In a controversial moment during LFA 201, a highly anticipated bout between Paulo Henrique and Vladimir Kanunnikov ended in unusual circumstances, resulting in a No Contest ruling.
The incident occurred when Kanunnikov was in a dominant position on top of Henrique. During the sequence, the referee intervened after spotting what he deemed to be an illegal grip on Henrique’s trachea. As the official moved to address the situation, Kanunnikov delivered an elbow strike that rendered Henrique unconscious.
The sequence of events created confusion among commentators and spectators alike. “I think he should try to push and…” one commentator began before being interrupted by the referee’s intervention. Another observer noted, “He’s got his hands around his neck there.”
Adding to the complexity of the situation, there was debate about the legality of the grip itself. As one analyst explained, “It’s not illegal… he cannot choke with the hands like this, but he can hold.”
The timing of the knockout in relation to the referee’s stoppage further complicated matters. “When the judge stopped the fight to talk with him, he dropped my elbow and then knocked Laya out,” was noted during the broadcast.
The official ruling ultimately stood as a No Contest, leaving both competitors without a definitive result on their records. This unusual ending adds another chapter to the history of controversial officiating decisions in professional mixed martial arts.
