Twitter reacts to Jeremy Stephens' brutal (and controversial) knockout win at UFC on FOX 28

We've arrived at the #UFCOrlando main event: @JoshEmmettUFC meets Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA). Who ya got?! https://t.co/p4BO7zBzFe pic.twitter.com/Q1MMR8xw2J

— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) February 25, 2018

Jeremy Stephens gets his monumental win with a HUGE LEFT HOOK KO on Josh Emmett! #UFCOrlando https://t.co/UDMO8X5M9b

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) February 25, 2018

This new Jeremy Stephens is nasty!!! Looks like we all know who the fook he is now. #UFCOrlando

— Goze (@thegoze) February 25, 2018

Jeremy Stephens gets on his knees and begs Dana White for a title shot. Reminiscent of Georges St-Pierre back in the day. #UFCOrlando

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) February 25, 2018

Looks to me like that knee hit, even if it was a glancing blow. And it came right after at least one elbow to the back of the head. Just makes it hard to feel totally good about that finish.

— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) February 25, 2018

The point about the Jeremy Stephens illegal knee is that it was more than a graze, and it was during a flurry of strikes. I really think Emmett should've been saved right there. I'd expect him to appeal.

— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) February 25, 2018

I keep watching it and in my book it's an illegal knee. pic.twitter.com/czniXVOKDn

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) February 25, 2018

Dan Miragliotta did Josh Emmett a disservice there. Forget about the knee for a second. There were two other illegal blows. Elbows to the back of the head. #UFCOrlando

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) February 25, 2018

Anyway, like DC said, it doesn't matter. Referee is sole arbiter of contest, and he didn't call it.

— Steven Marrocco (@MMAjunkieSteven) February 25, 2018

I would file for a no contest lowkey. That knee grazed the top of the head, looked illegal af. Jeremy do hit hard but josh was looking good

— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) February 25, 2018

Upon further review, Cormier is 100% right. Those two elbows were illegal. And the knee grazed. That’s some bad luck for Emmett. Mirgliotta missed 3 illegal strikes and he was right there.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 25, 2018

Cases like this are why instant replay is absolutely essential in MMA.

— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) February 25, 2018

So, are we pretending the ref didn't watch an illegal blow happen right in front of his face and not call it because it might have been difficult for him to sort out? #UFCOrlando

— JE Snowden (@JESnowden) February 25, 2018

Awesome finish under PRIDE rules … oh wait

— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) February 25, 2018

Wait…wait. Now hold on. Didn't….

— Chuck Mindenhall (@ChuckMindenhall) February 25, 2018

A star was born tonight. Jeremy Stephens. Remember the name.

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 25, 2018

Looks like it may have grazed Emmett’s head? Almost think that Emmett saved Stephens (and his own head, of course) by ducking because that was gonna land flush.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 25, 2018

Looks like the knee at least grazed Josh Emmett, which would make it technically illegal. Hard to say it changed the course of the finish, but still illegal. #UFCOrlando

— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) February 25, 2018

Hard to see if it landed even on the replay but man that was a nasty finish with the diving elbow. Win or lose Stephens always brings the show.

— Mike Chiappetta MMA (@MikeChiappetta) February 25, 2018

The illegal elbows are way worse than the knee that arguably didn't land.

— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) February 25, 2018

UFC on FOX 28 results: Jeremy Stephens violently KOs Josh Emmett, calls for title shot https://t.co/nTwxWpNYTK

— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) February 25, 2018