Drew Dober, a fighter who always aims to finish strong, surprisingly agreed with the referee`s decision to stop his recent UFC Mexico fight, despite it appearing controversial to some.
In the co-main event, Manuel Torres landed a punch that dropped Dober. While Dober quickly grabbed Torres` leg attempting a takedown to recover, Torres followed up with several hammer fists. Referee Mike Beltran stopped the fight at 1:45 of the first round.
Immediately after the fight was stopped, Dober was back on his feet, ready to continue. This quick recovery led to debate about the timing of the stoppage, with some believing Beltran let Dober take too much damage, while others were confused by Dober`s rapid return to action.
“I have no complaints about the stoppage. It was a good call,” Dober told MMA Fighting. “The first or second hammer fist really disoriented me. My body just kept fighting on instinct. It was like my body was still going, but my mind wasn’t there anymore.”
“I was holding onto his leg because I wasn`t really conscious at that point. The stoppage was justified. My fighting spirit just took over, even when my mind wasn`t present.”
Since the fight, Dober has reviewed the footage and understands the stoppage even better. He even points out the exact moment he believes the fight should have been stopped.
“If you watch closely, when trying to finish a takedown, your grip should be above the opponent’s knee,” Dober explained. “I was going for a takedown, and after the initial hammer fists, my grip slipped below his knee, into a low single leg position, which isn`t a takedown I typically use. That was a sign that I was no longer fighting effectively.”
“Looking back at the video, the moment my grip went below his knee is when the fight should have been stopped.”
Despite receiving more hammer fists after that point, Dober doesn’t blame Beltran for the late stoppage.
“For my own safety, an earlier stoppage might have been better, but I don’t fault the referee. He’s doing his job,” Dober said. “He told me in the locker room he understands my fighting style and how much damage I can endure. He was giving me every chance to improve my position.”
“The real reason for the late stoppage is that my body continued to fight even when my mind was gone. I don’t blame anyone. Everyone, including Manuel Torres, was doing their job. It’s just how it played out.”
Dober acknowledges the importance of fighter safety in referee decisions but admits he prefers referees to give fighters every opportunity to recover and continue.
While a comeback wasn`t possible in the UFC Mexico fight, Dober appreciates that his toughness usually allows him to withstand pressure and counter his opponents.
“I chose a tough career path for my health,” Dober stated. “In MMA, perfect careers don`t exist. We get hit, and we have to recover. I believe referees should err on the side of letting experienced fighters work through tough situations.”
Much of the post-fight discussion focused on the stoppage. For Dober, he`s also dealing with the disappointment of his third consecutive UFC loss.
Adding to his frustration, Dober feels he didn`t get to demonstrate his fight preparations because the fight ended so quickly.
“I’m disappointed I only fought for about 90 seconds, and I wanted to understand what went wrong,” Dober said. “After reviewing the fight, I realized I was doing everything right. My training, game plan, movement, feints – I was working him against the fence, taking risks. Everything was set up for a great fight. But there’s also luck involved. He landed a clean 1-2 off the fence. I was clearly rocked by the knockdown. We are fighters; we get hit. There’s no such thing as a perfect fight.”
“I fell, shot for a takedown to get back in the fight, and the first or second hammer fist to the side of my head ended it. What I take away is that I’m still capable, I’m still skilled, and I’m eager for my next fight. Manuel Torres just landed the perfect shot.”
Back home and resting, Dober prioritizes his long-term health and won’t rush back into training until he’s fully recovered.
Dober plans to consult with doctors this week to get checked out. Although he feels fine, he’s being cautious about potential brain damage from the knockout. Ideally, Dober hopes to fight again around August or September, pending medical clearance.
“I’m not going to become a Dagestani wrestler. I know I’ll get hit in the head when I fight,” Dober said. “It’s part of my fighting style. So, I need to ensure my head is healthy enough to handle the punishment. I’m taking time off and seeing a neurologist on Friday to assess my head. I’m using blue-light glasses and have been in a hyperbaric chamber. I’m doing everything possible to ensure my brain heals properly before I compete again.”
“Health-wise, I feel good. We’re just taking precautions to avoid further damage in training.”
Marcus Blakely