Ref punched in face

Navajo Stirling’s impressive rise towards the UFC has gone up another gear with a second King in the Ring title but he wasn’t the only one taking heavyweight punches like a champion. During a semifinal bout between eventual finalist James Craughwell and Pane Haraki, the latter accidentally landed a left hook to the face of referee Clyde Cowley. Haraki immediately apologised as Craughwell backed away but Cowley courageously shook the blow off and called on the pair to keep fighting. The punch drew gasps from the audience who gave Cowley a boisterous ovation post-fight.