A mess! Referee stops the fight before the end of the first round, reverses his decision, and allows a restart at UFC Vancouver.

Nelson celebrates his UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC

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The opening fight of the UFC Vancouver main card was controversial and the protagonist ended up being referee Dan Miragliotta. This Saturday (18), in Canada, the professional even declared the end of the fight between Kyle Nelson and Matt Frevola with three seconds left in the first round. However, the veteran reversed his decision to end the fight and ordered the fighters to return to action.

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In the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg), Nelson and Frevola had a blistering first round. In the first five minutes, the fighters exchanged strong moments, but in the final stretch, the Canadian punished his opponent. With seconds remaining in the round, Nelson intensified his attacks on the American, forcing the referee to stop the fight, signaling his victory by technical knockout.

However, after a few minutes, the referee reversed his decision and allowed the fight to continue. The referee's decision surprised the official UFC broadcast and the audience present at the Rogers Arena, who booed him for authorizing the restart of the fight. Despite the controversy, Nelson was not harmed, as, after three action-packed rounds, he won by unanimous decision, much to the delight of the local crowd. With the positive result, the Canadian recovered from the knockout he suffered against Steve Garcia in September 2024.

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