6 Knockdowns and No Mercy: UFC Ref Under Fire After Brutal Beatdown in Abu Dhabi

Steven Nguyen made octagon history on Saturday, but his record-setting performance came under fire as fans questioned why the fight wasn’t stopped sooner.

Nguyen, a 32-year-old Dana White’s Contender Series alum, demolished local favorite Mohammad Yahya in a violent featherweight prelim showdown at the Etihad Arena. He dropped Yahya six times in just two rounds — breaking the all-time UFC record for knockdowns in a single fight.

The previous high of five knockdowns was shared by Jeremy Stephens (vs. Gilbert Melendez in 2017) and Forrest Petz (vs. Sammy Morgan in 2006). Nguyen now stands alone in the UFC record books.

Despite being repeatedly sent to the canvas, Yahya refused to quit. But the price he paid was steep. By the end of Round 1, Yahya’s face was covered in blood, and a severe hematoma had completely swollen his left eye shut. He had to be physically dragged to his stool.

Finally, referee Jason Herzog and the cageside doctors stepped in at the start of Round 2, stopping the bout via doctor's stoppage and handing Nguyen his first UFC win.

But the decision to let the beating go on that long ignited fury across the MMA world.

“Herzog needs to be fired — that's not a beating, that’s a life-changing injury,” one fan raged on social media.
“Did the ref bet on this going to decision? This is insane.”
Another viewer posted a GIF of Rocky IV’s Ivan Drago saying, “If he dies, he dies,” claiming Herzog had a similar mindset during the beating.

Yahya, remarkably, did manage a knockdown of his own in Round 1, showing incredible heart in front of his home crowd. But his corner’s effort to keep him upright became a haunting visual — and raised serious questions about fighter safety.

Nguyen, who lost his UFC debut in 2024, was emotional after the win:

“I’ve been working so hard for this moment. I came in 0-1, and I wanted that finish. Here we are now.”

MainEvent.News | Backstage Take:
Steven Nguyen made history with six knockdowns — but the bigger story may be how long it took for the fight to be stopped. The UFC prides itself on elite officiating, yet this bout became a viral case study in delayed intervention. Fighter safety isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s a brand standard. Herzog is one of the sport’s most respected referees, but fans have a long memory when it comes to moments like this. UFC may have found its next highlight-machine in Nguyen, but it came at a troubling cost.