There were scary scenes at UFC Tampa as Mike Davis scored a brutally one-sided third-round knockout win over an overmatched and outclassed Thomas Gifford.
Davis dominated the lightweight bout from the opening siren and likely would have taken the first two rounds 10-8 on the scorecards.
It was even more one-sided in the third frame, with Davis potentially on his way to a 10-7 score before he finally found the knockout blow with 15 seconds left in the fight.
Davis was so dominant that he merely walked away from Gifford after flooring him on several occasions during the final round, unwilling to put more of a beating on his hapless opponent.
Someone, somewhere - probably the referee - should have stopped the fight.
In the commentary box Michael Bisping was disgusted at what he was seeing.
"Listen, I'm going to say something controversial here, I think this referee needs to man up," the former middleweight champion said.
"He needs to step in and do his job if I'm honest.
"The referee's job is to protect the fighter and right now it's one way traffic. This isn't a fight.
"I'm sorry."
Davis landed the knockout blow about 10 seconds after Bisping's comments, and the Englishman was fired up as Gifford crumpled face down to the canvas.
"Happy now?" he yelled.
"That fight could've been stopped a long time ago.
"Amazing performance from Mike Davis, incredible display. I see this man being a contender.
"But I did not like to see that knockout. Thomas Gifford is a warrior, he's got the heart of a lion. Thomas Gifford took them, but you can't continue to do that.
"That's not doing Thomas Gifford any favours. The referee or his coach should have stopped that."
Watch the knockout blow below.
Es la primera vez que sufro viendo una pelea, Mike Davis hizo su trabajo, pero sufrió mucho Gifford, #UFCTampa. pic.twitter.com/AX91A9t2ZU
— Rafa Romero (@rafuunka) October 12, 2019
Mike Davis | #UFCTampa
— El rincón de las MMA (@RinconMMA) October 12, 2019
"Beast Boy" (8-2) se lleva la victoria ante Thomas Gifford por KO (right cross) en el 3 asalto. Gran derecha del norteamericano que consigue su primera victoria en el UFC mostrando un gran desempeño que culminó con un gran highlight pic.twitter.com/BFs3rAwhCE
Bisping's anger was echoed on social media, with a who's who of fighters, insiders and fans hammering the scary finish they witnessed.
I really hope Thomas Gifford is ok. What makes MMA more safe than boxing is no 10 counts and officials that stop fights timely. Poor officiating like that could lead to the death of a fighter in the UFC. Gifford took WAY too many shots. #UFCTampa
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) October 13, 2019
Omg 😳
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) October 12, 2019
That was hard to watch https://t.co/Duxe5qG7QK
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) October 12, 2019
that was a disgusting finish... that referee just did a HORRIBLE job letting that fight go WAY WAY WAY too long
— E. Casey Leydon (@ekc) October 12, 2019
this referee is cruel.
— esther lin 🏳️🌈 (@allelbows) October 12, 2019
Not even trying to be overdramatic but this is how people die in combat sports.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 12, 2019
There was nothing good about what just happened in the Octagon. Hope Gifford is OK. #UFCTampa
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) October 12, 2019
This fight should have not lasted this long, corner/ref should have stopped this a long time ago. #UFCTampa
— Sherdog by Mandatory (@sherdogdotcom) October 12, 2019
Well, that KO was unnecessary. Impressive by Mike Davis but should the referee have stopped that earlier? #UFCTampa
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) October 12, 2019
Oh man Gifford could be seriously hurt brutal #UFCTampa
— MMA Prediction Guru (@PredictionMma) October 12, 2019
Jesus Christ. Get Gifford immediate medical attention. That might be the first VERY serious injury in the UFC right there. Disgusting referee.
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) October 12, 2019