Referee John McCarthy says Michael Page’s flying KO ‘absolutely the hardest knee’ he’s ever seen
Veteran official has presided over thousands of mixed martial arts bouts, and says British star's jumping knee finish of Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos ranks as one of the most devastating he's seen
MICHAEL 'Venom' Page's spectacular flying-knee knockout of Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos was the highlight-reel moment of Saturday night's Bellator 158 event in London.
And the man with the best view in the house has given his take on the British welterweight's stunning KO.
Referee John McCarthy is a veteran of thousands of MMA bouts, and officiated the early days of the UFC.
But despite his years of experience inside the cage refereeing MMA bouts across the globe, Page's flying KO finish of Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos stands out.
Answering fan questions on his Twitter account following the London event, McCarthy explained that Page's KO was the hardest knee he's ever seen delivered in a bout.
And the official also confirmed that Page's flying knee finish left Santos with a fractured skull.
"(It) Sounded like a baseball being hit out of the park," he tweeted.
"It broke Cyborg's forehead. Absolutely the hardest knee (I've seen).
"It actually broke the skull above his orbital. He will be having surgery to fix it."
Page's spectacular win was the highlight of an exciting night of fights at The O2 Arena, as the London Shootfighters man announced himself as a potential title contender in the Bellator welterweight division.
The Brit can expect further steps up in competition as the Bellator matchmakers look to ease him towards the division's elite, including former champion Douglas Lima, who scored a unanimous decision win over Brit Paul 'Semtex' Daley in the night's main event.