Main event of UFC Fight Night Sao Paulo was an explosive back and forth contest between Thiago ‘Marreta’ Santos and Eryk ‘Ya Boi’ Anders. Both fighters moved up a weight class from the Middleweight division to the Light Heavyweight division with Anders accepting the fight on 6 days notice due to Jimi Manuwa pulling due to injury.
The end of the fight came with Santos punishing Anders’ takedown attempt with brutal elbows to the side of his head at the end of the third round. Eryk Anders tried to make it back to his corner, helped by his coaches but after collapsing to the mat for the second time, referee Marc Goddard stopped the contest awarding Thiago Santos a TKO victory.
Lightweight contender Kevin Lee wasn’t happy with the way the ending played out with a debatable break in the action for replacing Anders mouthpiece just before the sequence which resulted in the finish. Lee feels that Goddard, erroneously put Anders in a disadvantageous position.
Damn @marcgoddard_uk you really stole that shit from @erykanders. Straight put him in position to take them elbows. I’m calling bullshit
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) September 23, 2018
Goddard clarifies
Marc Goddard who refereed the fight took to Twitter to present his perspective.
Mr Lee both fighters returned to exact same position that I stop to replace the gum-shield, i.e. against the fence in over/under clinch. Would you rather I start with Mr Anders pressing position taken away? We can have our own opinions, we can’t have our own facts. I respect you. https://t.co/UDV5kObAJB
— Marc Goddard (@marcgoddard_uk) September 23, 2018
Goddard also clarified that there were no illegal strikes landed by Santos against the cage.
“For the record being struck below the line of the top of the ears IS NOT a foul. A 2 inch line running centre from curve/crown of head down the spine is the foul area inc. entire rear (not side) of neck. Also being struck directly behind the ear is NOT a foul. Hope this helps”
“I will always strive to give insight & explanation wherever I can to help educate (in the realest sense) & explain thought process & decision making. I believe this is fair, just & critical for the sport. Ignorance we can overcome, abuse I won’t. Thanks all.”
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