LAS VEGAS – Denis Tiuliulin was perhaps harshly deducted a point prior to finishing Jamie Pickett at UFC 279, but it only fueled him.
Tiuliulin (11-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) scored a second-round TKO of Pickett (13-8 MMA, 2-4 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. But prior to stopping Pickett, Tiuliulin was deducted a point for an inadvertent low blow, which could have cost him the fight had it gone the distance.
It was the second time referee Mike Beltran had warned Tiuliulin, which prompted him to take a point off the Russian fighter. The first warning was for a body kick which appeared to connect above the belt, but had an affect on Pickett regardless. The second blow was clearly to Pickett’s cup.
