MMA Fighter Blacks Out In Corner, Sent Right Back In To Fight More

Last night, Matt Manzanares and Junior Maranhao fought for the Resurrection Fighting Alliance flyweight title at an event in Cheyenne, Wyo. The bout was going along normally enough after four rounds when Maranhao suddenly collapsed, falling off his stool and onto his face.

A fighter blacking out between rounds is a serious thing, but no one in a position of responsibility seemed all that put out. Maranhao's corner men dragged him off the canvas and put him back on his stool, the referee sort of glanced at him, and the ringside physician didn't even bother to look him in the eye, instead just asking the corners if he was all right before wandering off, leaving him to ride out the fifth round of what ended up a decision loss.

Note that one of the horrified announcers in the clip above is Pat Miletich, who's seen more or less everything in the course of two decades in the fight game and isn't one to overreact. "This is how bad things happen," he said. We've put in a line to the Wyoming Combat Sports Commission, which sanctioned this event, asking for some information on this fiasco; if you're inclined to (politely) express your opinions, they can be reached at this email address.

Update: The Wyoming commission got back to us, and, well, who are you going to believe, them or your lying eyes?

Thank you for reaching out to the Board. As to your question regarding Mr. Maranhao, he was thoroughly examined by a licensed physician after he fell off his stool between the 4th and 5th round of the RFA event in Cheyenne on April 11. He was also examined by his corner men and the referee. All parties, including Mr.Maranhao, believed and stated unequivocally that Mr. Maranhao was medically safe to and capable of finishing the fight. In fact, he fought well in the last round and lost in a close split decision. He was examined by a licensed physician after the bout as well and again found to have no neurological or other medical issues of concern.

The Wyoming State Board of Mixed Martial Arts stands by our physicians and officials and has the utmost confidence in their ability to assess the medical status of Wyoming contestants. Safety is the Board's number one priority and all necessary precautions were taken at the April 11 RFA event to ensure that Mr. Maranhao was safe to continue fighting.

Again, thank you for your interest in Wyoming MMA.