Highlights! Gleison Tibau mauls Abel Trujillo despite controversial stoppage in UFC 'Sao Paulo'

Here's video of the Tibau vs. Trujillo stoppage. Early? Justified? What do you all think? #Controversy #UFCSP https://t.co/cLwejtUzzH

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 8, 2015

My vote is for breathtaking levels of referee incompetence.

But let's face it, Gleison Tibau was dominating Abel Trujillo for all of the one minute and 45 seconds it lasted during the final fight on UFC Fight Night 77's "Prelims" undercard tonight (Sat., Nov. 7, 2015) inside Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

One of UFC's longest serving veterans, Tibau was a formidable challenge for Trujillo for a number of reasons. The Brazilian was fighting in front of his fellow countrymen, has fought a stiffer level of competition throughout his career and his 44 professional mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts nearly triples Trujillo's mere 18.

The common thread between the two men headed into the fight was Dagestani wrestler Khabib Nurmagomedov, who won against both. However, while "The Eagle" sent Trujillo flying, he never could get Tibau to the mat in 11 attempts.

That advantage proved crucial in this fight.

Tibau showed his wrestling superiority from the outset, landing a takedown in just 16 seconds followed by ground and pound that forced an apparent rearnaked choke.

However, just as it seemed as though Trujillo might escape referee Keith Peterson waved it off. It's true that Trujillo was losing badly up to that point, but replays showed the stoppage was rather dubious.

TRUJILLO: "The referee stopped it prematurely. The fight was just starting. I didn't tap. It was an unfortunate stop."

— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) November 8, 2015

For complete coverage of the UFC Fight Night 77: "Belfort vs. Henderson 3" card, including live results and play-by-play, click here.