Illegal strike ends Eryk Anders’ UFC fight on Saturday night
Former Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders had Darren Stewart in trouble in the first round of their middleweight bout at UFC Fight Night 187 on Saturday night in Las Vegas when the advantage unraveled into a no-decision ruling.
Anders knocked Stewart to the canvas twice in the first round of his first fight since May 18. But with Stewart on one knee against the cage, Anders caught his opponent with a knee to the head that referee Herb Dean judged to be an illegal strike.
While Stewart appeared to want to continue the fight, the ringside physician did not approve of that course of action. The bout was stopped at 4:37 of the first round and ruled a no decision.
Last week at UFC 259, Petr Yan was disqualified for a similar knee against Aljamain Sterling in a bantamweight-championship bout. In Anders’ case, he was not disqualified because the referee judged Anders’ blow as unintentional, resulting in a no decision instead.
Anders apologized to Stewart for bringing their fight to an abrupt end.
Former Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders had Darren Stewart in trouble in the first round of their middleweight bout at UFC Fight Night 187 on Saturday night in Las Vegas when the advantage unraveled into a no-decision ruling.
Anders knocked Stewart to the canvas twice in the first round of his first fight since May 18. But with Stewart on one knee against the cage, Anders caught his opponent with a knee to the head that referee Herb Dean judged to be an illegal strike.
While Stewart appeared to want to continue the fight, the ringside physician did not approve of that course of action. The bout was stopped at 4:37 of the first round and ruled a no decision.
Last week at UFC 259, Petr Yan was disqualified for a similar knee against Aljamain Sterling in a bantamweight-championship bout. In Anders’ case, he was not disqualified because the referee judged Anders’ blow as unintentional, resulting in a no decision instead.
Anders apologized to Stewart for bringing their fight to an abrupt end.
