'Scary' late stoppage as fighter is choked unconscious in Legacy FC main event

It was a frightening scene in the cage to cap Legacy FC 56 on Friday night.

Steven Peterson took Manny Vazquez's back and locked in a rear-naked choke in the fourth round of the main event fight in Dallas. Vazquez went unconscious and was making involuntary movements before referee Steve Armstrong stepped in to stop it. Peterson took home the Legacy bantamweight title with the victory.

Manny Vazquez vs. Steven Peterson #LegacyFC56 And the ref almost kills a fighter pic.twitter.com/NxRSzlGUyC

— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) June 25, 2016

Legacy owner Mick Maynard told MMA Fighting that he felt it was a late stoppage. It certainly looked that way on television.

"It was scary in person also," Maynard said. "I think he may have been out around eight seconds."

When reached Saturday by MMA Fighting, Texas Combative Sports director Greg Alvarez said he would review the video with his head inspector, who was in attendance at The Bomb Factory venue.

Maynard said AXS TV analyst and MMA legend Pat Miletich told him that Vazquez's eyes were open, so that could have been what made Armstrong not stop the fight sooner.

"I know it can be a tough job, particularly with chokes," Maynard said. ... "But it was still a scary situation and late."