Luke Riley's UFC 329 knockout draws backlash from fighters

Luke Riley left UFC 329 with an undefeated record intact, but the finish that preserved it has fighters questioning the referee's judgment.

Referee Kerry Hatley waved off Riley's featherweight clash with Kai Kamaka III at 3:03 of the opening round Saturday night in Las Vegas, ruling Riley the winner by knockout as he pummeled a backpedaling Kamaka against the fence. While Kamaka looked hurt, multiple fighters noted he appeared to be seeking a clinch when Hatley intervened, per MMA Fighting.

Fighters question early stoppage call

Featherweight Billy Quarantillo offered the bluntest assessment. "That stoppage sucked," he wrote. UFC veterans Josh Hokit, Jamahal Hill, and Matt Frevola echoed the sentiment, all questioning why Hatley didn't allow Kamaka more time to work out of danger.

The victory pushed Riley to 14-0 as a professional and 3-0 under the UFC banner. Kamaka drops to 1-1 in his second tour with the promotion.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — ‘That stoppage sucked’: Pros react to Luke Riley’s controversial UFC 329 knockout | MMA Fighting