Ferreira-Werdum overturned to a no contest
May 10, 2021
The main event result of PFL 3 between Renan Ferreira and Fabricio Werdum, originally a TKO victory for Ferreira, was overturned after a controversial no-call that changed the trajectory of the fight.
The heavyweight contest appeared to be over after Werdum locked Ferreira into a triangle choke from the bottom position about halfway into the first round and Ferreira tapped Werdum’s shoulder with his right hand twice, acknowledging a submission.
The referee however did not see this action. Ferreira subsequently escaped Werdum’s choke and landed substantial hammerfists that led to the TKO finish.
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Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
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Renan Ferreira s PFL victory over Fabricio Werdum overturned
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Ferreira scores KO, but did Werdum make him tap first? (2:20)
Renan Ferreira defeats Fabricio Werdum despite Ferreira appearing to tap out just seconds before knocking out Werdum. (2:20)
The controversial result of a PFL fight last week has been overturned.
Renan Ferreira was initially awarded a first-round TKO victory over former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum last Thursday at PFL 3 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. However, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) overturned the bout to a no-decision Monday, Werdum s manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN on Monday.
During the finishing sequence, Werdum locked in a triangle choke with his legs from bottom position. Ferreira reached out with his right hand and tapped Werdum s shoulder twice, an action that was missed in real time by referee Keith Peterson. Seconds later, Ferreira was able to escape from Werdum s choke and land big punches leading to the TKO.
It looks like Fabricio Werdum’s appeal paid off. His loss to Renan Ferreira at PFL 3 was overturned by The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.
ESPN first reported the decision Monday afternoon that the controversial loss from the PFL 3 main event at the Ocean Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey was overturned.
When heavyweights Werdum and Ferreira faced off, the two men clashed and Werdum was able to secure a takedown. Ferreira was able to reverse the position, only to wind up in the guard of Werdum where he locked in a triangle choke submission. Ferreira tapped Werdum’s shoulder twice, which prompted him to loosen the submission but since Referee Keith Peterson did not see the tap, the fight was not stopped. Ferreira then decided to bombard Werdum with strikes, leading to the first-round stoppage that awarded Werdum the victory.
Fabricio Werdum vs Renan Ferreira
Brazilian heavyweight Renan Ferreira fired back at his countryman Fabricio Werdum following his recent controversial win in PFL.
Ferreira scored the biggest win of his MMA career to date when he knocked out Werdum in the first round of their PFL regular season fight, but the finish was controversial as it appeared as though Ferreira had tapped to a triangle choke seconds beforehand. Werdum was upset about the finish and his team has already appealed the result of the contest. Fans online for the most part seem to agree there was a tapout, but the referee missed it and Ferreira didn’t acknowledge it, thus leading to Werdum not getting his hand raised.