Ante Delija wants answers after a bizarre stop and restart in the UFC Fight Night 263 co-main event.

The confusing situation at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas began with a big flurry of punches from Delija (26-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on Waldo Cortes-Acosta along the cage. However, just before connecting with what he thought was a fight-ending sequence, Delija poked Cortes-Acosta (15-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in the eye – something “Salsa Boy” attempted to communicate while covering up.

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After calling for Cortes-Acosta to fight back, referee Mark Smith stepped between the fighters, but did not wave his hands over his head to signal the end of the fight. Delija thought he won and began celebrating with his team.

Confusion quickly set in when Delija realized he wasn’t declared the winner. Instead, Smith called for a replay, and it was determined there was an eye poke. All the while, Cortes-Acosta was tended to by officials on a stool and was given a five-minute timer to recover.

Cortes-Acosta decided he could continue and dropped Delija with punches to score a TKO just seconds after the fight restarted. Now Delija wants answers.

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“The referee did not show “time-out,” but stopped the fight and therefore declared me the winner,” Delija wrote on Instagram. “That decision cannot be changed later!”

After the strange moment, Delija walked out of the octagon with his first UFC loss. The former PFL season winner made his debut in the promotion in September, where he stopped Marcin Tybura in the first round. He thought he had another opening-round finish in the bag, but he feels it was taken away from him.

Read Delija’s full statement below (translated via Instagram):

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1️⃣ I’m not sure if I hit him in the eye, I think it’s near the eye and of course I want a video where you can see that sting correctly!2️⃣ The referee did not show “time-out”, but stopped the fight and therefore declared me the winner. That decision cannot be changed later!3️⃣ The opponent sat and relaxed while watching the footage for more than a few minutes!4️⃣ Replay used after the interruption – which rules do not allow!!5️⃣ After all, the fight continued irregularly!🔴 I ask for nothing more, just honesty.I don’t run from defeat,I respect every opponent and every outcome.But not when rules are broken and I’m robbed.Not in this way.The sport hasn’t seen this yet!!!

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ante Delija wants explanation for Waldo Cortes-Acosta fight restart