01-07-26
A bantamweight bout at Lions Fights 23 ended in bizarre fashion as Michel Pantoja tapped out immediately at the start of his fight against Matheus Kokama in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
The fight had barely begun when Pantoja submitted, leaving the referee appearing confused by the sudden tap and Kokama visibly baffled by the abrupt finish.
Tapology lists the bout as record-ineligible, noting it was not considered hard-fought to international standards.
Pantoja entered the matchup with a 1-3 record, while Kokama came in at 1-4. The unusual sequence drew attention online and was highlighted in MMA Junkie's Blue Corner blog section, which often features offbeat moments from around the sport.
