The referee who angered Dana White by letting the MMA fight continue after one of the fighters was choked unconscious became a judge at the UFC the next day.
- MMA referee criticized for shocking decision
- Frank Collazo failed to protect the fighter
- Collazo tried at UFC the next day
The MMA referee who was criticized by fans after failing to act when a fighter was knocked unconscious during a Fury FC 76 fight over the weekend incredibly went on to become a judge at the UFC the next day.
Frank Collazo made headlines for his dangerous mistake while refereeing the clash between Edgar Chairez and Gianni Vazquez at Fury FC 76 in Texas on Saturday.
In the fourth round, Chairez put his opponent in a triangle choke and caused him to pass out.
However, to the horror of those who were watching, Collazo did not realize that Vásquez was unconscious and let the fight continue.
With the choke still locked and Vazquez unresponsive, Chairez switched to an armbar as the commentary team yelled at the referee to stop the fight.
MMA referee Frank Collazo, who came under fire from fans after failing to recognize a fighter who lost consciousness during a Fury FC 76 fight over the weekend, incredibly went on to become a judge at the UFC the next day.
“Frank, he’s out!” It’s out! exclaimed commentator Alex Morono.
‘Frank! That. Oh my God! Francis, it’s done! Francis, it’s done! What are you doing? It’s done!’ he added another call.
Fortunately, the move to the armbar seemed to allow Vazquez some recovery time and he regained some consciousness and began moving his left hand.
However, it would be another ten seconds before he had enough whereabouts to tap, and still Collazo watched as those around him yelled for him to finally end the fight.
Fight fans were disgusted by the incident and many took to social media to say they never wanted to see referee Collazo involved in the combat sport again, but the Texas-based official went on to serve on the judging panel. at UFC San Antonio: Vera vs. Sandhagen the next day.
The decision to let him judge stunned fans and pundits who questioned Collazo’s competence.
Speaking to the media after the UFC San Antonio event, UFC boss Dana White revealed his surprise at the referee’s error at the Fury FC event.
“Obviously, I wasn’t there to see it, but I saw it on social media, and yeah, that’s the kind of thing I really don’t like,” White said.
Fight fans were disgusted by the incident and many took to social media to say they never wanted to see referee Collazo involved in the combat sport again (pictured, Corey Sandhagen lands a knee at UFC San Antonio)
Speaking to the media after the UFC San Antonio event, UFC boss Dana White (pictured) revealed his shock at the referee’s error on Fury FC.
‘I mean, if a guy chokes unconscious and you don’t know he’s choking unconscious… everybody has a bad night, everybody makes mistakes. But if a guy gets strangled unconscious and then gets pushed into an arm bar. I mean, there’s nothing worse than that.
Meanwhile, Gianni Vázquez, who was knocked unconscious by a chokehold in the controversial Fury FC fight, took to Instagram to share his thoughts and give an update on his injury.
He wrote: ‘I made a mistake and it cost me the fight I feel like I was winning, my opponent took advantage of that and with a stupid referee not stopping the fight when I was out now I have to deal with a potential broken arm and some ligaments damaged too.’