Overview
- In the opening minute of the fight at PFL Brussels, Donegi Abena landed what reporters described as an illegal headbutt while Joe Schilling was on the ground, and the referee paused the action.
- Referee Mike Beltran deducted one point from Abena, then attempted to resume the fight in the same position with Schilling on the mat, a move that fighters and observers call controversial.
- Schilling reacted angrily, told the referee he was done, calmed briefly and then refused to continue after the restart attempt, which led Beltran to stop the contest and record the bout as Abena’s win.
- Schilling posted an Instagram message defending his decision and referencing his pre-fight walkout with his son, while the result stands as Abena’s first MMA victory and drops Schilling’s record to 4-7.
- The stoppage has fueled criticism of refereeing and PFL event procedures after a card that also featured weigh-in scuffles and replacement fighters, and it could prompt internal reviews or calls for clearer restart rules.