It’s rare that the main talking point from a stunning MMA finish is the part the referee played in it.
However, that just might be the case for the referee at the Jungle Fight bantamweight title fight at the weekend.
Jonas Bilharinho needed just 86 seconds to knock out Fabiano Fernandes with a devastating head kick to claim the promotion’s featherweight strap at the weekend.
Bilharinho shin glanced his opponent’s temple with such force that it caused Fernandes to stiffen up and fall backwards to the ground unconscious.
He then tried to follow the downed fighter to the canvas and rain down with punches from the top but luckily, referee Flavio Almendra was on his game. The ref sprinted at lightning pace to intervene and stop the fight, but more importantly to prevent Bilharinho from landing a potentially very dangerous blow.
It isn’t unusual for MMA refs to do this to protect fighters but the distance and speed Almendra traveled at, and the fearless flying leap he did to end the fight was highly commendable.
Hat-tip to MMA Fighting
