MMA community reacts to strange Chiesa-Lee finish at UFC Oklahoma City
Warning: Social media posts contain coarse language
The main event of Sunday's UFC Fight Night 112 event in Oklahoma City ended in controversial fashion when the fight appeared to be called off prematurely, and folks were amused, to put it lightly.
Kevin Lee picked up a strange submission win over Michael Chiesa when referee Mario Yamasaki ruled that Chiesa had passed out in a rear-naked choke. Chiesa immediately stood up to protest the stoppage, which raised questions about the decision.
Chiesa's fellow fighters (and UFC president Dana White) immediately took to Instagram and Twitter to put Yamasaki on blast.
@ufc if I ever get Yamasaki as a ref there's gonna be two fights that night
— Vinc Pichel (@FromHellPichel) June 26, 2017
Very bad stoppage
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) June 26, 2017
Just ran home to see that ! No tap !? That sucks man. Feel for chiesa. Look what Kish got out of earlier in night. Not over.
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) June 26, 2017
They need to get Yamasaki out of here man. Go learn some jits before trying to ref mma. Keep your head up @MikeMav22. #UFCOkahoma
— kajan johnson (@IamRagin) June 26, 2017
This our sport ladies and gentlemen, and what we deal w/whenever we step into that cage. Mike wudve went out on his shield...LET HIM! 🤦🏾♂️
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) June 26, 2017
Is this fight in NY? I didn't see Mike tap but the ref stopped it? Wtf?? @ufc
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) June 26, 2017
That Yamasaki decision to stop the fight robbed Lee of the tap and Chiesa of the escape. Bad! Just let it go. It's a choke! #UFCOKC
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 26, 2017
1000% No harm to fighter if they sleep for a bit. Better to be safe, than sorry... #smh #UFCOKC https://t.co/oNDOw6uQGx
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) June 26, 2017
When are referees gonna be held accountable for bad calls? I know it's a tough job but a bad call changes people's lives
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 26, 2017
Sure the choke seemed deep, but man, let him go out on his own terms! Yamasaki sucks, PERIOD!!!! https://t.co/QWNM21hqQI
— Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) June 26, 2017