Neil Magny made history at UFC Perth, but not without controversy.
The perennial contender stepped into the Octagon for the 36th time this weekend, crossing paths with fellow veteran Jake Matthews.
The welterweights fought on the main card of UFC Perth, a few fights before the headliner between Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes.
For a second in the fight, it looked like Matthews had submitted Neil Magny unconscious with a guillotine choke. However, not everything was as it seemed.
- READ MORE: Israel Adesanya’s teammate makes iconic call-back to former champ after electric UFC debut
Referee let Neil Magny’s UFC fight continue after realizing they had stopped it prematurely
Matthews locked up a guillotine choke on Magny in the closing seconds of round 1.
At first glance, it looked like Magny could have been unconscious as his arm moved in a limp-like motion. Upon seeing this, the referee rushed in to stop the fight a second before the round ended.
Magny immediately protested after being released from the choke, saying he wasn’t out.
Magny was then told by the referee the fight was still on. The commentators said it was a ‘nice save’ from the referee after initially stepping in.
In the final round of the fight, it was Magny who locked up a submission and he tapped out Matthews for his 24th UFC win—second most in company history, only behind Jim Miller (27).
Fans speak on Neil Magny vs. Jake Matthews controversy
While Magny was wide awake after the choke was released, some have argued the fight should have ended right then and there since the referee interfered before the round was over.
“Insane turn of events. Never seen that before in the UFC,” one fan said of Magny vs. Matthews.
“Regardless this fight needs to change to a no contest,” another fan said.
“The ref stopped the fight and then changed his mind once he realized he messed up you can’t do that lol YOU STOPPED THE F—— FIGHT
“If I was Jake I would appeal this and for the UFC staff to allow it is crazy,” the fan added.
“The ref pulled Matthews off of him with time on the clock. That is a stoppage. This should be overruled,” another fan complained.
“Damn….. Some controversy with this one. Got subbed in round 1, then it was called off and gets the sub 2 rounds later,” a fan wrote on X.
“Fire the ref and give them a nc [no contest]. Neil’s arm went loose and ref stopped it, that’s the fight,” another fan chimed in.