Dione Barbosa had her hand raised at UFC Vegas 115, but not without being part of one of the strangest sequences in recent memory.
In the second round of her fight with Melissa Gatto, Barbosa launched a soccer kick that connected with Gatto’s chin and left her flat on the canvas. The only problem was it looked like Gatto was grounded when the strike landed. Multiple replays were inconclusive as to whether Gatto’s knees had separated from the mat before Barbosa’s kick made contact, and after a lengthy delay referee Chris Tognoni and ringside physicians determined the bout could continue with Barbosa suffering a one-point deduction as opposed to a disqualification.
Barbosa went on to win a majority decision, with two judges giving her the fight 29-27 and the other having it a 28-28 draw.
The chaotic moment drew passionate reactions from a handful of fighters, including UFC flyweight Charles Johnson, who defended Barbosa and accused Gatto of faking.
“That is not a foul,” Johnson wrote on Twitter. “If knee is off ground it’s not a foul anymore hands can be down. [UFC commentator Michael] Bisping completely wrong here, she faked passing out for the point. Fight should’ve then went to Barbosa via KO after review.”
See more pros reactions to the incident below.
