Jessamyn Duke successfully appeals KO loss to Miriam Nakamoto at Invicta FC 5

The Missouri Office of Athletics today overturned Jessamyn Duke‘s loss at Invicta FC 5, changing the result of her bout against Miriam Nakamoto to a no contest.

Nakamoto originally was ruled the winner by way of knockout, but after an investigation, the commission ruled an illegal knee warranted the overturning of the official result, according to a copy of the decision obtained today by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

The fight took place April 5 at Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, Mo., and streamed live via online pay-per-view.

The illegal blow came just after a legal knee midway point of the first round. Referee John McCarthy waved off the bout at the 2:20 mark when Duke slumped to the canvas.

Knees to a downed opponent’s head are a foul per the Unified Rules of MMA. A referee may take points or even disqualify a fighter who commits the foul.

In an interview with MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), Duke said she initially second-guessed herself on whether an illegal blow was committed, but became certain when she viewed footage of the fight.

“I honestly believe ‘Big’ John is one of the best referees out there today,” she said. “But he is human, and that’s why we have commissions and officials so if a bad call is made, we can appeal it. It’s nothing personal. He made a mistake. I think he made an error in judgment. Maybe he thought he stopped it after the first knee, or intended to. But the fact is, he didn’t and an illegal strike was thrown. That’s why we’re contesting it.”

Duke subsequently filed an appeal with the MOC, which opened an investigation into the matter. The commission viewed video footage and received a statement from “an eyewitness to the bout.” It also took statements from Nakamoto and McCarthy, who recommended the result be changed.

After a review, the commission found that height played a crucial part in the illegal knee. (The 5-foot-11 Duke had a two-inch height advantage over Nakamoto.)

“All three written statements … and Ms. Nakamoto’s verbal statement following the fight consistently agree that Ms. Nakamoto was not certain Ms. Duke’s knees were on the ground because of the height difference, Ms. Nakamoto’s head position during the fight, and that Ms. Duke continued to engage and grasp Ms. Nakamoto following the first knee,” wrote MOC Executive Director Tim Lueckenhoff, who is also the President of the Association of Boxing Commissions.

Duke now stands at 2-0 as a professional while Nakamoto is 1-0.

“I’m very happy with the decision and glad it’s no longer tainted with controversy!” wrote Duke on a mixedmartialarts.com message board.

McCarthy believes the commission made the right decision.

“The overturning of the bout was my recommendation, and that was what they did,” he said. “The first knee was the one that hurt [Duke]. But at that time, it’s still the sport, and still competition, and rules need to be followed. The second knee is the reason there’s a no-contest. Fighters have to follow the rules at all times.”

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