California Commission Denies Nkuta Appeal, Upholds Moraes Technical Submission Win

The California State Athletic Commission denied Phumi Nkuta's appeal on Monday to reverse his technical submission loss to Adriano Moraes. The ruling leaves the May 16 result from the MVP: Ronda Rousey vs. event intact.

Nkuta argued that Moraes maintained a choke for roughly 2.15 seconds after the final bell and that referee Herb Dean mishandled the sequence. He traveled from Las Vegas to Sacramento for the hearing and stated he remained conscious at the horn but lost consciousness only afterward because the hold stayed locked in. Nkuta contended the fight should have reached the scorecards.

CSAC executive director Andy Foster acknowledged the choke extended past the bell yet said timing of unconsciousness could not be determined with certainty. "I bet I've watched it 80 times now," Foster said. "I'm still unsure when he went unconscious.

Commissioner Dr. AnnaMaria De Mars said holding the position for two seconds under mutual pressure did not constitute an egregious deliberate foul. The technical submission victory for Moraes stands as the official outcome, leaving Nkuta with the only loss of his professional career.