Joe Lauzon explains why he stopped Takanori Gomi UFC on FOX 16 fight early: 'I felt that took the life out of him'

If everyone was as thoughtful as Joe Lauzon, we probably wouldn't need referees in mixed martial arts arts (MMA).

After dominating, hurting and eventually putting what he felt were the finishing touches on Takanori Gomi at UFC on FOX 16, Joe took it upon himself to stop punching on the former PRIDE FC champion without waiting for Herb Dean to instruct him to do so.

And it could have proven costly, as Dean took a bit to actually put an end to the fight moments after Lauzon got up to celebrate. But before the scrappy lightweight contender got the chance to go back and continue his pummeling of "The Fireball Kid," Dean decided enough was indeed enough.

Something Joe revealed during the post-fight press conference (video here) that he realized even before he started raining down punches.

"I think I kind of jumped the gun a little bit. I hit him good a couple of times. When I had his back, I spread him out and I think I tore something in his groin or something. He was fighting pretty hard and then he let out kind of like a squeal and then he completely went flat. I felt that took the life out of him. I hit him a couple more times and I thought he was out, unconscious. Herb Dean was there, so I though he was unconscious so I figured I'd beat him, he started putting his hands up so I walked way. Then he's kind of looking at him, checking him out, and so I thought he wasn't going to stop it. So I run back over there and before I got there he waved me off."

Still, you have to give credit where credit is due, as Lauzon probably added even more people to his fan base after the classy act of sportsmanship he displayed by not continuing to hurt Gomi unnecessarily.

The win got Joe back in the win column after getting his bell rung by Al Iaquinta earlier this year. As for Gomi, that's now two straight defeats inside the Octagon, his second such losing streak since joining the promotion in 2010.

For complete results from UFC on FOX 16: "Dillashaw vs. Barao 2" click here.