[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFRXGeBkLrU&w=560&h=315]
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the PFL live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Everyone has an opinion about the latest Professional Fighters League controversial
stoppage. It’s been a long time since a fight result has brought so much
controversy to the Brazilian MMA community. Considered one of the
most popular MMA fighters in the country, former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight
champion Fabricio
Werdum received strong support from the fans on social media
after his last bout. Atop
PFL 3: 2021 Regular Season, Werdum seemed to have forced
Renan
Ferreira to tap out to a triangle choke, but Ferreira denied
this and went on to knock Werdum out. To shed some light on the
matter, Sherdog spoke to three different parties: Werdum, Ferreira
and respected Brazilian referee Osiris Maia.
“He got the triangle,” Ferreira admitted, “But it was not so tight
and was placed on his [side] in a good position [to] keep punishing
him, and I kept on attacking him all the time and he kept
tightening the triangle. After the fight, Ferreira went straight
the doctors, which explains why he was unable to give a post-fight
interview like Werdum did.
Attacked by Werdum fans and called “bad character” by “Vai Cavalo,”
Ferreira didn’t want to answer Werdum and his fans unless he had
to.
“I have a lot of respect for Werdum,” Ferreira said. “What the
commission decides I will obey, I’m sure I was the winner last
night, so my focus now is on the next phase on June 25 and I’m
boarding [a flight] to Vegas now where I’ll start my camp right
away.”
Werdum was not so convinced.
“When I closed the triangle 100 percent, he tapped,” Werdum stated.
“And when I felt him tapping, I relaxed. That’s something automatic
for anyone who trains BJJ. ‘Respect the tap’ is the number one
honor code of BJJ. If you see my fights with Fedor [Emelianenko]
and [Alexander] Gustafsson they tap once and I immediately let go,
I never wanted to hurt my opponents [or be] known like Rousimar
Palhares.
“The fact is that Renan knows he tapped, and the biggest proof of
that is that he did not publish any celebration on his social
media,” Werdum continued. “I already know that PFL and the athletic
commission will change the result. I’m not sure if they will give
me the win (six points) or no contest (one point) once it was not
announced officially, but the result will be overturned for
sure.”
Werdum also revealed that he is traveling to Brazil for medical
exams that will decide if he can compete in June.
“I went to sleep at 4 a.m. with very strong headaches, still
feeling dizzy when I stand up, so I will decide with the doctors,
after I [get my head examined], if I will be able to return on June
or not. But I believe so, at least that’s what I’m willing to do.
But of course, my health [is most important].”
Maia did not fault referee Keith Peterson for potentially missing
the tap on the other side, nor did he blame Ferreira for continuing
to strike even though he may have tapped out.
“Definitely I don’t see any mistake from the referee not in
position [to] stop the fight,” the veteran ref affirmed. “The main
function of the referee is [to] protect the fighter when he cannot
protect himself anymore. As we say: ‘[give me a reason to stop the
fight].’ To stop a fight, the referee needs to see clearly that one
is in [danger] and that’s not what happened Thursday. Renan was
active attacking and bringing risk to Werdum all the time, and the
biggest proof of that is that Werdum kept the triangle tight all
the time. If I was the referee, I would have the same attitude, and
wouldn’t interrupt the fight.”
About the possibility of Werdum’s team appealing the decision, Maia
doesn’t believe Werdum will succeed.
“The video [replay] may be used by some athletic commissions when
there is a clear mistake in the fact that decided the fight. For
example, if a stomp from the guard was in downed position. It’s not
the case here, where it was a matter of interpretation of the
referee. [The New Jersey] Athletic Commission is one of the most
strict. I don’t believe they will overturn that result,” Maia
concluded.
