Top referee Marc Goddard pays tribute to Irish duo for outstanding performances at UFC Rotterdam

Marc Goddard was very impressed with Dubliner Neil Seery's and honourary Irish man 'Gunnar Nelson's performances in the inaugural UFC event in the Netherlands.

The elite MMA referee couldn't help but get emotional watching the two warriors rise to the occasion, and put in a pair of very different, but equally impressive showings on Sunday. Icelandic fighter Nelson, who trains out of SBG in Dublin, bounced back from his demoralising decision loss to jiu-jiutsu master Damian Maia by submitting one of the welterweight divisions most promising rising stars in Albert Tumenov. Nelson usde his striking and grappling prowess to pick apart the Russian fighter's game and get the finish in the second round. Seery lost via unanimous decision to Kyoji Horiguchi, but he fought with the heart of a lion in the easily the toughest test of his career. The Finglas native showcased his granite chin to take a fighter who many believe is the future UFC flyweight champion the distance. Shortly after the event, Goddard commended both fighters' performances in their respective fights and thanked the pair for making it a memorable night of high-octane combat sports action.