Phumi Nkuta is grappling with the aftermath of a controversial defeat that he believes should have been a victory. After stepping in on short notice to face former ONE champion Adriano Moraes at the highly anticipated Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event, Nkuta delivered a remarkable performance, only to see it overshadowed by a dramatic finish.
Entering the final round, Nkuta was ahead on two judges’ scorecards, leading 20-18, with the third judge scoring it even at 19-19. He felt confident, believing he was on the brink of securing a split-decision win. However, a late rear-naked choke attempt from Moraes turned the tide. Nkuta was actively defending himself until the last moments, but Moraes held onto the choke longer than expected, leaving Nkuta unconscious as the referee, Herb Dean, intervened.
Reflecting on the fight, Nkuta likened his experience to that of Max Holloway, recalling the electric atmosphere and his eagerness to engage. “I felt I had the fight in the bag,” he shared with MMA Fighting. “I was just into it, urging the crowd to join me. I threw my signature cartwheel kick, but at the same time, he landed a flying knee. It felt like a scene from Dragon Ball Z.”
Despite his efforts to escape the choke, Nkuta was left bewildered when he regained consciousness post-fight. “I heard the bell, and then I woke up. I couldn’t believe I got knocked out,” he said, expressing disbelief over the timing of the choke. The ringside officials reviewed the instant replay, ultimately siding with Dean’s decision to declare a technical submission victory for Moraes, a call that Nkuta contests.
“I feel like I got Rousimar Palhares’d out of that,” Nkuta remarked, referencing the infamous fighter known for holding submissions too long. He expressed disappointment, suggesting that Moraes’ actions were not in line with clean fighting principles. “I pride myself on being a clean fighter, and in that moment, things felt dirty,” he added.
Dean, in a separate interview, stood by his decision, confident that he made the right call in the heat of the moment. Nkuta, however, remains adamant that he was still fighting the choke when the bell rang. “Every second counts in a choke,” he emphasized. “I was still defending myself. I won’t speak ill of Herb; he’s doing his job, but I know I wasn’t out when the fight ended.”
This loss marks the first blemish on Nkuta’s professional record, prompting his team to file an appeal with the California State Athletic Commission. They hope that a thorough review will reveal that he was not unconscious at the time the fight was called, potentially allowing the bout to go to the scorecards.
Despite the disappointment, Nkuta is proud of his performance and the recognition he received, including a $100,000 bonus for Fight of the Night. “It’s ironic that the only way I could lose is through such a controversial situation,” he reflected. “I took this fight on short notice, and I still showed I belong in this division.”
As Nkuta looks to the future, he remains hopeful that the outcome can be revised, but he also takes solace in the support of fans who witnessed the fight. “I can sleep knowing the public saw what really happened,” he concluded. What does this mean for Nkuta’s career moving forward? Only time will tell.
