- A Texas-based promotions referee put Gianni Vazquez’s life in danger at Fury FC 76 by refusing to stop the fight despite the MMA fighter being unconscious due to submission
- Vazquez managed to wake up and finally tapped
Fury FC 76’s main event generated buzz Friday as fans now consider the Edgar Chairez vs. Gianni Vazquez flyweight bout as one of the worst stoppages in the history of MMA. Many believe that the referee in charge, Frank Collazo made a terrible decision by letting Vazquez pass out from a tight triangle choke by Chairez when he should’ve already stopped the fight.
Vazquez woke up only to make it official
After three competitive rounds, Chairez managed to catch Vazquez for a triangle choke. It was so tight and deep that Vazquez could be seen already sleeping even from the camera. However, the referee in charge opted to let the fight continue for a couple of seconds, which evidently put Vazquez in more danger.
While Vazquez was still unconscious, Chairez decided to switch it up to an arm bar. The arm bar lasted for about 20 seconds and even it was clear that Vazquez could no longer defend himself, Collazo still let the fight go. Eventually, Vazquez regained consciousness and that was the only time he was finally able to tap out.
Watch the horrifying moment below:
Fire and exile this fucking incompetent bum referee
pic.twitter.com/tPiBipEQpr— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) March 25, 2023
Everybody wanted the ref to stop the fight
As it turned out, almost everybody sitting cage-side was already telling Collazo to stop the fight.
The commentary team of UFC welterweight Alex Morono, Michael Alexander, and Raheel Ramzanali repeatedly stated that the fight should’ve been stopped. One of them even revealed that the cage-side physician was already yelling the same thing.
“He’s breathing like he’s out. He’s breathing like he’s asleep. Look at his leg,” said one of the commentators.
“Frank, he’s out! He’s out!” Morono declared.
“Frank! What. Oh my gosh! Frank, it’s done! Frank, it’s done! What are you doing? It’s done!,” Ramzanali added.
“The doctor was yelling across the cage, ‘I’ll stop the fight!’,” one commentator revealed.
Ridiculous scene at Fury FC. Edgar Cháirez puts Gianni Vazquez to sleep with a triangle, and the ref simply doesn't stop it. Cháirez ends up armbarring an unconscious Vazquez who wakes up in the submission. #Furyfc76 pic.twitter.com/AgcwI2i3ss
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 25, 2023
Chairez’s triangle choke on Vazquez started at 3:43 f the fourth round and Collazo only stopped the fight at 2:04, which means Vazquez fought for his life for more than 1 and a half minute.
Seemingly stunned by what happened, the ring announcer called out the wrong name when declaring the winner.
The win saw Chairez improving his pro MMA record to 9-4 and he is now on a two-fight winning streak. Vazquez, meanwhile, ended his three-fight winning streak and now has a pro MMA record of 6-5.
