MMA Twitter livid after referee calls fight off for controversial low blow (Video)
By Amy Kaplan
UFC Paris wasn't without controversy, unfortunately.
During the William Gomis vs. Yanis Ghemmouri fight, Gomis landed a kick that appears to have landed near the cup of Ghemmouri. The strike immediately stunned Ghemmouri and Gomis walked away seemingly knowing it was a low blow and giving Ghemmouri his space.
But then the referee stepped in and waved off the fight, awarding a TKO win to Gomis.
All three on commentary think the referee made the wrong call and should not have called off the fight, as the stike appeared under the belt line and clearly shifted the cup.
Here's the moment everyone was talki
William Gomis wins by TKO following this kick #UFCParis pic.twitter.com/o2dsRMl8qX
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 2, 2023
MMA Twitter wasn't happy about the call, to say the least. Even UFC fighters weighed in on the moment.
What a strange call from the ref #UFCPARIS
— Cheyanne Vlismas (@CheyWarPrincess) September 2, 2023
Do you think it was a low blow or a fair shot in the Gomis vs Ghemmouri fight? #UFCParis
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) September 2, 2023
MMA Twitter was a little less tactful with their comments.
Uh, did they wave it and the guy thought it was low? WTF?
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) September 2, 2023
That is a very strange call by the referee...
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 2, 2023
Even if it wasn’t a low blow, what prompted the referee to stop the fight? There were zero follow up shots. Not a knock on either fighter, but what the hell. HORRIBLE CALL
— Hannah Rose (@mrsmmacasual) September 2, 2023
This is the reason promotions want to bring in the best refs from all around the world.
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) September 2, 2023
Ruled a TKO. That makes absolutely zero sense to me. Terrible call by the ref, absolutely terrible
— Hannah Rose (@mrsmmacasual) September 2, 2023
HOW DO WE DO THIS EVERY EVENT. It clips the cup first Bisping
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 2, 2023
So is this going to be the new trend? Every week we're going to get to engage in a philosophical debate about what a low blow actually is #UFCParis
— Anthony Walker (@AntWalkerMMA) September 2, 2023
Calling this a TKO is really offensive to other TKOs. pic.twitter.com/L3J3hJebXU
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) September 2, 2023
Wow. Bit of a rookie mistake there by the ref, indeed... #UFCParis
— Drake Riggs (@DrakeRiggs_) September 2, 2023
The official ruling of the fight was a TKO and Gomis was on his way to a decision win before the call was made.
Next. What is a no contest? . dark