Werdum's TKO loss at PFL 3 overturned to no-contest

The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) overturned the controversial result of the PFL bout between Fabricio Werdum and Renan Ferreira to a no-contest, the league announced Monday.

Ferreira initially won the fight, which headlined PFL 3 last Thursday, via first-round TKO. He escaped a submission attempt by Werdum and pummeled the former UFC heavyweight champion with ground-and-pound shots until referee Keith Peterson intervened.

However, the replay showed Ferreira appeared to tap out to Werdum's triangle choke earlier in the round, and Werdum was adamant afterward that he should've won the bout. Peterson seemed to miss the tap because he was situated on the other side of the fighters.

NJSACB commissioner Larry Hazzard Sr. decided to overturn the result after watching the replay of the tap from different angles and talking to expert sources, including the referee, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.

Peterson told Hazzard that he if saw Ferreira's tap in real time, he "likely" would have stopped the fight, according to a letter obtained by Raimondi.

Werdum and Ferreira each earn one point in the PFL heavyweight tournament for the no-contest, the promotion announced. Ferreira initially had six points and Werdum zero after the TKO result.

Werdum made his PFL debut last Thursday after leaving the UFC in 2020. The Brazilian submitted Alexander Gustafsson in his final UFC bout, ending an eight-year tenure with the promotion.

Ferreira was also competing in the PFL for the first time. He now holds a professional record of 6-2 (1 NC).