AN MMA referee was slammed by fans for his dangerously slow reaction to a head kick knockout.

Brazilian Joao Oliveira took on Willian Prado in a featherweight bout at Shooto Brasil 132 in Rio de Janeiro.

And Oliveira landed a massive head kick in round three which floored Prado.

Prado was on his back defenceless and Oliveira refused to throw any follow up strikes as his opponent was all-but KO'd.

But the referee failed to wave off the bout - leaving Oliveira to throw a couple of punches before the official finally jumped in.

It was far too late and fans were outraged online as one said: "I really don’t understand how some refs got the job."

Another fumed: "Some refs in MMA deserve actual jail time."

A third asked: "How can he be a ref?"

The region

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