Updated May 27, 2026, 3:43 p.m. ET
Joe Schilling’s return to MMA ended in a bizarre scene at PFL Brussels, but the overseeing regulatory commission is confident referee Mike Beltran followed protocol to a tee.
Saturday’s fight at ING Arena was stopped just 37 seconds into Round 1 after an incensed Schilling (4-5) refused to continue fighting once his opponent, Donegi Abena, threw a head butt on the ground. Beltran took a point from Abena (1-0) immediately and initially cooled off Schilling. But when resetting position, Schilling became increasingly angry and waved off his own fight.
Mohegan Tribe director of athletic regulation Mike Mazzulli, who was a lead regulator for the event, provided MMA Junkie with an explanation of protocol in an attempt to clear up any confusion about the handling of the situation. He said Beltran followed protocol exactly how it was written and gave Schilling every opportunity to resume fighting.
“That head butt did not adversely effect that round,” Mazzulli told MMA Junkie. “So that’s why Beltran took one point instead of two and why he didn’t DQ him. … Mike took one point – rightfully so.”
Schilling was on the bottom with Abena in guard when the foul occurred. What Mazzulli thinks viewers may not have picked up was that Beltran gave Schilling the option of resuming the fight on the feet or on the ground. The brief exchange can be audibly heard on the ESPN+ broadcast.
Where Schilling became angry was with the arm position on the ground. But Mazzulli said Schilling didn’t give Beltran enough time to properly set the fighters before he stood up and said he was done fighting.
“Beltran asked Mr. Schilling where he wanted to start it,” Mazzuli said. “… That’s when he put him back down in that position, and you can see those guys fighting with their hands. They are both trying to get leverage. Then Abena postures up, and that’s when Schilling loses his mind. At no point did Mike Beltran say ‘fight.’ He was trying to get back down chest to chest.”
Because Schilling refused to continue, the bout was ruled a first-round TKO stoppage for Abena. It was a disappointing ending to a battle between two former GLORY Kickboxing champions.
Schilling hasn’t commented in-depth on the incident, though he did issue a brief statement on Instagram.
“One of the coolest moments of my life,” Schilling wrote about walking out with his son at the event. “Everything else is just noise. I know exactly who I am and so does my family. Most of you talking shit couldnt hold my jock strap. My opponent also now exactly who he is and that’s on him. God Bless”
