Max Rohskopf had had enough in his UFC Fight Night bout Saturday vs. Austin Hubbard in Las Vegas. He wanted to stop, and he said so repeatedly. Robert Drysdale, his top cornerman, didn't want to hear it.
Rohskopf had taken the fight on less than a week's notice, was absorbing punishment and was trailing on the judges' cards. Drysdale, though, refused to allow his fighter to quit on his stool.
Listen to their exchange after Round 2:
Inside the corner of Max Rohskopf before the fight is called off at #UFCVegas3 pic.twitter.com/hZrfnaMObt
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 20, 2020
An inspector from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) eventually stepped in and ended the lightweight bout, ESPN's Ariel Helwani reported. Hubbard was awarded a TKO victory.
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Drysdale told Helwani afterward that he stood by what he did.
"I expect excellence from the people I train because I love them," he told Helwani. "[Rohskopf] wasn't seriously hurt, and I felt he needed a mental push. I would expect the same from my coach."
Drysdale added that it is his job to push a fighter. "I did my job, and I have no regrets because I believe Max has potential to be one of the greats," he told Helwani.
Rohskopf (5-1) did not speak with reporters after the fight.
NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told ESPN the commission will "look into" the exchange and may punish Rohskopf's corner.
"We might want to take disciplinary action on them. That doesn't sound like they are looking out for a fighter. Obviously, he didn't want to come out [and fight]," Bennett told Helwani.
