During the light-heavyweight fight between Johnny Walker and Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, chaos ensued. As Walker absorbed an illegal knee to the head, the referee paused the match, allowing him five minutes to recover from the concussion-inducing blow. However, when the doctor arrived, he swiftly determined that Walker was unable to continue, leaving viewers puzzled about the doctor's diagnosis given Walker's apparent lucidity on television. This confusion escalated when reports indicated that Walker had responded to the doctor's inquiry about his whereabouts with 'the desert.'
Moments after the doctor relayed his assessment to the referee, Walker became livid, pushing the referee and vehemently protesting the doctor's decision. Meanwhile, Ankalaev and the Brazilian fighter engaged in attempts to reach each other amidst the turmoil. The commotion grew so intense that Dana White, President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), left his seat to intervene and restore order inside the octagon.
Ultimately, ring announcer Bruce Buffer addressed the bewildered crowd, declaring the fight a 'no contest' due to the doctor's advice resulting from the foul committed against Walker. Conor McGregor, another member of SBG gym in Ireland, expressed his astonishment at the decision, arguing that it should have been considered a disqualification win in Walker's favor since he suffered an illegal blow to the jaw that rendered him unable to continue.
The controversy surrounding the doctor's judgment did not end with Walker's fight. Earlier in the evening, the same doctor confronted fighter Victor Henry, dismissing his claim of being kicked in the testicles. Despite Henry's obvious discomfort and his emotional response, the doctor asserted that the blow did not target his genitals, causing frustration among the commentators. Jon Anik, the fight commentator, expressed disbelief that the doctor could confidently deny an obvious low blow.
In contrast to the doctor's assessment, referee Daniel Movahedi disagreed and declared a foul, thus concluding the bout. The crowd, disappointed by the decision, resorted to booing in response. Now, it remains to be seen whether the verdict will be overturned, or the fight will be rescheduled as soon as possible, providing an opportunity for redemption.
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