The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hosted another stunning night of fights over the weekend. However, the fight night did not go without its controversy.
The world’s most famous mixed martial arts promotion was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, May 12, to host the highly anticipated fight card of UFC 224. Fight fans quickly began pouring into the Jeunesse Arena for the card’s series of exciting match ups.
Headlining the event, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes went toe-to-toe with rising challenger Raquel Pennington. Nunes put on a dominant performance over her opponent.
In between the fourth and final round, Pennington confided in her corner that she was “done.” Rather than informing the referee and having the fight stopped, the fighter’s corner convinced Pennington to finish out the fight.
Pennington would go on to suffer a tough TKO loss to Nunes within the final round of the fight. Taking to social media, many of the UFC’s competitors have since come forward with critical messages concerning Pennington’s corner.
Check it out below:
Penn's corner when she wanted to quit. #ufc224 pic.twitter.com/qP1uKqaxna
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) May 13, 2018
They should have never let her go into the 5th round like that.
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) May 13, 2018
Perfect example why you shouldn’t let a fighter continue if THEY say they’re done. #UFCRio
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 13, 2018
Coaches should throw that towel…sad
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) May 13, 2018
Really feel bad for her. They’re meant to save her from punishment like that.. not send her out for more.
— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) May 13, 2018
I’m at a bar, I did NOT get to hear that! That’s insane and shitty. https://t.co/n5hWtGPeOZ
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) May 13, 2018
Raquel’s team most definitely knows how tough she is given all she’s been through with her injuries that have kept her out of the octagon.
For them to send her out for the 5th round when she says she’s done is complete negligence on their part and selfish as fuck.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 13, 2018
This the kind of shit I was talking about on #JRE this MMA cornering is out of control.She asked for a way out and they make her go get beat
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) May 13, 2018
Regular people will never understand the depths of the psyche of a fighter. We’re just a different breed of human that need a different breed of person (handler) to deal with us.
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) May 13, 2018
@RockyPMMA has enough heart for any 10 regular fighters.
— Ryan Hall (@ryanhall5050) May 13, 2018
I NEED to know if @RockyPMMA is the type of fighter who constantly needs encouragement. I NEED to know how well her coaches know her and the intricacies of motivating her. I understand those saying this was reckless and dangerous, also get the other side, wait and see.
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) May 13, 2018
Not good at all to put it lightly https://t.co/zsfL9BYhxZ
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) May 13, 2018
