Diego Brandao's first post-UFC defeat was just a little bit odd.
The Brazilian was released from the UFC last year following a series of controversies but he seemed to get his career back on track in his new home of Eurasia Fight Nights Global, treating himself to a pair of stoppages against lower-level competition.
On Monday, Brandao took on Akhmed Aliev in his third promotional outing and saw his Russian opponent's hand raised after some bizarre scenes in Dagestan.
Things took a dirty turn in the evening's main event when the referee was forced to intervene after Aliev illegally headbutted Brandao, whose most high-profile fight to date came opposite the current UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor.
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Brandao responded by furiously kicking Aliev off and seemed hell-bent on leaving the cage.
The official pleaded with the TUF 14 winner to "please stay and fight," but Brandao wasn't having it as rubbish sailed on to the canvas from a frustrated crowd.
After being calmed down by his team, Brandao returned to the cage minutes later in the hope that the fight could be restarted but was simply told that it wouldn't be possible, with a TKO victory awarded to Aliev due to Brandao's retirement.
"I'm so sorry for you," the referee told Brandao as the ring announcer revealed the official result. "Why were you leaving the cage?"
