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Usyk Fight Referee Error Gave Verhoeven 30 Extra Seconds Recovery Time

Joe Rogan Experience · JRE MMA Show #179 with Josh Thompson & "Big" John McCarthy · May 27, 2026
Usyk Fight Referee Error Gave Verhoeven 30 Extra Seconds Recovery Time
Joe Rogan Experience
Joe Rogan Experience
JRE MMA Show #179 with Josh Thompson & "Big" John McCarthy
"After he gets knocked down, he doesn't have his mouthpiece, so then they have to go over to the corner, they rinse off his mouthpiece. That's a mistake right there. It takes like 30 seconds. And then the referee stops it when he's still standing, moving around."
McCarthy revealed Rico Verhoeven received approximately 30 seconds of extra recovery time in his fight with Oleksandr Usyk when the referee incorrectly walked to the corner to rinse Verhoeven's mouthpiece after a knockdown. Modern rules allow referees to immediately reinsert mouthpieces, but the referee apparently wasn't trained in updated protocols, contributing to the controversial stoppage at round's end.
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Joe Rogan Experience
Joe Rogan Experience

JRE MMA Show #179 with Josh Thompson & "Big" John McCarthy

August 3, 2026 · 5 Egleze moments
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