Dana White criticizes inexperienced doctor in Ankalaev vs. Walker fight

Johnny Walker's fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 294 was stopped due to a controversial doctor's decision. UFC CEO Dana White criticized the doctor's inexperience and language barrier.

In a highly anticipated light heavyweight showdown at UFC 294, Johnny Walker's fight against Magomed Ankalaev was abruptly halted by the ringside physician. Walker had just taken a devastating knee strike from Ankalaev that was deemed illegal, causing him to fall to the canvas. While the action was momentarily paused to give Walker time to recover, the referee ultimately waved off the fight.

The controversy arose when the doctor examined Walker immediately after he got back on his feet following the illegal strike. The doctor asked him a series of questions, including one about the location of the fight. Walker's response was less than satisfactory, and the doctor promptly informed the referee, leading to the fight being declared a no-contest due to an unintentional foul committed by Ankalaev.

UFC CEO Dana White expressed his dissatisfaction with the doctor's handling of the situation during the post-fight press conference. White attributed the confusion to the doctor's inexperience, suggesting that there may have been a language barrier between him and Walker. While Walker is proficient in English, it is not his first language, which may have contributed to the miscommunication.

White acknowledged that the entire situation was far from ideal and vowed to rectify it. He did not explicitly state whether the UFC planned to reschedule the Ankalaev-Walker fight in the near future, but he hinted that the promotion has previously handled similar incidents by giving fighters another opportunity to compete against each other.

Following the premature end to the fight, Walker attempted to restart the action by marching across the octagon towards Ankalaev. This prompted security to intervene and prevent any potential altercation. White, concerned about the situation escalating, even had to personally step into the octagon to defuse tensions.

Reflecting on the incident, White emphasized the importance of avoiding such confrontations and expressed relief that things did not spiral out of control. He recognized the potential danger posed by the heated exchange between the fighters and the need to maintain a safe environment.

Ankalaev, who had previously fought to a draw against Jan Blachowicz, resulting in him missing out on the UFC light heavyweight title, now adds a no-contest to his record. It remains to be seen if the UFC will give him another chance to face Walker in the future, as the promotion has done in similar cases.

Ultimately, the premature end to the fight between Walker and Ankalaev left both fighters without a decisive victory, leaving fans and pundits eagerly anticipating their potential rematch.

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