Ex-MMA referee slams UFC 316 official, Tom Aspinall makes humble request to Merab Dvalishvili, Jon Jones slams viral petition: MMA News Roundup

UFC 316 just wrapped up this weekend and it is the focus of Sportskeeda's latest edition of the MMA News Roundup. A retired referee aimed criticism at the officiating in the Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison bout. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall had kind words for bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili.

Elsewhere, the Englishman's rival, Jon Jones, mocked fans over the petition many have signed to have him stripped of the heavyweight title for his refusal to fight Aspinall.

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Legendary MMA referee blasts the officiating in the UFC 316 co-headliner

Before Kayla Harrison submitted Julianna Peña at UFC 316 to become the new women's bantamweight champion, she ate an illegal upkick in round one. While referee Vitor Araujo correctly penalized 'The Venezuelan Vixen' for the foul by taking a point away, he stood both women up instead of returning them to the mat.

This blunder did not sit well with ex-referee John McCarthy, who said the following on his WEIGHING IN podcast:

"That you can look at when she was on the ground, she kicked up. The point taken was the right thing to do by Araujo, but it was the wrong thing to put them in a standing position. You had a bottom fighter foul the person on top. That means the bottom fighter goes back to being on the bottom. They don't get out of a position by fouling. What the f*ck is wrong with people?"

Check out John McCarthy's criticism (22:50):

Mistakes aren't new for referees, and this isn't the first time McCarthy has criticized another referee over poor officiating.

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Tom Aspinall requests fitness tips from Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili's jaw-dropping cardio was, once again, on display in the UFC 316 headliner. He ran through Sean O'Malley at a relentless pace, submitting him in round three. 'The Machine's' performance impressed Tom Aspinall and prompted the interim heavyweight champion to say

"I want Merab's cardio. Merab, show me what's what. Get me in that kind of shape. I'm ready for it."

Check out Tom Aspinall asking Merab Dvalishvili for advice (5:56):

Aspinall is already a lethal finisher. Bottomless cardio would only make him the stuff of nightmares for other heavyweights.

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Jon Jones mocks viral fan petition

Fans are tired of Jon Jones' continued refusal to fight Tom Aspinall and unify the UFC heavyweight titles. This frustration sparked an online petition to have him stripped, drawing around 200,000 signatures. Jones, though, scoffed at it by comparing it to the world population.

He tweeted:

"200,000/8,000,000,000"

Dana White himself was dismissive of the petition at the UFC 316 post-fight press conference, while continuing to assure everyone that the heavyweight fight will happen.