Pros react to controversial UFC Fight Night 112 main event stoppage

Last night, in the main event of UFC Fight Night 112, rising lightweight contender Kevin Lee picked up an impressive submission win over the division’s sixth-ranked fighter, Michael Chiesa. Unfortunately, Lee’s win is shadowed in controversy, as referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the fight before Chiesa actually tapped.

Unsurprisingly, this early stoppage generated quite a range of reactions on social media. Without further ado, here’s how the MMA community reacted to the controversial stoppage in the UFC Fight Night 112 main event.

Awful

— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) June 26, 2017

What a terrible way to end the card.

— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) June 26, 2017

Is this fight in NY? I didn’t see Mike tap but the ref stopped it? Wtf?? @ufc

— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) June 26, 2017

Yamasaki strikes again. #UFCOKC

— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) June 26, 2017

That Yamasaki decision to stop the fight robbed Lee of the tap and Chiesa of the escape. Bad! Just let it go. It’s a choke! #UFCOKC

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 26, 2017

He didn’t call the illegal elbows and he stopped it early 😳 bad calls ref #UFCOklahoma

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 26, 2017

WTF did Yamasaki just do?!?! JESUS MAN!! Not saying that choke wasn’t on but BRO, LET US FIGHT!! #UFCOKC

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) June 26, 2017

Damn!! That’s horrible!! Cmon ref!

— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) June 26, 2017

NOOOOOO FUCKING MARRRIO!!! #UFCOklahoma #UFCOKC

— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) June 26, 2017

It was over. @DominickCruz #Detroit baby ! #MarioSavesLives #GoodReff #AnyBlackBeltWillTellYou #DontGetPutInThatPosition

— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) June 26, 2017

Chiesa does go a little limp for a second in the replay.

— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) June 26, 2017

Illegal elbows early stoppage, Mario you’re fired #UFCOklahoma fuck that

— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) June 26, 2017

Could’ve went a second or 2 longer. But went from defending the choke to limp hands. #UFCOKC

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 26, 2017

Seriously the worst ref and UFC history! #FireHim #NoTap

— Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) June 26, 2017

Very bad stoppage

— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) June 26, 2017

Fire Mario Yamasaki!!! Worst ref in history! @ufc #UFCOKC

— Bobby Nash (@B_Nashty) June 26, 2017

Just ran home to see that ! No tap !? That sucks man. Feel for chiesa. Look what Kish got out of earlier in night. Not over.

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) June 26, 2017

How can you measure someone’s heart by ripping it right out of them?!

— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) June 26, 2017

Mario is a BJJ black belt. He’s experienced enough to wait for the tap. Kish looked done as well. Again, awful stoppage. I picked Lee to win https://t.co/C1EgIBDvdT

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 26, 2017

What did you think of the stoppage in the UFC Fight Night 112 main event?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/25/2017.