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The California State Athletic Commission upholds Adriano Moraes' victory over Phumi Nkuta despite the loser's appeal
UFC

Published 92 days ago

The California State Athletic Commission upholds Adriano Moraes' victory over Phumi Nkuta despite the loser's appeal

The California State Athletic Commission rejected Phumi Nkuta's appeal regarding his controversial loss to Adriano Moraes at the UFC California event. Despite his arguments, the decision remains unchanged, thus upholding Moraes' victory.

To remember:

  • The California State Athletic Commission rejects Phumi Nkuta's appeal.
  • The controversial loss to Adriano Moraes remains unchanged.
  • The fight was marked by a submission after the bell.

Unbelievable but true! The California State Athletic Commission has ruled: Adriano Moraes' victory over Phumi Nkuta at UFC California stands, despite the loser's appeal. This fight, which had already sparked controversy, remains in the spotlight after this final decision.


On March 15, 2024, during the UFC event in California, Nkuta was submitted by Moraes... but not just any way. The submission came after the end of the third round, once the bell had rung. A detail that immediately fueled debate: should this victory be upheld? The officials didn’t hesitate: yes. The California State Athletic Commission confirmed the cage judges' decision, thus rejecting Nkuta's appeal.


For Nkuta and his supporters, this outcome is hard to swallow. The Brazilian, known for his aggressive style, saw his loss upheld despite his arguments. “It’s unfair,” he declared after the fight. Yet the rules are clear: a valid submission is a valid submission, even after the bell. Officials reminded that referees are trained to handle these situations, and their decision is final.


This case echoes other controversial MMA fights where decisions have sparked heated discussions. But this time, the Commission chose firmness. Moraes can breathe easy: his victory is confirmed, and he continues his UFC journey. As for Nkuta, he’ll have to digest this loss and prepare for his next fight with renewed motivation.

A divisive decision, but one that underscores the importance of rules in MMA. The California State Athletic Commission has ruled: Moraes keeps his win, and Nkuta will have to fight to bounce back.

Editor's Opinion
By Nakmen
Damn, another one of those stories where it feels like the ref just pulled off a live Mission Impossible stunt! Moraes did submit Nkuta after the bell, and the commission confirmed it: it’s pure Jurassic Park, with a big “danger” sign plastered on the cage, but hey, the rules are the rules. Nkuta’s growling like a bear in winter, but you’ve got to remember that MMA is like Batman: sometimes you’ve got to accept that the Joker won the round, even if you didn’t like the script. Moraes can now breathe easy, admiring his trophy like a king on his throne, but Nkuta? He’s gonna have to soul-search like a Star Wars hero who just lost to a droid. Life goes on, and so does the cage.
Article written by SkimAI
Reviewed and completed by Nakmen

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