More on Aina/Evangelista finish

May 16, 2009

Photo: Daisy Rosas, StrikeForce

I finally watched the Mike Aina/Billy Evangelista fight from last night on Showtime. Aina was awarded the victory by disqualification after referee Herb Dean ruled Evangelista hit Aina with an illegal knee to the head of a downed opponent.

While Aina definitely had one knee on the ground, considering him “downed”, the knee never made contact with Aina’s head. Instead it hit Aina in the shoulder/upper arm area and the impact sent Aina’s arm into the side of his face, causing an injury to the other side of his jaw. It was a weird way to suffer a jaw injury, but Evangelista’s knee clearly never made contact with Aina’s head or face area.

Doctor’s ruled Aina couldn’t continue and you have to give Aina credit for saying after the fight he wouldn’t consider it a win. These guys don’t train like they do to have a fight end that way and be happy about it. I would expect a rematch between the two down the line.

Posted in Fights