Social Media Reacts To Russian UFC Ref Being Pulled From His Other Fight Due To Performance

UFC 267 is taking place currently at the United Emirates Arena in Abu Dhabi.

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In the under card for today’s UFC 267 event, Russian referee Vyacheslav Kiselev had a fight to forget after making many mistakes, leaving fans, commentators, and UFC officials confused.

Many fans and commentators alike would agree that the fight between Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and Benoit Saint-Denis should have been stopped in the second round. Dos Santos was absolutely dominant and had Saint-Denis in extremely bad positions all round, but Kiselev never even looked like he was going to stop the fight.

Kiselev even took a point away from dos Santos for an inadvertent groin strike in the third round.

It was reported on air that he was scheduled for another fight on the main card but he was quickly removed following the fight.

UFC has pulled referee Vyacheslav Kiselev from his other #UFC267 assignments due to his performance during the Zaleski dos Santos-Saint Denis fight. pic.twitter.com/lt04N8b6ax

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 30, 2021

UFC fans alike were quick to roast the ref online following the fight.

Vyacheslav Kiselev: I’m ready for my next assignment

UFC: pic.twitter.com/Ueqp1CrG93

— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) October 30, 2021

He should never ref again. There’s giving a fighter a chance and then there’s just reckless carelessness on the ref. There’s no reason that fight should’ve gone past the second round. He shaved 5 years off dos Santos’s life.

— Dylon Swartwood (@dylon_swartwood) October 30, 2021

He allowed a man to get beat senseless for half a round, didn’t call doctor when a fighter said he couldn’t see, took a point randomly from a fighter… he was the worst lol

— Pretty Lochs (@FromLiga) October 30, 2021

pic.twitter.com/dIVS6E0XRz

— Dom Lipsky (@thegoldcapybara) October 30, 2021

While the rightful winner had his hand raised, one has to wonder what sort of damage Saint-Denis endured because of the ref allowing this fight to continue. Dos Santos won the fight unanimously 29-26 after the point deduction and having a 10-8 second round.

It would be shocking to see him get another shot as a UFC referee after this terrible display.

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