UFC 286 arena lights go out during Mokaev vs. Filho fight (Video)
UFC 286 went off without a hitch ... almost.
Just as the timer set for the Muhammad Mokaev vs. Jafel Filho fight, to open the UFC 286 prelims, the lights in the arena went out. The fight was haulted while the issue was fixed but the lights remained out for at least a few minutes.
During the blackout the crowd lit up their cell phones and began to chat and the UFC 286 commentary desperately filled the darkness with their play-by-play.
The lights went out before Muhammad Mokaev’s return to the octagon #UFC286 pic.twitter.com/D4nEmdeD7K
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) March 18, 2023
The lights went out at ufc 💡#ufc286 pic.twitter.com/dz05QkW2TT
— Baby G (@ojbxng) March 18, 2023
MMA Twitter, of course had fun with the moment.
Is sting about to come down from the ceiling??
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) March 18, 2023
Lights out right after they announce muhammed lol that’s dope 😤
— Charles "InnerG" Johnson (@InnerGmma) March 18, 2023
lights at the ufc event just went out and i thought the undertaker was about to enter the ring
— trey (@TreyfromNY) March 18, 2023
Bruh UK electricity struggles is real. The light just went off during an UFC fight 🤣😭😭 #UFC286
— Nola Darling (@NolaDarling250) March 18, 2023
The commentary team seemed to worry of the start-stop could have played into the psyche of either of the fighters, but that didn't appear to be the case as the fight continued like normal when the lights resumed.