Making sense of Ferguson’s weird TKO win over Cerrone
Marc RaimondiESPN
CHICAGO — Tony Ferguson left United Middle on Saturday night time a triumphant winner, his victory streak prolonged to 12 and his spot among the many prime contenders within the UFC’s light-weight division preserved. If a punch fell a couple of inches to the correct, although, his UFC 238 might have gone sideways.
Ferguson beat Donald Cerrone by TKO through a health care provider’s stoppage on the finish of the second spherical. Cerrone’s proper eye grew to become swollen shut after blowing his nostril when it was most likely damaged, and the ringside docs decided he might now not adequately defend himself.
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Probably the most weird half got here a couple of seconds earlier. The bell to finish the second spherical sounded and Ferguson was in the course of a putting mixture. Referee Dan Miragliotta was a bit gradual getting in between the 2 fighters and a Ferguson proper hand landed to Cerrone’s face after the horn.
Cerrone was already busted up, his nostril bleeding badly with swelling round each eyes, earlier than the late punch even landed. However due to Ferguson’s after-the-bell blow, Miragliotta checked out a replay to find out whether or not the punch immediately precipitated the end. If it had, Miragliotta might have dominated it a disqualification of Ferguson or a no contest. However the referee mentioned the blow did not land on Cerrone’s eye in query, due to this fact Ferguson received by TKO.
“Actually, I do not even assume the punch landed on his face that facet,” Ferguson instructed ESPN afterward. “It was the opposite facet. It was in the direction of his left eye. I imply, we’re in an emotional combat. I am an emotional fighter. I do not wish to strive to try this s—. I do not purpose to try this s—. Like I mentioned, there’s been so much happening this previous 12 months. We’re in a combat, man. There was lots of drama and s— happening.”
Ferguson was forward on two of the three judges’ scorecards heading into the third spherical.
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone had his proper eye utterly shut after two rounds in his combat in opposition to Tony Ferguson at UFC 238. Alex Garcia for ESPN
Ferguson was out eight months coping with private points, together with his spouse submitting a restraining order request in opposition to him, which was later dropped. Ferguson mentioned he might barely even hear the bell on the finish of the second and was misplaced within the second.
“Yeah, sort of,” Ferguson mentioned of not listening to the horn. “But it surely was extra like, even within the first spherical, going into the second spherical, I used to be simply getting increasingly more amped up. I used to be simply prepared to return and put the strain on the dude.”
Ferguson’s rationalization is the precise cause why referees are skilled to shut in on the fighters because the spherical attracts to an finish, to allow them to bounce in between them proper on the bell.
“Dan’s job is to return between the fighters in order that [punch] hits him and never Donald,” mentioned legendary referee John McCarthy, who now works as a colour commentator for Bellator. “However the combat ended as a result of Donald f—ed up and blew his nostril, which made his eye shut. No physician goes to allow you to combat with a closed eye.”
Cerrone was transported to the hospital Saturday night time due to a damaged proper orbital bone, UFC president Dana White mentioned on the postfight information convention. Followers threw issues into the Octagon when the combat was dominated over as a result of Cerrone couldn’t proceed. White mentioned he felt Miragliotta and Illinois State Athletic Fee officers received issues proper in the long run and bashed spectators who thought Cerrone ought to proceed.
“Anyone that is on this area tonight that thought ‘Cowboy’ ought to have continued to combat needs to be beat with a stick, OK?” White mentioned. “That is simply horrible to assume that that man ought to return in there and combat like that. He would — in fact he would. However he should not and he did not. That is why there’s an athletic fee.”
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Dana White acknowledges that Tony Ferguson hit Donald Cerrone after the bell in his TKO win, however maintains “Tony received that combat, truthful and sq..” For extra UFC motion, join ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
McCarthy mentioned if he have been in Miragliotta’s place, he would have taken a degree from Ferguson for the late punch. However, in fact, that may not have mattered anyway since Cerrone was dominated unable to proceed. Referee and referee coach Rob Hinds, who was watching at house, instructed ESPN that he agreed with Miragliotta’s option to name it a TKO after the replay.
“The punch after the horn had completely nothing to with the end,” Hinds mentioned. “It hit Cerrone on the alternative facet of the face.”
Ferguson mentioned he had no fear that Miragliotta would possibly come again from the replay and disqualify him or name it a no contest.
“I used to be extra impressed with the best way that I jumped again into getting my ass again into the Octagon,” Ferguson mentioned. “I knew already that win or loss, I might be completely satisfied simply getting [in there].”
Regardless of all of the weirdness after the combat, it was Ferguson’s work in the course of the second spherical, peppering Cerrone’s face with punches, in addition to Cerrone’s premature blowing of his nostril that led to the odd TKO. And, at this level, Ferguson will take it.
“Instantly, I noticed his nostril already beginning to bleed,” Ferguson mentioned of the second spherical. “That was the goal that was hitting and I hit it most likely greater than like 15 occasions. … He blew his nostril [between rounds] after which his face received f—ing like a balloon. I noticed it instantly. It was loopy. It is occurred to me earlier than, too. My corners have been telling me, ‘Do not blow your f—ing nostril, do not blow your nostril.’ After which I instantly see his eyes simply begin to shut.”