UFC Fight Night 112 Highlight: Chiesa vs. Lee main event ends in controversy

A pivotal lightweight main event between top contenders Michael Chiesa (14-3) and Kevin Lee (16-2) ended in some controversy tonight in Oklahoma City. 

With just under 30 seconds left in the opening round, Lee had Chiesa in a deep rear-naked choke that forced referee Mario Yamasaki to end the fight. The problem with this was that Chiesa did not tap nor did he lose consciousness at any moment. The fight will go down in the record books as a technical submission which means Yamasaki thought that Chiesa lost consciousness. 

Following the decision, Lee and Chiesa were cordial despite their blow up at the UFC Summer Press Conference to promote the contest last month.

Lee would go on to call out undefeated #1 ranked lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0) for a fight in his hometown of Detroit later this year. That card is expected to be a PPV and will take place on December 2nd at the brand new Little Caesars Arena. It will be the first UFC event in Michigan since UFC 123 ‘Rampage vs. Machida’ back in 2010. Lee also said that Chiesa can have a rematch if he’d like. 

In the end, it’s unfortunate for both fighters that the fight ended like this especially when it was being built up as such a big main event, the first for both men. That said, a rematch isn’t the right move here. Chiesa is going to have to move on and get back to the top his own way and hopefully for him he’ll get this rematch sometime down the line – these two are both still very young. Tony Ferguson, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Edson Barboza would all be great options for the ‘Motown Phenom’; it’s time to get that PPV main card fight in Detroit on December 2nd.