Melquizael Costa and Rafael Barbosa met for the Demolidor Fight lightweight belt Saturday night in Bauru, Brazil — and the main event bout almost ended in tragedy.
Barbosa went for a standing choke in the third and final round and locked an anaconda choke as soon as they hit the ground. Twenty seconds later, Barbosa claims he told referee Emerson Pereira Saez that Costa was out. The referee stood next to the athletes for 90 seconds without checking if Costa was still in the fight.
“I told you,” Barbosa yells to the referee as soon as he releases the choke and Costa lays unconscious on the ground.