At UFC 292, Gregory Rodrigues seemed to totally overpower Denis Tiuliulin using elbows from the mount position.
However, the blow that looked to have knocked out Tiuliulin was ruled as illegal.
The match was halted at the 1:43 mark of the initial round by referee Brian Minor, after he observed that Tiuliulin had been knocked unconscious by the second elbow to his head during the preliminary card bout at TD Garden in Boston. What the referee seemed to overlook was the location of the elbow strike, which landed on the back of Tiuliulin’s head just beneath the crown.
Under the Unified Rules of MMA, hitting in the region that begins at the crown of the head and extends to the nape of the neck, with a one-inch deviation on either side, is considered illegal.
The conclusion of the match can be seen here.
Later replays provided a more accurate view of the location of the elbow strike, which led to Rodrigues’s victory, helping him recover after a previous knockout loss to Brunno Ferreira at UFC 283. This defeat marked Tiuliulin’s second consecutive loss, following a first-round submission loss to Jun Yong Park.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about illegal elbow
Who appeared to knock out Denis Tiuliulin with an illegal elbow at UFC 292?
Gregory Rodrigues appeared to knock out Denis Tiuliulin with an illegal elbow during their match at UFC 292.
What was the nature of the blow that knocked out Tiuliulin?
The blow was an illegal elbow strike that landed on the back of Tiuliulin’s head just beneath the crown, a strike that is considered illegal under the Unified Rules of MMA.
When did the referee stop the contest, and who was the referee?
Referee Brian Minor stopped the contest at the 1:43 mark of the opening frame, seeing that Tiuliulin was unconscious.
Where was this UFC 292 bout held?
The bout took place in the preliminary card at TD Garden in Boston.
What was the result of subsequent replays of the knockout?
Subsequent replays more clearly showed the placement of the illegal elbow, which allowed Rodrigues to return to the win column after a previous loss.
How has this loss affected Denis Tiuliulin’s record?
This loss was Tiuliulin’s second in a row, following a first-round submission loss to Jun Yong Park.
More about illegal elbow
- UFC 292 Official Page
- Unified Rules of MMA
- Gregory Rodrigues’s Fighter Profile
- Denis Tiuliulin’s Fighter Profile
5 comments
i was so excited for this bout and then this happened… rodrigues could have won without that illegal move.
That was a crazy match, I was there in Boston, cant belive the ref missed that elbow to the back of the head.
Gregory is a beast, but that was an ugly win. Hope he comes back strong and proves himself next time.
Does anyone have a link to the video replay, want to see it myself? Couldnt catch the match live.
Whats up with referees missing these critical moments these days they need to be more vigilant, Tiuliulin didn’t deserve this.