TLDR
- Ian Escuza knocked out Luca Borando in 32 seconds but appeared to land an illegal knee on a grounded opponent
- Dana White disagreed with the Nevada Athletic Commission’s decision to uphold the TKO result
- White criticized referee Herb Dean for not calling a foul during the sequence
- UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby fought to get Escuza a contract despite the controversy
- Escuza enters the UFC with a perfect 7-0 record while Borando’s five-fight win streak ends
Sources: yardbarker.com | sports.yahoo.com
Ian Escuza earned a UFC contract Tuesday night despite finishing his opponent with what UFC President Dana White called an illegal knee.
The undefeated featherweight knocked out Luca Borando in just 32 seconds at Dana White’s Contender Series at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The finish came under immediate scrutiny when Escuza appeared to land a knee while Borando was grounded.
White disagreed with the Nevada Athletic Commission’s decision to award Escuza the TKO victory. He stated during the post-fight press conference that the result should have been ruled a no contest.
“Ian, unfortunately for you, I disagree with the athletic commission,” White said while offering the contract. “I think this fight should have been a no contest.”
Here’s the Ian Escuza finish with a clear illegal knee by the peruvian. Been saying it for years: Herb Dean should no longer be reffing. Surprised the Spanish table wholly missed it in their commentary. pic.twitter.com/5VXdql5gQO
— Rodrigo Del Campo González (@RodDelCampo) September 29, 2026
White explained that the knee was illegal but likely not intentional. Despite his reservations, he awarded Escuza the contract based on strong support from UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby.
“Sean Shelby just fought hard for you in the back,” White told Escuza. “Sean Shelby said this guy’s great; he’s very talented. Don’t make Sean regret this. Welcome to the UFC, Ian Escuza.”
Referee and Commission Under Fire
Referee Herb Dean did not immediately call a foul when the knee landed. White criticized Dean’s handling of the situation during the post-fight press conference.
“Herb Dean’s been around for a long time,” White said. “It’s not like he’s green and he needs some work. He messed up.”
After the fight ended, commission officials including Dean and Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Jeff Mullen reviewed the sequence on a monitor. The replay appeared to show Borando in a grounded position when the final knee connected.
The commission decided to let the TKO result stand. Officials determined that the final knee did not contribute to the stoppage, according to the broadcast explanation.
The decision left many viewers and media members questioning how the sequence was handled. Escuza followed the knee with a flurry of punches before the fight was waved off.
Fighter’s Record and Background
Escuza entered the fight with a perfect 7-0 record. The 30-year-old Peruvian fighter had landed several legal knees against the cage before the controversial strike occurred.
Borando saw his five-fight win streak end with the loss. The 26-year-old Italian fighter’s team has not yet announced whether they will challenge the result.
White has previously gone against his matchmakers’ advice when awarding contracts. In 2021, he signed Jake Hadley despite being told not to by his matchmaking team.
Hadley had missed weight and reportedly upset UFC staff with his attitude. White’s decision frustrated matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard, who reportedly walked out of the room.
That gamble did not pay off for the UFC. Hadley went 3-4 during his UFC run and lost three of his final four fights before his contract expired in October 2024.
Escuza now enters the UFC with his undefeated record intact despite the controversial circumstances. He has finished all seven of his professional victories.
