Josh Burkman choked Jon Fitch until he was unconcious Friday night in the main event of World Series of Fighting 3. And referee Steve Mazzagatti didn’t notice until it was nearly too late.
In a battle of former UFC veterans, Burkman knocked Fitch down with punches, then grabbed his neck in a guillotine, falling back onto the canvas with the choke very tight. Less than a minute into the first round, Burkman put Fitch to sleep and let go himself knowing the fight was over. It’s the referee’s job to stop the bout when a competitor is knocked out.
Had Burkman hung on to Fitch’s neck any longer, Fitch could have been seriously injured – or worse. Mazzagatti has been vilified for poor decisions in the past and this might have been his worst yet.
“Glad Burkman stopped,” UFC president Dana White tweeted. “Mazzagatti is a clueless idiot who will hurt someone & continue to ruin guys legacies. Much respect Josh.”
Burkman, 32, has now won eight of nine after being cut by the UFC in 2008. He has beaten four former UFC fighters in his last four fights. Fitch, a former welterweight No. 1 contender who had 14 wins in the UFC, was the best yet.
Previously, Burkman’s claim to fame was that he used to date gorgeous UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celester, but he is a legitimate comeback story and now one of the best welterweights in the world not currently fighting in the UFC.
