UFC/Bellator vet Maiquel Falcao gets horrible beating in late stoppage at Fight Nights Global 63

Referee incompetence is something that has and likely always will be part of MMA. Unfortunately, another egregious display occurred at today’s Fight Night Global 63 event in Vladivostok, Primorsky, Russia.

Former UFC and Bellator fighter Maiquel Falcao (37-10) was the recipient of an extended beating at the hands of Vladimir Mineev (9-1) during their middleweight bout after the referee refused to step in and stop the fight until essentially the latest possible moment.

Mineev, a highly touted 185-pound prospect from Russia, suffered his first and only career loss to Falcao in a narrow majority decision at Fight Nights Global 56 in December. But the outcome certainly was definitive in the rematch.

As seen in the video above, Mineev hurts Falcao with a hard punch around the 3:00 mark of Round 1. Falcao immediately curls up into a defensive shell to protect himself, but the referee inexplicably allows him to take more than 90 seconds of additional damage. By conservative estimations, Falcao took more than 80 strikes after what would have been a TKO stoppage by most normal referee standards.

Granted, Falcao could have tapped out to strikes and ended the fight at any time, and he continued to try to work his way to his feet throughout the beating. But he never fought back, only covered up, and it’s the referee’s duty to protect the fighter and halt the action when needed.

Suffice it to say, the referee in this instance did not come close to doing his job and did Falcao a massive disservice in the process.