Aljamain Sterling, Merab Dvalishvili criticize officiating in controversial MVP bout

A controversial finish at Most Valuable Promotions' "Rousey vs. Carano" event has drawn criticism from notable UFC figures, including Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. The incident occurred during a bantamweight bout between Marlon Nkuta (11-1) and Adriano Moraes (22-6) on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, with the fight's contentious ending raising serious questions about officiating standards.

The bantamweight matchup was highly competitive throughout, with Nkuta displaying superior striking on the feet while Moraes, a former ONE Championship champion, utilized his grappling advantage and secured positions on the ground. As the final round progressed, the fight remained closely contested, setting up what would become a controversial conclusion.

The finish immediately triggered flashbacks for Dvalishvili, who recalled a similar controversial outcome from his 2018 fight against Ricky Simon. In that bout, while Dvalishvili was clearly dominating the action, Simon successfully locked in a guillotine choke in the final minute of their fight. Despite being in the submission, Dvalishvili refused to tap and appeared to ride out the round while partially unconscious before the referee ultimately stopped the bout.

Dvalishvili and Sterling's public criticism suggests that officiating inconsistencies at MVP's inaugural event may have been troubling enough to warrant outside scrutiny. Such controversies raise important questions about referee training and consistency standards as new promotions establish themselves in the professional MMA landscape.