Jonathan Oliveira (20-5-0) was the victim of bad luck in his fight with Meran Zangana (43-12-0). Both fighters had taken more than one knockdown count by the time the final round rolled around: Oliveira had received three, which meant one more would end the fight under the four-knockdown rule which governs GLORY bouts.
Unfortunately for Oliveira that came to pass. He was clinched with Zangana and took a knee to the body then leaned forward and dropped to one knee. Referee Paul Nicholls interpreted it as Oliveira taking a knee, ruled it a knockdown and waved the fight off. A replay makes it look more like Oliveira was off-balance and being pulled forwards, forcing the move.
The referee's interpretation was understandable, given that previously in the fight Oliveira had indeed been legitimately knocked down by way of a knee-strike to the body which forced him to go down on one knee. That came at the end of the first round. But earlier in the round he had been given a count as well, and that one also looked to be more of a slip.
Round two evened things up between them though as it was Zangana's turn to take two knockdown counts. These were courtesy of power-punches from Oliveira and he was unlucky not to be able to end the fight while Zangana was badly rocked. If he had been a little more patient and tried to set his shots up rather than swinging for them, he would probably have been able to land the one he needed.
Meran Zangana def. Jonathan Oliveira, Referee Stoppage: Four Knockdowns, R3Â
