Drew Dober expressed no resentment towards referee Mike Beltran for the stoppage in his UFC Mexico fight, acknowledging that while he was momentarily incapacitated by Manuel Torres’ punches, his body instinctively kept fighting; he appreciates the chance to recover in fights but prioritizes his long-term health and plans to consult with doctors before returning to the ring.
Drew Dober, ever the warrior, embraces the chance to fight until the very end. No complaints from him about referee Mike Beltran’s call during his recent UFC Mexico bout.
In the co-main event, Dober got clipped by a punch from Manuel Torres, hitting the canvas hard. Despite trying to grab a leg for a takedown, a flurry of hammer fists from Torres ended it at 1:45 in round one.
Dober bounced up almost immediately after the stoppage. Some criticized Beltran for letting it go on too long, given how quickly Dober was back on his feet. Confusing? Maybe a bit.
“It was a good stoppage,” Dober shared with MMA Fighting. “That first or second hammer fist sent me into another dimension.” His body? Always ready to fight, even if his mind wasn’t quite there.
Clinging to Torres’ leg was pure instinct; Dober admits he was out of it. “My willingness to fight just transcends my mind,” he confessed.
Post-fight, Dober’s watched the footage repeatedly. He can pinpoint when he was done—his grip slipped below Torres’ knee, a telltale sign of trouble.
“If you watch closely, that’s when it should’ve been stopped,” he explained. A mistake he’d never make consciously.
Did Dober hold a grudge against Beltran for the late call? Not really. “For my health, maybe earlier would’ve been better,” he mused, but no blame cast.
Beltran knows Dober’s toughness and gave him every chance to recover. It’s just how things unfolded.
Safety first, always. Yet Dober appreciates refs who let fighters find their footing again. In this case? No coming back.
“I chose an unfortunate career for my health,” he admitted wryly. Imperfect careers are part of MMA; taking punches is inevitable.
The chatter post-fight focused on the stoppage, but for Dober, it was also about facing his third straight UFC loss.
What stung more? Not showing off all his hard work in just under two minutes of action.
“I hate that I only gave like a minute and 30 seconds of a fight,” he lamented. He’d done everything right—game plan, movements, feints—but luck wasn’t on his side.
A knockdown isn’t uncommon; fighters get punched and move on. But Torres found his mark with precision.
Back home now, resting and prioritizing long-term health is crucial for Dober before stepping back into the octagon.
He plans to see doctors soon—no chances taken with brain health post-knockout. Ideally? Back fighting by August or September if cleared.
“I’m not going to be a Dagestan wrestler,” he chuckled. Punches come with his fighting style—ensuring his head’s up to it is key.
Seeing a neurologist and using blue-light glasses and hyperbaric chambers are part of his recovery plan.
“As far as my health goes, I feel fine,” he reassured. But minimizing training damage remains a priority.