Referee is hit after breaking up frank striking in an MMA fight. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter @Grabaka_Hitman
An unusual scene marked Extreme Fighting Championship 98, held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Responsible for conducting the MMA confrontation between Martin von Staden and Ziko Magengele, referee Wiekus Swart got the worst of it when he tried to interrupt a 'frank exchange' between the athletes and ended up collapsing after receiving a blow from a collision. Victim of a precise attack, the professional had to be replaced.
In the images (see below), published by the profile '@Grabaka_Hitman', it is possible to clearly perceive the moment of the attack. Wiekus' interruption would occur to separate the athletes after the end of the first round. By placing himself between the fighters, Ziko, unintentionally, ends up hitting the referee, who immediately collapsed.
Unable to continue leading the fight, Swart ended up leaving the cage.
With a new referee, the confrontation continued. Pivotal to the initial referee's absence, Magengele managed to knock out the correct target, in the end.
The outcome came in the third round, when the fighter landed a clean cross on Staden, taking his opponent to the ground. Finally, it was up to the combatant to settle the invoice in the ground and pound.
