Fighters watching ONE on TNT were as surprised as everyone else after a night of upsets.
First there was Eddie Alvarez’s disqualification loss to Iuri Lapicus, and then Demetrious Johnson was shocked by Adriano Moraes, with the once-dominant UFC flyweight champion losing via second-round knockout.
Lapicus was declared the winner after Alvarez landed a series of right hands as he trapped his opponent’s legs on the ground against the fence. Alvarez pleaded his case with the referee that the blows were legal because he caught Lapicus’ ear, but he was soon given a red card signaling the disqualification.
Afterward, a visibly emotional Alvarez said he would honor the referee’s call and expressed his concern for Lapicus, who was taken away in a stretcher.
Johnson, meanwhile, got caught by a punch as he closed distance, and then he took a massive knee thrown by Moraes as he tried to get up after landing on his back.
Here’s what fighters had to say about the endings on Wednesday in Singapore.
woah that was a crazy finish!!
— Funky (@Benaskren) April 8, 2021
What did I just watch
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 8, 2021
This is why knees to downed opponents are vicious and ILLEGAL in MMA in the UFC! If this was the USA that knee is not allowed and Mighty Mouse can get up in a more safe and protective manner.
I hope Mighty Mouse is ok, but this is why I disagree with those rules. #ONEonTNT1
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 8, 2021
Knees to grounded opponent should be legal everywhere
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) April 8, 2021
Congratulations to @adrianomkmoraes for the great win tonight! Great performance against an all time great. We need knees to the head on the ground as part of the Unified Rules. I’d love if they’d allow soccer kicks too.
— Patricky Freire (@PatrickyPitbull) April 8, 2021
Does Cejudo go to ONE now?
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) April 8, 2021
I’d like to congratulate Iuri Lapicus for passing my acting class with flying colors. Tonight was a beautiful performance. May the world forever troll you. Welcome to the club! #ONEonTNT1 #ONEChampionship
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 8, 2021
Respect to Eddie Alvarez’s post fight speech !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 8, 2021