MMA fighter eliminated three times, KO, Copa Thunder de MMA Amador, referee

Michael Douglas competed against Jessian Lucas during the Copa Thunder de MMA Amador event in Sao Paulo.

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Lucas came straight out of the blocks and caught his opponent with a vicious kick in the face after just 11 seconds.

The strike killed Douglas, and the noise shuddered around the venue.

He was already showing up for the count, and with blows to a dejected opponent, which was prohibited in amateur fights, the fight seemed as good as over.

Amazingly, however, Lopes let things go and Lucas seemed to finish the process again with heavy ground and pounds.

But strangely enough, the referee then called for a time out rather than a time out and allowed Douglas to get back on his feet.

The dazed fighter swayed visibly, and Lopes still refused to end the fight.

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Lucas immediately hit Douglas with three more punches, knocked him out again, and finally saw the end of the madness.

The Brazilian National Athletic Commission of MMA then recognized the gaffe.

Vice President Anderson Ulysses said: “In 11 seconds of the first round, Michael was knocked down by a high kick in the head and the referee made his first mistake without interrupting the fight.

“He made the second mistake by allowing the fight with the unconscious athlete to continue.

“We apologize to the athletes, teams, MMA fans and Thunder Fight for the mistakes that were made due to the lack of experience of the professionals.

“We inform that the referees who made the mistakes were interns who had been tested and had no experience as referees but had previously taken regular courses.”

Lopes is no longer allowed to officiate until he has passed further courses.

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.