Dana White and the UFC are no strangers to controversy, and UFC 312 delivered its share in just 19 seconds! Anshul Jubli, India’s rising MMA star, faced off against debutant Quillan Salkilld in a fight that ended almost as soon as it began. A thunderous right hand from Salkilld sent Jubli crashing to the canvas, and the referee wasted no time in waving it off.

That split-second call sent shockwaves through the MMA community. Was it a justified stoppage, or did the referee rob Jubli of a fighting chance? No. 10 ranked UFC lightweight Renato Moicano wasted no time in taking to social media and firing off the first shot.

In a statement made on social media, shared on Instagram by ‘Crash MMA’, Moicano stated, “20 years to have a Indian in UFC and the referee does that (laughing emojis).”

The stoppage itself was as divisive as Moicano’s comment. From one angle, Jubli appeared unconscious for slightly longer than a split second. From another, he was grabbing Salkilld’s leg, seemingly ready to continue. 

Even Merab Dvalishvili, the UFC bantamweight champion was heard exclaiming, “It’s early! Early stoppage! What the F!”, according to a post on X shared by Georgian journalist, Giorgi Kokiashvili.

As such, Moicano’s remark carried weight. India, despite its rich history in combat sports, has yet to establish a strong presence in Dana White’s promotion. Jubli, one of the country’s few representatives, had just suffered a brutal loss under questionable circumstances. Some fans felt Moicano’s words stung too much, while others saw them as a blunt truth. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say!

Fan opinion split as Dana White and the UFC come under scrutiny over referee’s call to stop Anshul Jubli’s fight  

Anshul Jubli protested his stoppage instantly, reaching for his opponent’s leg in a desperate attempt to continue fighting. But the referee had already made the decision. But was it the right call? Some fans believed Jubli would have managed to secure the takedown if it wasn’t for the referee’s intervention. What do you think?

“Terrible stoppage- he would’ve secured the takedown if it continued”

Supporters of Jubli were vocal, insisting he was still in the fight. They argued that fighters recover from knockdowns all the time, and he should have been given a chance to defend himself. However, the questions linger, would he have taken unnecessary damage after the knockdown? Was the referee too hasty in his call?

“Bro he still could fight”

Others took the opposite stance. To them, the way Jubli hit the ground was all the evidence needed. A fighter falling like that—eyes rolling back, limbs going slack—is often a telltale sign of being out.

“You can’t fall like that and expect the ref to think you’re conscious”

For Indian MMA fans, this fight was more than just another bout. It was a rare opportunity to see one of their own compete on the sport’s biggest stage. Seeing their representative taken out so quickly—and in a controversial fashion—felt like a gut punch.

“As an Indian it’s very disheartening”

But the internet didn’t let this moment escape without trolling Anshul Jubli. In his previous fight against Mike Breeden at UFC 294, Jubli was winning the fight till Breeden inexplicably began barking at him. Then Jubli got knocked out.  As such, the fans took a jab at the stoppage claiming the Indian fighter was frozen due to the same reason this time too! 

“ It wasn’t the punch someone from the audience barked”

Some fans dismissed the controversy altogether. In their eyes, Jubli was out, plain and simple. The referee did his job, and any backlash was just wishful thinking.

“The ref’s pulling you off, and you are totally spaced out, and some people are saying it was stopped too soon? He was toast, people.”

In the end, Dana White and the UFC found themselves in a tough spot. Anshul Jubli’s dreams were cut short in a matter of seconds, and the debate over the referee’s decision will rage on. Some argue he was still in the fight, reaching for a leg in defiance. Others insist his fall told the real story—that he was done the moment he hit the canvas. Was this an unfair call, or simply the brutal reality of the fight game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!