{"id":39243,"date":"2026-07-12T02:09:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T02:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Luke-Riley-defends-UFC-329-stoppage-says-referee-saved-Kai-Kamaka-III-201852"},"modified":"2026-07-12T02:09:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T02:09:27","slug":"luke-riley-defends-ufc-329-stoppage-says-referee-saved-kai-kamaka-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/luke-riley-defends-ufc-329-stoppage-says-referee-saved-kai-kamaka-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke Riley defends UFC 329 stoppage, says referee \u2018saved\u2019 Kai Kamaka III"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Luke
\nRiley took issue with reaction to his finish at UFC 329. | \ud83d\udcf7:
\nGetty\/UFC<\/b><\/p>\n


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\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> featherweight Luke Riley<\/a>
\nwas confident that it was only a matter of time before his
\nUFC 329<\/a> opponent, Kai Kamaka
\nIII<\/a>, went down.<\/p>\n

Riley (14-0) took on Kamaka III (18-8) at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The
\nBrit took some punishment to his lead leg early in the fight, but
\nneeded just one well-timed right hand to floor his foe, also
\nopening up a cut near the Hawaiian\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n

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While Kamaka III returned to his feet, Riley was relentless with
\nhis combinations, which was enough for referee Kerry Hatley to call
\na stop to the contest. The stoppage drew some backlash from the
\ncommentators and fans online, as Kamaka III was covering up but
\nstill on his feet.<\/p>\n

Luke Riley responds to criticism after UFC 329 victory over Kai
\nKamaka III<\/h2>\n

Riley believes Hatley saved his opponent from taking unnecessary
\ndamage. The Liverpudlian is confident he would eventually have
\nfinished Kamaka III. \u201cFans have the smallest memories ever,\u201d Riley said in a post-fight
\ninterview. \u201cSo, I think after the last one, coming into this one,
\n[fans were saying], \u2018Luke decision, Luke decision. He\u2019s gonna
\nscrape a split decision.\u2019 It\u2019s like, OK, and then, yeah, that\u2019s
\nwhat happened: first-round knockout. So, the memory is gonna be
\nrefreshed again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley was coming off a decision win over Michael
\nAswell<\/a> going into UFC 329. The undefeated 27-year-old says UFC
\nfans started considering him a decision fighter after his last
\nvictory. However, he just refreshed their memories with his 10th
\ncareer finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cKai is a tough motherf*cker. But once I sniff blood, it\u2019s done,\u201d
\nRiley added. \u201cOnce I landed that shot on the chin, seeing he was
\nrocked, he was hurt, he was just a wounded animal that was gonna be
\nput down. And the ref saved him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Riley addressed Joe Rogan and Daniel
\nCormier<\/a>\u2019s commentary and views on his finish. “They’ve f*cking
\nlost their minds. Two more seconds, and he would have been face
\ndown on the canvas,\u201d he said at the post-fight presser.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI know what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luke
\nRiley<\/a> (@LukeRileyMMA<\/a>)
\nwants to keep racking up wins and experience after posting his
\nthird consecutive win to start his UFC career. #UFC329<\/a><\/p>\n

Complete Prelim Results \u27a1\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/zJYzZphBW3<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/izipf6tI7s<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UFC News (@UFCNews)
\nJuly 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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