a ref to let a fighter to have a moral victory, but this was a situation where I was like, ‘Okay,'” Thomas said.
“This guy, he hasn’t had a win in the UFC. This guy comes out in front of his home town and puts up that gutsy performance.
“I am okay with letting him go a little bit longer,” Thomas added.
Mohammad Yahya avoided a facial fracture, but another UFC Abu Dhabi fighter did not
Miraculously, despite the heavy superficial damage that was visible, Yahya escaped his beatdown at the hands of Nguyen without suffering any facial fractures.
That fact was confirmed by commentator John Gooden later on the UFC Abu Dhabi broadcast, but the same good news did not arrive for another fighter who fell to a violent fate at Etihad Arena.
Just two fights after fans feared for Yahya’s health and orbital bone, Amanda Ribas fell on the same side of a similar devastating result. Ribas was finished by fellow countrywoman Tabatha Ricci, who connected with a vicious elbow in the clinch.
The UFC Abu Dhabi fight saw Ribas once again fracture her orbital bone, and she revealed on Instagram that she now requires surgery.