A REFEREE screamed for help from a doctor after a former UFC star crumpled in agony from a kick to the testicles.
Stricken Alexander Romanov had to be carried from the cage on a stretcher after just his second Professional Fighters League (PFL) match.
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The Moldovan, aka King Kong, was once a top UFC heavyweight prospect.
But he switched to a different Mixed Martial Art earlier this year.
And the 34-year-old had hopes of a PFL heavyweight title shot when a sickening blow sent him reeling.
Romanov was taking on Russian Valentin Moldavsky, 33, in Chicago.
And his eye-watering fate came as early as the opening round.
Romanov struggled to seriously trouble Moldavsky, despite landing a few of his renowned slam takedowns.
And when the younger man got up, he put on enough pressure to leave King Kong tiring.
Yet little more than 30 seconds were left in the first of the three five-minute rounds when the distressing moment arrived.
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The pair were grasping each other on the ropes when Romanov delivered a knee to his opponent.
Moldavsky returned the blow in kind – but accidentally went too low.
Romanov instantly slumped to the floor, holding his groin, while his rival protested his innocence.
The ref yelled for medical aid as Romanov was in obvious agony and fight fans looked on worried.
Meanwhile, Moldavsky sunk to his knees, with his head down – apparently in rueful reflection.
The cage-side doctor dashed over to treat Romanov.
And the doc soon confirmed the inevitable – that the burly giant would be unable to continue.
The 18st 13lbs wrestler was then taken away on a stretcher.
It meant the bout – a PFL heavyweight tournament semi-final – was ruled a “no contest”.
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Romanov had dazzled when winning his only other PFL fight in May, beating 40-year-old American Timothy May by submission.
It left the East European well placed for a title shot – until a badly placed knee in his very next fight.
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