Even when you think you've seen it all, something new comes up that nobody is ready for.
That's what happened Saturday night with the Gegard Mousasi vs. Chris Weidman fight and an ending that will be talked about for some time to come.
Mousasi delivered two hard knees to the head, the second of which was called by referee Dan Miragliotta as an illegal blow because Weidman's hands were down. But just before Mousasi delivered the blow, he lifted Weidman by the shoulders, just barely pulling one hand off the ground and delivered the second hard knee. Miragliotta stopped the fight over that one and ruled it illegal, telling Weidman that he had five minutes to recover.
Weidman spent several minutes recovering while doctors were in the ring. Miragliotta was informed that the replay showed the knee in question was in fact legal. More confusion took place and suddenly, the fight was stopped. Weidman was screaming that he wanted to continue, but the doctors decided otherwise, and Mousasi was ruled the winner via TKO.
Afterward, the fans were booing, Weidman asked for a match and Mousasi at first agreed.
UFC president Dana White didn't know much more than anyone else when it was over.
"They didn't explain anything to me," White said. "Weidman was in a very unfortunate position where he was told he had five minutes and he was laying on the ground, and then the doctor said `I can't let this guy continue.'
"With the new athletic commission, it's like we're in 2001 again."
New York was the last state to legalize MMA, and the commission just started regulating it late last year and it's led to a lot of confusion on a variety of issues.
"These guys have to get some experience," White said. "As a fighter, you have to be on your toes and ready to go. Many times even in great states like Nevada, you're battling the referee and the judges. You have to fight to win, fight to finish."
White was more negative when the subject of a rematch was brought up.
"Could Weidman have come back from that?” he said. “It looked like he was in a real bad position. Who knows?"
Weidman has protested that he had been hurt worse and come back and first thought he was hit with an illegal blow, but after watching the replay conceded the blow was legal. He still felt he should have been allowed to continue.