The referee of UFC Jacksonville’s main event appears to have accepted responsibility for the controversial stoppage in Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira.
Veteran official Jason Herzog on Friday issued a statement on Twitter that indicated he’d learned a “harsh” lesson and added, “let me be clear, there is only one person to blame. Me.”
Herzog did not specify whether he was talking about Smith vs. Teixeira. He did not respond to multiple requests for comment. An industry source who asked to remain anonymous said the account belonged to him.
Herzog and Smith’s cornermen were subject to fierce criticism for the stoppage, which came in the fifth round after Teixeira brutalized Smith for more than two rounds.
Video that surfaced immediately after the fight showed Smith hand Herzog something in the octagon. He later told ESPN.com they were veneers on his teeth that had fallen out during the fight, and that he’d also lost real teeth during the onslaught. Smith suffered numerous injuries and was given a mandatory 60-day suspension with additional possible time with the results of medical testing.
UFC commentator Michael Bisping blasted the stoppage and said the sport of MMA needs to “catch up to boxing” in allowing cornerman and referees to stop punishment before it becomes too severe.
Here is Herzog’s full statement.
#UFCJAX pic.twitter.com/Y4DefYSdrm
— Jason Herzog (@JasonHerzogMMA) May 15, 2020