Manuel Torres secured a controversial first-round knockout victory over Drew Dober at UFC Mexico, with criticism directed at referee Mike Beltran for the timing of the stoppage, while Torres expressed interest in fighting at the upcoming UFC 320 event in Guadalajara.
Manuel Torres snagged the biggest victory of his career at UFC Mexico. But, oh boy, the finish stirred up some controversy.
No doubt about it—Torres deserved that first-round knockout over Drew Dober. He had Dober on the ropes with a brutal right hand, then sealed the deal with hammer fists. Yet, some folks weren’t too happy with referee Mike Beltran’s timing on the stoppage.
Renato Moicano chimed in on social media with a chilling quote: "If he dies, he dies," echoing that unforgettable scene from Rocky 4 where Apollo Creed meets his end against Ivan Drago. Yikes.
At the post-fight press conference, Torres faced questions about all this drama. He explained through a translator, "I kept going because the ref didn’t stop it. I’m a pro; it’s what I do." He even admitted that Dober seemed out of it before the fight officially ended.
Torres did acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, Beltran couldn’t see clearly enough to call it. Dober was taking hits while clinging to Torres’ leg, making his face hard to see.
Still, it sure looked like there was plenty for Beltran to go off. Yet, Torres doesn’t blame him for missing the mark.
"Sometimes these things happen," Torres remarked. "Dober’s position made it tough for the ref to judge if he was out cold or not."
Once the dust settled, Dober got back up, looking like he didn’t even realize the fight was over. Crazy stuff.
Despite all this hoopla, Torres is riding high with four wins and bonuses in his first five UFC matches. He’s eyeing a spot at UFC 320 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
"UFC announced a Mexican card for Sept. 13," Torres said eagerly. "I want in! Fighting in Mexico again? Yes, please—with a top 15 opponent!"