UFC 203: Fabricio Werdum kicks Travis Browne's trainer after bizarre fight

The heavyweight fight between Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne may have been respectful for fifteen minutes. But after the final bell is when the bad blood spilled into the cage and a brawl between corners nearly commenced.

Werdum, who defeated Browne by unanimous decision, engaged in a heated war of words with Browne’s coach Edmond Tarverdyan (who also trains Ronda Rousey) before Bruce Buffer announced the result. The former heavyweight champion punctuated the argument with a swift front kick to Tarverdyan’s chest. Both corners spilled into the middle of the Octagon, ready for battle, while Werdum went into a fighting stance.

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed as both corners were escorted out of the cage and the decision was finally read. The near melee was part of a bizarre fight that saw Werdum open the bout with a jumping sidekick to Browne’s face. Later in the first round, Browne attempted to block a Werdum punch. Immediately after he parried, Browne turned away in pain from what appeared to be a dislocated finger. The Hawaiian heavyweight attempted to call a time out to referee Gary Copeland, but was met with a left hook from the Brazilian.

Copeland finally paused the fight and brought a doctor in to check on Browne’s injured hand and ultimately allowed the fight to continue. The issue with this was that an injury due to a legal move should have resulted in a TKO victory for Werdum under the unified rules of MMA. However, that wouldn’t happen and the fight continued and saw Werdum claim the decision victory with scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-27.

It was Werdum’s first victory since losing his heavyweight title to Stipe Miocic in May while Browne dropped his second consecutive fight and has now lost three of his last four.