UFC Mayhem in Abu Dhabi: Fighter Suffers Brutal Injuries as Referee Criticized for Late Stoppage
A dramatic UFC showdown at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena turned into a night to remember for Steven Nguyen—and a nightmare for his opponent, Mohammad Yahya.
Nguyen, who entered the featherweight bout via Dana White’s Contender Series, made history in jaw-dropping fashion by recording six knockdowns in a single fight—shattering the previous UFC record of five. The record was previously held by Jeremy Stephens and Forrest Petz in fights dating back to 2017 and 2006 respectively.
Despite being dropped six times, Yahya, fighting in front of his home crowd in the UAE, showed incredible heart by continuing to rise after each blow. But the toll was devastating.
By the second round, Yahya’s face was covered in cuts, and his left eye was swollen shut due to a severe hematoma—a deep internal injury where blood pools outside the vessels. The damage was so extensive that the referee and cageside medical team were eventually forced to intervene, stopping the fight and awarding Nguyen a TKO victory via doctor’s stoppage.
However, many fans and pundits argued that the bout should’ve been halted much earlier. Social media erupted with criticism directed at referee Jason Herzog, with some calling for disciplinary action.
“Herzog needs to be fired. That wasn’t just a loss—that was life-changing,” one outraged fan posted. Others sarcastically compared the referee's hesitation to the infamous quote from Rocky IV: “If he dies, he dies.”
Yahya had shown brief flashes of offense, even scoring a knockdown of his own in the first round. But by the time he made it back to his corner, clearly struggling and unable to sit upright on his own, the damage was undeniable. That moment appeared to finally prompt medical intervention.
For Steven Nguyen, the win was both a personal triumph and a career milestone. After losing his UFC debut in 2024, Saturday’s emphatic performance marked his first official victory inside the octagon.
“I’ve been working so hard for this moment,” Nguyen said post-fight. “I came in 0-1, but I knew I had what it takes. I needed to make a statement—and I did.”
While Nguyen basks in the glory of his record-breaking performance, the controversy surrounding the late stoppage continues to spark debate across the MMA community.