Roman Kopylov defeated Chris Curtis via a controversial stoppage in the UFC Vegas 101 fight, becoming only the second fighter to finish Curtis with strikes, as opinions varied on whether the referee’s decision was justified.
Roman Kopylov has etched his name in the annals of MMA history by becoming just the second fighter ever to finish Chris Curtis with strikes. However, this victory wasn’t without its share of controversy.
In UFC Vegas 101’s main card showdown, these middleweights went toe-to-toe. Kopylov faced a seasoned 43-fight veteran in Curtis, who didn’t hold back, landing precise strikes that left Kopylov bloodied. As the third round teetered on the edge of conclusion, it seemed like anyone’s fight to win.
Then came the head kick. Kopylov slipped one past Curtis’ defenses, staggering “The Action Man.” With just a single tick left on the clock, referee Mark Smith intervened, halting the bout.
Kopylov’s performance was undeniably impressive. Yet, many argue it was overshadowed by the contentious timing of the stoppage. Fighters and fans alike took to Twitter to voice their opinions. Jamahal Hill, former UFC light heavyweight champion sitting cageside at UFC APEX, wasn’t pleased.
“You don’t call that terrible stoppage,” Hill tweeted emphatically. Others echoed similar sentiments online.
Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson was baffled. “1 second left… WHY’D HE STOP THE FIGHT?!” he exclaimed, urging for a decision via scorecards instead.
Mike “Beast Boy” Davis expressed disgust over what he deemed an unnecessary halt. He pointed out that Curtis was already getting up and not in immediate danger.
Yet not everyone saw it as a blunder. Chase Hooper praised Kopylov’s wrestling tactics and finish, calling it a “Common Kopylov W.”
Jillian DeCoursey remained neutral on the stoppage debate but acknowledged it was a fun fight nonetheless. Terrance McKinney felt Curtis had every right to be upset—”smh,” he added for emphasis.
Belal Muhammad speculated it might’ve been Curtis’ leg that gave out, adding another layer to the discussion. Meanwhile, Kenny Florian believed Kopylov would’ve taken the third round regardless of the stoppage, praising both fighters for delivering an exhilarating match-up.
In the end, while opinions remain divided over the referee’s decision, one thing is clear: this fight will be talked about for quite some time.