“Turbo” believes he got robbed.
Top Flyweight prospect Phumi Nkuta suffered the first loss of his professional career last night (Sat., May 16, 2026) at MVP MMA 1 after former ONE Championship titleholder Adriano Moraes put him to sleep in the final seconds of their preliminary-card clash inside Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California (watch highlights).
The problem?
The choke appeared to continue well after the final horn sounded.
Immediately following the finish, referee Herb Dean requested an instant
replay review due to the controversial timing of the submission. After reviewing the sequence, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) ultimately ruled that Moraes secured the stoppage with one second remaining in the fight.
Nkuta’s team strongly disagrees.
Following the fight, Iridium Sports Agency officially filed an appeal with CSAC challenging the result.
“Iridium Sports Agency has filed a formal appeal with the California State Athletic Commission on behalf of Phumi Nkuta regarding the outcome of his bout tonight with Moraes in Inglewood, CA,” agent Lance Spaude wrote on social media. “Per CSAC regulation, the contest should’ve been decided by the judges’ scorecards.”
“We contest the commission’s determination that Phumi was unconscious at the end of the bout because the choke was held for a considerable time after the conclusion of the round and after the referee, Herb Dean, attempted to stop the bout,” Spaude continued.
“Had the bout went to the scorecards, Phumi would have won the bout by decision. We appreciate CSAC’s consideration of our appeal and look forward to a quick and fair resolution.”
And according to the official scorecards released afterward, Nkuta was indeed ahead entering the final sequence. Two judges had him up two rounds, while the third had the fight even at 19-19.
That revelation only added more fuel to the controversy.
While the replay appears to show the horn sounding before Nkuta fully lost consciousness, overturning combat sports results is historically very difficult. Athletic commissions rarely reverse outcomes unless there is overwhelming evidence of a rules violation or procedural error.
So despite the backlash online and the questionable finish, “Turbo” still faces an uphill battle.
The defeat snapped Nkuta’s impressive 11-fight win streak, a run that saw him capture championships in A1 Combat, Peak Fighting Championship, and CFFC.
For complete ‘Rousey vs. Carano’ fight card results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
