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Celine Haga choked her opponent out. And still somehow lost the fight.
Haga locked in a rear-naked choke at the end of the third round against Amy Montenegro at Invicta FC 21 on Saturday night in Kansas City. Montenegro went unconscious, but referee Greg Franklin didn’t known until the bell sounded when he separated the two.
WOW!! What an end to Amy Montenegro vs Celine Haga on #InvictaFC21 #UFCFIGHTPASS pic.twitter.com/w0SyP2Ipoz
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) January 15, 2017
Rather than the fight being called a submission win for Haga, Franklin sent it to the judges. Montenegro ended up winning the bout by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
The controversial finish caused Twitter to explode, some blasting Franklin for not noticing that Montenegro was out prior to the buzzer.
If the fighters can't get to their corner under their own power then the fight should be over. Haga put her out. Haga won. #InvictaFC21
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) January 15, 2017
These refs are going to let someone DIE here tonight at #InvictaFC21! That girl was OUT COLD, STUCK in a RNC & the ref had NO idea. INSANE!
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) January 15, 2017
What the hell ref she was out like 5 sec before the bell @InvictaFights #InvictaFC21
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) January 15, 2017
Legendary referee John McCarthy told MMA Fighting on Saturday night that the rule is if the fight finishes with an athlete unconscious in a submission, the result is a submission victory for the athlete applying the submission.
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