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03rd Feb 2017

Disgracefully late referee intervention in MMA fight makes for distressing viewing

Shocking

Darragh Murphy

This could have ended very badly indeed.

Castle Williams was lucky to escape serious injury as he suffered a submission defeat at Tachi Palace Fights 30 in California on Thursday night.

But it was the manner of the defeat more than the loss itself that will have concerned Williams and his family most.

Towards the end of the first round of the featherweight meeting, Williams’ opponent Sergio Quinones cinched up a tight Brabo choke and encountered little resistance as he choked Williams out cold.

https://twitter.com/ZPGIFs/status/827367052486782978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Referee Jason McCoy didn’t recognise that Williams had lost consciousness until worryingly late as he was possibly fooled by the fact that his body continued moving as Quinones rotated and adjusted his squeeze.

But Williams was quite obviously limp long before McCoy pulled the men apart and waved a halt to proceedings.

It’s a worrying watch, be warned.