Former UFC world champion Rafael dos Anjos has revealed he wanted the cageside doctor to stop his one-sided win over Renato Moicano.
Dos Anjos had been due to face Rafael Fiziev at UFC 272 last night but the Kyrgyzstani was forced to pull out at less than a week's notice when he contracted Covid-19.
Moicano stepped in for the fight which was held at a catchweight of 160lb - but the replacement opponent was under the cosh from the first minute.
He was checked over twice between rounds by the doctor but was allowed to continue despite his left eye being almost completely shut
And Dos Anjos had hoped the medic would ask for the bout to be waved off.
"I thought man, I really wanted the doctor to stop it but they did not," he said. "But you know I've got to do what I've got to do. Unfortunately, I was you know, I was trying to finish the fight. But the guy is tough as a nail."
Moicano was taken to hospital after the bout to be checked over but he was released later in the evening.
He later posted on social media; "No excuses, thanks Rafael dos Anjos and UFC for this opportunity. This defeat doesn’t define me. I’m not a loser, because I lost and I’m not a winner when I win.
"I’m victorious in life, the way I handle myself with my family and my team. Thanks God, this is a great time to be alive. Never forget, I’m always chasing the big money."
UFC president Dana White admitted the fight could have been stopped - but praised Moicano's bravery.
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“It could’ve been stopped a couple times," he said. "It’s just that Moicano is one of those guys that’s so tough.
"It could’ve been stopped and then at the end of the fifth round he started coming on. RDA was probably happy there wasn’t one more round of that fight.
"I think a lot of people figured that fight should’ve been stopped earlier, right? Then he comes out in the fifth round,
"We’ve said this a million times in the fight business, a guy who’s too-tough-for-his-own-good kind of thing if the ref doesn’t stop the fight.
"Moicano is that guy. But that’s why we made this fight. We made this fight with Moicano because he’s a stud."
