MMA is known for its unpredictability which sometimes extends to how bouts are concluded. Bizarre stoppages can occur due to various factors, including referee misjudgments, unusual fighter actions, or unforeseen circumstances within the cage. These odd fight endings often spark debates among fans and analysts regarding the rules, fighter safety, and the consistency of officiating. Ultimately, weird occurrences like these serve as reminders of the confusing mayhem inherent in MMA, where split-second decisions can lead to controversial and memorable outcomes.
In a highly unusual incident at Anthony Pettis FC 16 in Milwaukee on Sunday, lightweight fighter Kurtis Ellis was forced to verbally submit after his finger got trapped in the cage during the third round of his bout against his opponent Brandon Evans.
Throughout the fight, Evans consistently pressured Ellis against the fence. In the third round, as Ellis attempted to brace himself by placing his hand on the cage, one of his fingers got stuck in the fencing.
Unable to free it and experiencing significant pain, Ellis shouted, "My finger's stuck! It's stuck!"
Recognizing the severity of the situation, referee Tom Develice halted the action and declared Evans the winner by verbal submission.
What the hell. A fight at APFC was just stopped because a fighter's finger got stuck in the cage. He lost by verbal submission. Brandon Evans def. Kurtis Ellis. #APFC16pic.twitter.com/vHHn1w9kdj
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 24, 2025
Anthony Pettis, the promotion's founder and former UFC lightweight champion, reacted to the incident on social media with a simple "Wtf."
The incident drove discussion among fans, many of whom were quick to reprimand the referee for stopping the action unnecessarily:
“Shouldn't that just be a ‘no contest’?”
“Call time and reset the fighters. He never screamed anything other than my hand is stuck. He did not say he couldn't fight. I'd like to see the rules.”
“Terribly officiated. 'Mountain to a molehill' type of situation.”
“So by this logic, next time a fighter asks to put his mouthpiece back in, that's a loss?”
“We need to be able to pause the action then continue on.”
This fight stoppage, and other similar incidents, highlight the nuance and difficulty of regulating a sport as chaotic as MMA. That chaos, however, is what makes MMA so entertaining.
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