Referee Exonerates Gilbert Burns Of Allegedly Illegal Blows

Referee Marc Goddard defends Gilbert Burns’ ground-and-pound strikes against Stephen Thompson at UFC 264.

Gilbert Burns landed (mostly) legal shots on Stephen Thompson in the final seconds of their UFC 264 fight — just ask referee Marc Goddard.

Highly ranked welterweight contenders Burns and Thompson clashed in the co-main event of UFC 264: “Poirier vs. McGregor” at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV on Sat., July 10. Burns’ offence in the final few seconds of the fight had some fans calling foul play.

Burns was accused of landing numerous illegal blows to the back of Thompson’s head in the closing moments of their fight. Goddard, who refereed the fight, was asked by a fan to explain his decision to not half the exchange or penalize Burns. Goddard broke down the allegedly illegal punches with written analysis and a slow-motion video that supports his case.

“Of course I can. I’ll always try to offer [an] explanation, sadly it gets drowned out. You’ll see that only the fourth shot is a glancing blow to the nape of the neck. The first shots are top and side. The last five clearly to the shoulder. I try to maintain clarity in chaos! Hope this helps.”

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