Referee Mike Beltran caused controversy at UFC Vegas 82 by stopping the lightweight preliminary bout between Trey Ogden and Nikolas Motta, which Ogden was dominating, with a disputed call that led to the fight being declared a no contest and drew criticism from both the fighters and the MMA community.
Referee Mike Beltran sparked controversy during UFC Vegas 82, particularly in the lightweight preliminary bout between Trey Ogden and Nikolas Motta. Despite Ogden’s dominance throughout the fight, Beltran’s abrupt stoppage in the third round left Motta furious as the match was declared a no contest. MMA fighters and the wider UFC community were left scratching their heads at the questionable decision.
Many fighters expressed their frustration with the stoppage. Brian Kelleher pointed out the difficulty in showing movement or signaling to the referee, as it could exacerbate the choke and lead to a split-second mistake. Terrance McKinney highlighted the financial implications of a premature stoppage, stating that fighters could lose out on half their pay if the fight is ended too early. Dominick Cruz criticized the stoppage for its impact on the fighters, emphasizing that the arm triangle on Motta was not fully secured. Cody Durden also expressed his outrage at the situation, questioning the lack of win money and potential bonuses for Motta.
Despite Ogden’s dominant performance for the majority of the fight, it was declared a no contest, prompting confusion and frustration among UFC fighters. Julian Marquez highlighted the inconsistency in scoring, questioning why accidental eye pokes resulting in an inability to continue would still be scored after 1.5 rounds, while Ogden’s dominance was not acknowledged in the decision. The controversy surrounding the stoppage prompted a strong reaction from the MMA community and raised questions about the role and decision-making of referees in UFC matches.