Sherdog’s Top 10: Epic Fails

David Terrell benefitted from some puzzling officiating. | Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

8. Terrell, Smith & Lopez
UFC 59 “Reality Check”
April 15, 2006 | Anaheim, Calif.
It may be difficult to remember now, given that he has not fought in more than eight years, but there was a time when former wrestler and Cesar Gracie black belt David Terrell looked like the next big thing at 185 pounds. He knocked out Matt Lindland less than a minute into his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, and while he came up short against Evan Tanner for the middleweight crown, he was still a fighter to watch in his third UFC appearance. He drew the hard-punching Scott Smith, who was making his first Octagon appearance, in an exciting matchup of up-and-comers.

Terrell played off his back early, attempting submissions and generally forcing the striker into a grappling matchup. Eventually, Terrell shot a takedown and forced Smith to the fence, where he worked to his back. That was where things got weird. Referee Marco Lopez briefly stepped in, Smith stopped defending and Terrell slammed him to the mat and quickly set his hooks. Smith appealed to Lopez. In the meantime, Terrell was working for the choke. He got it, and Smith was forced to tap.

It was a bizarre sequence, and while it is difficult to tell what the referee was trying to do, the responsibility for the finish was all on Smith.

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