

A horrific video shows a debut MMA fighter being brutally kneed in the head. The referee let the match go on despite the illegal play. Troy Gibson, the debuting fighter, got the pointy end of the stick from the referee.
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The Cage Conflict 8 match had ended shortly after and the debuting fighter got something to smile about. The poor refereeing caused a threat to the life of a young MMA fighter. Fans react to this preposterous mishap from the officials.
Troy Gibson bears the brunt of a referee mistake
Troy Gibson made his professional MMA debut recently on Saturday, against Vadim Kolesnikov.
Gibson got in control during the fight and was on top of Kolesnikov. The Russian fighter, in an effort to get back on top, hammered his opponent’s head with his knee. The debutant had to bear more than a dozen such illegal knees in the same position, but referee Peter Lavery saw nothing wrong.
Eventually, after Gibson was stunned by the blows, Kolesnikov took the advantageous position.
Kolesnikov then dropped a huge punch onto a stunned opponent. Which is when Lavery snapped back to his senses and stopped the fight.
Troy Gibson was on the receiving end of at least 13 blatantly illegal knees to the head last night at #CageConflict8.
Shocking behaviour from his opponent, and an obviously late reaction from the ref.
A horrific way for Gibson to start his pro career. He deserved better. pic.twitter.com/ahP7jzTpvA
— Andy Stevenson (@andyste123) October 16, 2022
Severe MMA journalist, Andy Stevenson, reported the incident on Twitter. Stevenson updated the issue and informed that Troy Gibson ultimately won the fight as Kolesnikov got disqualified due to his foul act.
He also announced that they have disbanded the officials from the competition as a result of their poor judgment:
Cage Conflict have announced that they have parted ways with the officials team who oversaw the horrifying ending of Troy Gibson’s fight last Saturday at Cage Conflict 8.
The referee failed to intervene as Gibson endured at least 13 illegal knees to the head. #IrishMMA pic.twitter.com/2VwcD7zqSG
— Andy Stevenson (@andyste123) October 19, 2022
“Cage Conflict have announced that they have parted ways with the officials’ team who oversaw the horrifying ending of Troy Gibson’s fight last Saturday at Cage Conflict 8. The referee failed to intervene as Gibson endured at least 13 illegal knees to the head.”
Fans comment on the situation as poor refereeing basically endangered the life of an athlete.
Fans Reaction
MMA fans ganged up on the referee and wanted him to step away from any sort of cage. After witnessing this shocker of a referee blunder, fans fear the condition of the fighter as well.
I see a ref who needs to be fired and never allowed to ref and I see a “fighter” who should never be allowed in the cage ever again
— Nan Buisnes (@TheTrojanIcarus) October 17, 2022
that ref should never be allowed to again, literally endangering atheltes
— Martin (@MartinH_23) October 17, 2022
"Late reaction" is quite understatement
— smutnyhobbit (@Smutnyhobbit) October 18, 2022
i dont think late reaction applies here. The ref didnt react at all from those blows.
— iwon1000grats (@big1000win) October 18, 2022
DUUUUUDE worst reff I’ve ever seen in my life. Please take his license. Don’t ever let that man referee ever again
— hrntt (@hotzot9) October 17, 2022
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Refs had a 'mare there
— 🚩giddy up🏴 (@OSiochainM) October 16, 2022
The terrible officiators are called out by fans who were disappointed with the lack of quality displayed. Many fans were happy to know that the referee and his team have since been let go.
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What would you say to the officials of the match?
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