The welterweight bout between Claudio Silva and Danny Roberts ended in controversy, and UFC President Dana White isn’t happy about it.
Silva on Saturday defeated Roberts by verbal submission at UFC on ESPN+ 5 from The O2 in London, but the finish was marred by one big question: Did Roberts actually verbally submit?
During the closing sequence in the third round, Silva locked in an armbar that Roberts struggled to get out of. Roberts tried slamming Silva on his head, and when he did, it appeared he was about to escape. But that was the moment referee Keven Sataki jumped in to stop the fight, claiming he heard Roberts verbally quit.
Roberts immediately reacted to Sataki in disbelief and afterward was critical of the stoppage. He wasn’t the only one, either, as White took to Instagram to express his own frustration (via Instagram).
Kills me when these refs FUCK UP and steal such a great fight and opportunity from the not just the fighters but the fans!!!!! @danhotchocolate SO SORRY!!!!! #ESPN+
Silva, for his part, said during his post-victory octagon interview that he heard Roberts submit. Roberts’ coach, though, told MMA Junkie’s John Morgan cageside that Roberts grunted twice while in the armbar but didn’t yell to submit.
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