MMA ref oblivious about unconscious man, asks both to be more active on the ground

John Davis

A disturbing scene unfolded at OKTAGON 79 when a referee failed to recognize that a fighter had been rendered unconscious for nearly 20 seconds, instead urging both competitors to increase their activity during a ground exchange.

Czech MMA star Vašek Klimša secured a first-round victory over Jessy Joaquim via a Von Flue choke in their middleweight bout. However, the finish was overshadowed by a serious officiating error that has sparked criticism across the MMA community.

The Von Flue choke, a counter-submission technique applied from side control, put Joaquim to sleep while the referee appeared unaware of the situation. Social media erupted with concern after video footage revealed the extent of the oversight.

“Dafuq is wrong with the referee?! Dude was sleeping in Von Flue Choke for like 20 seconds and the referee asked fighters to be more active on the ground…” wrote one observer on social media.

The Von Flue choke presents unique challenges for officials because it can be mistaken for other positions.

One analyst explained the common pitfall: “Missing von flue is the biggest classic act, go check any von flue finish on any level without fighter tapping out and I bet in 90% of times ref missed it thinking it’s gilly or just lay and pray.”

What made the incident even more alarming was what happened after Joaquim lost consciousness. Another social media user noted that Klimša attempted to help his unconscious opponent by jumping into mount to remove his mouthguard and elevate his legs to restore blood flow to his head. Remarkably, the referee reportedly told him to stop these efforts.

“Dear refs: When there is zero movement from both sides, get your a*s in there close and check! You’re going to get someone killed,” wrote one concerned fan, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the combat sports world.

The incident has renewed calls for improved referee education, particularly regarding less common submission techniques. Critics questioned how an official working at a professional level could fail to recognize such a dangerous situation.

Despite the controversy, Klimša earned his submission victory and bonus points for OKTAGON Fantasy participants who had selected him.

John Davis