Overview
- In May, Oleksandr Usyk was declared the winner after referee Mark Lyson stopped the fight in the final seconds of round 11 against Rico Verhoeven despite close judges’ scorecards through 10 rounds.
- The stoppage drew immediate outrage because two judges had the bout even after 10 rounds and one had Verhoeven ahead, and Verhoeven’s trainer says Lyson later appeared to acknowledge he did not hear the bell.
- Joe Rogan has publicly criticized the officiating and urged Dana White and Zuffa to help arrange a rematch, saying the outcome raises questions about judging and stoppage decisions.
- Verhoeven is a free agent who says talks with the UFC are not financially viable and that rematch negotiations promised by Turki Alalshikh have slowed, complicating any quick return to the ring.
- Pre-fight sanctioning decisions that limited straightforward title transfer and reports that Usyk later relinquished belts add institutional hurdles that could keep the heavyweight picture unsettled until promoters or sanctioning bodies act.