Fans Argue Over Controversial Finish

Gabriel Bonfim’s statement knockout over Randy Brown befitted the main event status of the fight that sat atop the UFC Fight Night show on Saturday, the 8th of November from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The violent accuracy of Bonfim’s knee-strike slumped Brown immediately. His eyes rolled back, he fell backwards, and his head bounced off the canvas. The referee rushed in to wave the fight off as it seemed like Bonfim was ready to close the show had the official stood back and watched. It was over.

Only, there are some fans online who believe it should never have been ruled over. That, because Brown was up moments later, it was like he could have continued. And it sparked a debate across social media about whether the referee prematurely called a stoppage.

Fight Fans Divided Over Gabriel Bonfim’s Brilliant Finish Over Randy Brown

Even though it seemed Bonfim had clearly separated Brown from his senses, and there was no need to see super unnecessary hammer-fists, that did not stop fans and fighters proclaiming online that it was a “bad stoppage” like MMA fighter Terrance McKinney. Fellow UFC star Zac Pauga said similar, adding: “I prefer a late stoppage to an early one,”

One fan disagreed. “An early stoppage is debatable,” they said. “Bonfim did land a CLEAN knee and Randy Brown looked vulnerable.” Another fan said: “If you think the Bonfim/Brown stoppage was early, you need to stop watching the sport! He was clearly out cold.”

The 12-bout card featured four decisions on the prelims, but all the fights on the main card were by finish, with four knockouts — including Christian Leroy Duncan’s win over Marco Tulio via spinning backfist and punches — and Joseph Morales’s first-round guillotine choke submission against Matt Schnell.

The Fight Night was the UFC’s last in Vegas before it takes its show back on the road with a stop at Madison Square Garden in New York City for UFC 322, which Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev headline. That pay-per-view card, the UFC’s penultimate before it transitions from ESPN to Paramount+, also showcases Valentina Shevchenko vs Zhang Weili and Leon Edwards take on Carlos Prates.