In Shocking Video, MMA Fighter Melquizael Costa Almost Choked to Death ‘I Saw Death So Close’

The fighter was choked out for 90 seconds and literally fighting for his life!

We all know mixed martial arts is a dangerous sport but this fight took the dangerous level to extreme.

On Saturday night, at Daredevil Fight 13 in Bauru, Brazil, an MMA fighter Melquizael Costa nearly killed due to the total incompetence of the fight’s referee.

When the fight enters to the 3rd round, Rafael Barbosa the opponent fighter locked up an ‘anaconda choke’ to Melquizael Costa, Costa clearly slipped into the unconscious, but the referee did not intervene and the fight continued for horrifying 90 seconds. Even Barbosa told the referee that Costa was out, but the referee stood next to the athletes for crazy 90 seconds without checking if Costa was still in the fight.

Barbosa yells to the referee “I told you,” after he releases the choke and Costa lays unconscious on the ground. The disturbing video went viral online on Monday.

Check out the video clip here:

WTF Ref! pic.twitter.com/UMdFkCPlhn

— Bruno Massami (Бруно Массами) (@BrMassami) August 20, 2018

After the fight, Costa spent a night in the hospital, he was released on the next morning, but require to undergo further medical checkups, Costa told MMAFighting:

“He locked the anaconda choke, and when I turned to the wrong side, I went out. The first thing I remember is opening my eyes and seeing my coaches and a doctor over me, calling my name, and I couldn’t breathe. It was agonizing.

I only came back to normal when I got to the hospital and they gave me some serum.”

Melquizael Costa added:

“ I saw death so close, I saw in the video that I went out and my eyes were open.

You might think I’m awake, but I was already out. I moved a couple of times, but I was having seizures. My corner and his corner yelled that I was out, but the referee said he would only stop the fight if I was out. And I was! Every referee touches the fighter to see if they are out, but he never touched me.

My opponent stopped the fight. Otherwise, I would be dead.”

Rafael Barbosa also shares his thoughts on the experience:

“I know that the referee is wrong, but [Costa’s] team wouldn’t say much either,. He was out, and his team kept telling him to get up, to defend. They thought he was still awake. I don’t think the referee is completely wrong here.”

The referee, Emerson Pereira Saez, has since decided to retire told MMAFighting:

“Everything happens too fast in there, it’s different than looking at the video later. You have to make a quick decision in there, and at the same time, I thought if I stop this early and he’s in the fight, it will be controversial. I let it go a little bit longer, and when I realized his eyes and his expression were changing, I stopped the fight. That’s exactly what happened. I didn’t notice him having a seizure. If I had noticed that, I would have stopped it earlier to protect the athlete.”

“My family and I think it’s time to retire, I’ve done my best. I wish (Costa) and his opponent the best. They are young, and I hope they can build their dreams.”