After the dramatic events of UFC Vegas 110, Ante Delija is still searching for answers regarding his fight against Waldo Cortes-Acosta. The heavyweight co-main event concluded with a controversial knockout victory for Cortes-Acosta, a result clouded by a foul dispute that unfolded during the match. What initially appeared to be a decisive finish by Delija turned into a shocking turn of events.
Just three minutes into the first round, Delija was unleashing a barrage of strikes on Cortes-Acosta. Referee Mark Smith intervened, seemingly ready to stop the fight. However, Cortes-Acosta raised concerns about an eye poke, prompting a video review that confirmed a foul had occurred. Despite this, Smith opted to allow the fight to continue, leading to a rapid shift in momentum just moments later.
Less than 30 seconds after the fight resumed, Cortes-Acosta landed a powerful right hand that dramatically flipped the fight in his favor, resulting in a knockout victory. The entire sequence has left fans and fighters alike questioning the integrity of the officiating.
In response to the controversial ending, Delija took to Instagram Stories to express his frustration in a five-point statement. He stated, “I’m not sure if I hit him in the eye, I think it’s near the eye and of course I want a video where you can see that stab! The referee did not show 'time-out,' but stopped the fight and therefore declared me the winner. That decision cannot be changed later!”
Delija's post emphasized his belief that the fight continued under irregular circumstances, stating, “Replay used after the interruption - which rules do not allow!! After all, the fight continued irregularly!” He further lamented, “I ask for nothing more, just honesty. I don’t run from defeat, I respect every opponent and every outcome. But not when rules are broken and I’m robbed. Not in this way. The sport hasn’t seen this yet!!!”
The controversy surrounding Delija's fight is particularly poignant as it follows a similar incident involving his teammate Tom Aspinall. Just a week prior, Aspinall faced Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, where the fight ended in a no-contest due to a double eye poke that left Aspinall unable to continue. Amid the backlash regarding Aspinall's fight, Delija defended his teammate, stating, “I really don’t understand. I had 33 fights and I never poked somebody in the eye, and I do believe the punishment for that should be severe.”
The outcome was a painful setback for Delija, who had recently celebrated a successful UFC debut in September, where he knocked out veteran contender Marcin Tybura in his 32nd professional fight. As a former PFL tournament champion, Delija was aiming for a 2-0 record in the UFC, but the unfortunate events of UFC Vegas 110 have left him grappling with feelings of injustice.
As Ante Delija continues to seek answers and clarity regarding the officiating and rules that impacted his fight, the MMA community watches closely, eager to see how this situation unfolds and what it means for the future of officiating in mixed martial arts.
