Sherdog’s Top 10: Dirtiest Deeds

Mike SloanAug 17, 2015



1. Gilbert Yvel vs. Atte Backman
Fight Festival 12
Nov. 13, 2004 | Helsinki, Finland


The official fight result says it all: DQ (Yvel KOed the Referee). The Fight Festival 12 main event lasted just 35 seconds, as Yvel took aim at Backman ... and referee Petteri Maunu. Backman let the Dutchman do as he pleased when they clinched along the ropes, but Maunu decided to warn Yvel repeatedly. He wanted to restart the fighters in the center of the ring.

After receiving several warnings for clinching and failing to move out of the corner, Yvel lost his mind and dropped Maunu -- yes, the defenseless referee -- with a perfect left hook. Maunu hit the canvas instantly. As Yvel walked passed him, he gave him a swift kick to the body for good measure. Yvel was immediately disqualified, and a dazed and confused Maunu wandered aimlessly around the ring before being tended to by medical personnel. Such behavior was not all that shocking coming from Yvel, who had been disqualified twice previously, first for biting Karimula Barkalaev at an International Absolute Fighting Council event in 1998 and later for gouging Don Frye’s eyes at Pride 16 in 2001.

Yvel went on two win nine of his next 12 bouts after wiping out the referee and reached the Ultimate Fighting Championship in January 2010. However, consecutive losses to Junior dos Santos, Ben Rothwell and Jon Madsen led to his release less than a year later. Yvel fought twice more inside the Resurrection Fighting Alliance promotion before announcing his retirement.