Gregory Rodrigues addresses move after brutal Jack Hermansson KO

Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues has never shied away from the warmth of battle, but at UFC 317, the Brazilian middleweight found himself at the middle of a distinct type of controversy. After starching Jack Hermansson with a devastating left hook late in the primary round, Rodrigues followed up with a hammerfist to his already unconscious opponent before referee Herb Dean could intervene. The aftermath has ignited debate across the MMA community, with fans and pundits questioning the need of the ultimate blow and the timing of the stoppage.

The Ending Sequence: A Split-Second Decision

The featured prelim bout at UFC 317 saw Rodrigues and Hermansson, each known for his or her grappling prowess, engage in a striking battle. Hermansson found early success with jabs and counterstrikes, opening up Rodrigues’ face and seemingly taking control of the round. But with lower than a minute left, Rodrigues unleashed a crisp 2-3 combination, his left hook landing flush and sending Hermansson crashing to the canvas, his head bouncing violently off the mat.

As Hermansson lay motionless, Rodrigues stepped in and delivered a hammerfist, an instinctual follow-up within the chaos of a fight. Referee Herb Dean, slow to react, arrived just after the blow landed, waving off the competition at 4:21 of the primary round. The chilling scene left Hermansson unresponsive for several moments before he eventually regained his senses and was in a position to leave the octagon under his own power.

Criticism of each Herb Dean and Gregory Rodrigues

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The sequence immediately drew criticism from UFC commentators and fans alike. Daniel Cormier, on the published, was quick to indicate Dean’s delayed intervention, stating, “Why didn’t the ref jump in there and stop that? He’s laying there out… He mustn’t have allowed him to take that last punch… He was done. He’s laying down… It’s not like he hit him straight away. He literally walked as much as him and throws. He thought the fight was going to be stopped…”

Nevertheless, many within the MMA world also emphasized that the Rodrigues should’ve known that Hermansson was out cold and the follow-up shots absolutely unnecessary. Nevertheless, within the split-second chaos following a knockout, fighters are trained to proceed until the official steps in.

Rodrigues himself addressed the criticism in his post-fight interviews, making his stance clear. “I don’t care what the people think. … If it was on the opposite side and he did the identical, why would I be mad at him?” Rodrigues told reporters. “If you go contained in the cage, we sign the contract, we’re in a position to do the whole lot. If he was on the opposite side and he did the identical, why would I be mad at him? He did his job. I hope he’s okay, he’s a warrior like me. But such as you said, I’m not going to stop till the ref says stop, right? So yeah, I just did my job and I’m going to maintain doing that”.

What’s Next for Rodrigues and the Middleweight Division?

With this emphatic victory, Rodrigues not only reminded fans of his knockout power but additionally positioned himself for a possible climb back into the middleweight rankings. Coming off a troublesome loss to Jared Cannonier earlier within the 12 months, this win over a perennial contender like Hermansson is an announcement that “Robocop” continues to be a force at 185 kilos and a fight against someone contained in the top 10 of the rankings must be up next.

As the talk over the finish continues, Rodrigues stays unapologetic, focused on his profession trajectory and the realities of the fight game. “I just did my job,” he reiterated, “and I’m going to maintain doing that”.

Gregory Rodrigues’ brutal knockout of Jack Hermansson at UFC 317 might be remembered each for its ferocity and the controversy that followed. While the talk over the referee’s timing and the ethics of follow-up strikes rages on, Rodrigues stands firm in his belief that a fighter’s duty is to compete until the ultimate bell, or the referee’s intervention. Because the middleweight division continues to evolve, one thing is definite: Rodrigues has reasserted his presence, and he’s not letting outside noise distract him from his mission.