The UFC on ESPN 40 opener ended in bizarre fashion
Saturday after referee Chris Tognoni polled the three judges cage-side whether
one fighter tapped.
Mayra Bueno Silva and Stephanie Egger kicked off the
prelims in a flyweight bout. The fight quickly hit the canvas with Egger on
top. Bueno Silva shot up for an armbar and released, a signal Egger tapped
perhaps out of view of the camera and referee Chris Tognoni.
There was some confusion as Tognoni called off the
bout and immediately signaled for a replay, as he circled his fingers in the
air. After a brief conference with fellow referee cage-side, Tognoni declared
he would poll the judges to see if Egger actually tapped.
One judge told Tognoni he absolutely saw a tap by
Egger, who was twisted facedown near the cage with one hand out of sight of
seemingly everyone – except said judge.
With that information, another judge concurred the
tap occurred and the bout was called a submission. Bueno Silva was the victor.
The win registered at 1:17 of Round 1.
An interesting finish to the first fight of the night - we are off to video review! #UFCVegas59 pic.twitter.com/f1TZqjxLqI
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2022
" story originally appeared on MMA Junkie"
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