The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission has denied Michael Chiesa’s appeal of his loss to Kevin Lee.
Last month, Chiesa and Lee fought in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City.
The fight ended in controversy due to the referee’s stoppage. In the first round, Lee managed to secure a rear-naked choke on Chiesa. Without Chiesa tapping out, the referee stopped the fight and awarded Lee the victory.
In the referee’s defense, it did appear that Chiesa was about to pass out, but when the referee stopped the fight, Chiesa was able to immediately get to his feet and argue the stoppage.
Joe Miller, the executive director of the OSAC, sent a letter to Chiesa explaining why his appeal had been denied.
“In the referee’s opinion just prior to the stoppage your hands stopped defending the choke, were in mid-air, wobbly and limp, and were moving towards your waist,” Miller wrote in the letter. “This is confirmed by watching the tape in super slow motion.”
“At that point, he (the referee) was in perfect position and acted on what he was seeing.”
