WATCH: Terrifying late stoppage could have had dire consequences for unconscious fighter

This is a scary watch.

Mixed martial arts is a sport of fine margins and the difference of a few seconds can genuinely have career-ending implications for fighters. Referees have to be positioned perfectly and ready to pounce when they see a fighter unconscious, from strikes or chokes, because once a fighter is out, any further damage inflicted becomes even more dangerous. Unfortunately, at Legacy FC 56 on Saturday night, a referee wasn't quite as on the money as he ought to have been and it resulted in one of the most frightening late stoppages we've ever seen. During the bantamweight main event of the Texas card, Steven Peterson took opponent Manny Vasquez's back, sunk in a body triangle and locked up a tight rear-naked choke.

Manny Vazquez vs. Steven Peterson #LegacyFC56 And the ref almost kills a fighter pic.twitter.com/NxRSzlGUyC

— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) June 25, 2016

Unable to defend, Vasquez visibly went limp and began twitching involuntarily for well over five seconds before referee Steve Armstrong jumped in. "It was scary in person also," Legacy owner Mick Maynard told MMA Fighting after the fight. "I think he may have been out around eight seconds." The footage will be reviewed by the Texas Combative Sports programme.