2025-08-09T23:23:07Z

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Imagine witnessing a fighter knocked out cold, only to see the referee allow extra punches to land. That’s exactly what happened at UFC Vegas 109, and it’s stirring up major controversy!

Referee Chris Tognoni, a veteran in the sport, was officiating the match between Elijah Smith and Toshiomi Kazama. As the fight progressed, Smith executed a slam knockout that sent Kazama crashing to the canvas. It was a scene that echoed in the hearts of fans and fighters alike, but what happened next was far from expected.

Instead of jumping in to stop the action as Kazama lay unconscious, Tognoni stepped aside, allowing two additional punches to land before finally realizing he had to intervene. This moment of hesitation has sparked outrage among fans and commentators, who are questioning how such a mistake could occur in a high-stakes environment.

UFC commentator John Gooden didn’t mince words, calling the knockout one of the ‘most violent’ he had ever seen. The slow-motion replay only served to amplify the brutality of the moment, leading to a collective gasp from the audience and viewers at home. “Jesus Christ, referee, what are you doing?” exclaimed fellow commentator Daniel Cormier, capturing the shock of the moment perfectly.

Dominick Cruz, another analyst, chimed in as the commentary trio dissected the footage, adding, “Yeah, the ref kind of missed that one.” Their reactions were echoed by a wave of fans on social media who expressed their disbelief and anger over the late stoppage. Comments poured in like, “Vicious. Also, wtf ref. You had one job,” and “The ref needs to be fired smh.”

One fan even questioned, “Where’s the ref at??? Wtf those follow-up shots could have been avoided,” highlighting a serious concern about fighter safety in the octagon. As the backlash intensified, it became clear that many felt Tognoni’s performance was not just subpar, but potentially dangerous, with sentiments like, “Chris Tognoni needs to retire holy s— how do you allow those 2 follow-up shots?” ringing across the online community.

This incident has sparked a wider conversation about referee training, the importance of timely interventions in combat sports, and the risks fighters face. In a sport where every second counts, a misstep like this can have serious consequences, not just for the fighters, but for the integrity of the sport itself.