Petr Yan and Jose Aldo (right) (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Jose Aldo was hit with over 60 strikes in round five of his bout with Petr Yan at UFC 251, and Dana White believes many of them were unnecessary.

Aldo faced the rising star for the vacant bantamweight title at the event. Early on, the former featherweight champ hung in there with Yan, even though he also took some heavy shots. As the fight wore on, however, the younger fighter started to pull ahead.

In round five, Yan finished Aldo with ground-and-pound strikes. But, the fight was stopped by referee Leon Roberts, until Aldo had absorbed numerous blows, for quite sometime.

While talking to the media after the card, White blasted Roberts for taking so long to stop the fight (quote via MMA Junkie).

“Horrible, horrible stoppage by the referee,” White said. “It should’ve been stopped way sooner, you know. It looks like we have to tighten up our refs and judges here in ‘Fight Island.’”

Although Aldo lost the fight, and was bloodied in the bout, White believes the legend demonstrated he deserved his shots at the bantamweight title.

“I thought Aldo looked great for people that were criticizing him saying he doesn’t deserve another title shot,” White said.

“He fought the next guy lined up for a title shot and he looked damn good doing it, he can do whatever he wants.”

The 33 year old Aldo (28-7) has lost three straight fights now; however, many scored his bout with Marlon Moraes last December for him.

The 27 year old Yan extended his record to 15-1 with the victory on Saturday.