What the heck happened in the Modestas Bukauskas vs. Andreas Michailidis fight?

UFC Fight Island 1: Modestas Bukauskas defeated Andreas Michailidis in bizarre fashion.

No matter how long you watch a sport, there is always something you will see for the first time. That happened on Wednesday night when Modestas Bukauskas defeated Andreas Michailidis in a bizarre finish.

In the dying seconds of the fight, Michailidis was tied up with Bukauskas, who had his back up against the fence. Bukauskas threw several legal elbows to the side of Michailidis’ head before the bell sounded to end the round. When the bell sounded, Michailidis remained on his knees for several seconds. Referee Daniel Movahedi kept in communication with Michailidis, to see if he okay and could continue the fight.

Bukauskas stood stunned for several seconds, puzzled why his opponent was still down on the ground. Eventually, Bukauskas’ corner had him move away from his opponent and into his corner. The referee instructed Michailidis to get up. However, when Michailidis moved he fell out of the open Octagon door. Immediately, Movahedi waved off the fight, awarding Bukauskas the TKO victory.

What do the pros at UFC Fight Island 1 think happened?

UFC commentator Michael Bisping speculated that Michailidis was attempting to back up and sit against the fence but did not realize that the cage door was opened. Even if Bisping’s speculation was correct, the referee made the right decision to stop the fight. Michailidis was in no condition to continue the fight.

“Those shots were clean, we went over it in the locker room,” said Bukauskas, who become the first Lithuanian born fighter to win in the UFC. The victory improved Bukauskas’ record to 11-2, with finishes in seven straight fights.

UFC Fight Island 1 took place on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, live from Fight Island on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Follow along with FanSided for all your live news and highlights.