A Dana White step was asked if the UFC will follow the example of Boxing after UFC Abu Dhabi.
The return from the UFC to the VAE had a handful of finishes. The majority of the main map ended in decisions, such as the main event between Robert Whittaker and Dricus du Plessis, but the Undercard certainly delivered.
In a featherweight fight, Steven Nguyen of Fortis MMA wrote history when he officially dropped Mohammad Yahya 8 times – 6 times, a new knockdown record in the first promotion.
Referee Jason Herzog was criticized because he did not stop the fight before, closed with Yahya's left eye at the end of the round. The fight was blown off between rounds and luckily Yahya then received a positive health update.
Yet Yahya's eye looked horrible and one has to wonder how much damage a hunter must be allowed in the octhoek before it is stopped.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
UFC Exec about implementing 3-knock-down rule: 'I don't think so'
It varies from the promotion, but in the sports of boxing and kickboxing there is a rule of 3 knock-down that would automatically stop a fight if a hunter was dropped three times in one round. This is to protect hunters against too much damage.
Yahya from UFC was dropped six times in a round and eight times in general and the fight was not stopped until round 2 ended.
Postfecht was asked UFC director Dave Shaw if a three-knock-down line should be implemented in the UFC.
“I don't think so,” Shaw said at the UFC Abu Dhabi press conference.
“I mean, the record was five and I don't want to make a judgment about that.
“We have one fight that we comment on. We have to look at a broad body of discussion.
“I think we have all seen some pretty incredible fights over the years those three rounds are five rounds those three, four, five knockdowns have. And they are extremely entertaining.
“Does not necessarily mean that there is an extensive amount of damage,” Shaw explained.
Other UFC fights that have had several knockdowns
The previous record for most knockdowns in one UFC fight was held by Jeremy Stephens and Forrest Petz.
'Lil Heathen' Stephens cut the legs of former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez with stairs and hit him five times on UFC 215 in 2017.
In 2022 the greatest female hunter of all time, Amanda Nunes, was revenge on her rival Julianna Pena with three knockdowns in one round.
Former UFC title -Uitdager Khalil Rountree Jr. Had one of the best versions of his career against Eryk Anders in 2019 and the former football player dropped four separate times over three rounds.