Referee dives in to save glamorous UFC fighter after she is knocked out with a knee to the face and punched in the head on the floor

An MMA referee was forced to dive in and save a glamorous UFC fighter after she was knocked out cold with a knee to the face in her latest match.

Hailey Cowan, 34, found herself on the wrong end of a vicious attack by Alice Pereira at UFC Fight Night 272, and was punched in the head while on the floor before the referee dived in the way.

The bantamweight fight took place on the preliminary card, with veteran Cowan up against it versus up-and-coming fighter Pereira, 20.

She did, however, make it to the second round, and it was the fifth minute in which she received the knee to the face, which knocked her out and sent her to the canvas.

As is common in MMA, Pereira then pounced on her opponent in a bid to finish her off, but Keith Peterson jumped in to break it up as the Brazilian was declared the winner.

It took Pereira to a record of seven wins and one loss. She is the youngest-ever female fighter to win a fight in the UFC, and the youngest to score a knockout.

Cowan, however, was in good spirits post-fight, writing on Instagram: ‘God is still good. I still have lots to smile about 🙂 and I am just fine. Heartbroken, but blessed.

‘Passion is what we do, purpose is why we do it. Thank you Jesus for the courage to do scary things and to dream big. Chin is still high.’

Cowan has been a pro fighter since 2018 and has a record of seven wins and five defeats. She has lost all three of her fights in the UFC, however, debuting against Jamey-Lyn Horth in 2023.

She boasts more than 50,000 followers on Instagram, sharing photos of her workouts and fights, while also giving an insight into her family life.