Ante Delija is not taking his latest loss lightly. In the co-main event of UFC Vegas 110, he believed he had earned a dominant victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta—only for a chaotic turn of events to alter the result entirely.

From the opening minute, Delija appeared to seize control. He landed heavy strikes, pushed Cortes-Acosta against the cage, and clinched what looked like a TKO victory. But then, referee Mark Smith intervened. A replay review determined an eye poke had occurred, and the fight was mercifully paused to allow Cortes-Acosta to recover. Moments later, the bout resumed—and just 30 seconds after restart, Cortes-Acosta landed a counter right hand that dropped Delija, finishing the fight by knockout at 3:59 of the first round.

Feeling robbed, Delija took to social media with a five-point statement. He contested the referee’s decision-making:

“The referee did not show ‘time-out,’ but stopped the fight and therefore declared me the winner. That decision cannot be changed later!”

“The opponent sat and relaxed […] replay was used after the interruption, which should not happen.”

“I don’t run from defeat. But not when the rules are broken and I am robbed.”

While Nevada’s commission rules allow for instant replay and continuation after a foul, Delija argued the sequence was mishandled. He pointed out that Cortes-Acosta’s corner entered the cage and allowed him to sit on a stool—an unusual sight for a fight in progress.

This incident now borders on one of the most controversial finishes in recent UFC heavyweight history. Delija’s frustration isn’t about losing—he believes the method was unfair. As discussions about officiating and replay use intensify across MMA, Delija’s case serves as another flashpoint in how fouls, reviews, and fighter intent can collide with lasting consequences.