The #UFCVegas21 bout between Eryk Anders and Darren Stewart has been declared a "No Decision, due to an illegal blow." pic.twitter.com/aFKWrSwda8
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 14, 2021
The stakes were significantly lower on Saturday, when Eryk Anders landed a knee to the head on a downed Darren Stewart at UFC Fight Night 187, than they were a week ago when the bantamweight crown changed hands due to a foul by Petr Yan against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259.
There also appears to be less bad blood involved, as Anders quickly took to social media to apologize for his transgression after the bout.
“1,000 apologies to [Darren Stewart]. I know he wanted to keep going,” Anders wrote. “I made a critical error in the heat of the moment and it cost us and the fans a barn burner.”
1000 apologies to @Darren_mma. I know he wanted to keep going. I made a critical error in the heat of the moment and it cost us and the fans a barn burner.
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) March 14, 2021
Anders appeared to be on the verge of securing a clean stoppage moments earlier, when he became the first person to floor Stewart in 12 UFC bouts. The former University of Alabama linebacker pursued the finish with referee Herb Dean taking a close look, but the illegal knee prompted a pause in the action. Though Stewart wanted to continue, the cageside doctor overruled the Brit and the bout was waved off at the 4:37 mark of Round 1.