It was one of the strangest knockouts in UFC history. Anderson Silva, believing he'd knocked out Michael Bisping in the third round of the main event of UFC London tonight (Sat., Feb. 27, 2016), began celebrating his victory.

But referee Herb Dean had to bring the fighter back down off the cage and inform him that in his opinion the knockout didn't finish the fight, and it continued to a decision. It was a decision Silva ultimately lost, the first of that method in his long UFC career.

After the fight, UFC president Dana White said he didn't know what to think after the third round knockout.

"Crazy, I mean absolute madness," White said to Dan Hardy and Jon Anik standing cageside. "The flying knee. Listen, walkoff knockouts are awesome, make sure the fight is over."

White said he didn't see clearly what happened, only that Silva walked away and referee Herb Dean didn't stop the fight.

"Mike Bisping was way too concerned about his mouthpiece and started trying to stop the action. Anderson Silva pours it on, he hits him with this knee and boom."

Can we go back to the end of round 3?! #WhatHadHappenedWas https://t.co/VqquhAt4Gn — UFC (@ufc) February 27, 2016

"If he (Silva) would have jumped on top of him he could have finished the fight. He did not, he tried to walk away," added White.

In fairness to Silva, that flying knee certainly seemed to finish Bisping convincingly. But Dean, who's been known to make more than a few brutal mistakes in the past, allowed the fight to continue. And it did.

White said he has to watch the fight again but he had it even going into the final round and saw the fifth and deciding round for the former UFC champion.

"I have the same score (as the judges) but the other way," he said, meaning he saw it 48-47 for Silva.

Dan Hardy asked whether the adrenaline dump of believing he won may have affected the outcome of the fight in the remaining rounds.

"Well that's the thing. He was celebrating, he was up on the Octagon celebrating the win and everybody was screaming 'the fight isn't over!' And they're trying to get everybody's guys out, the commission guys, I don't know why they were allowed to come in anyway so it was crazy," said White.

Despite the fact Silva lost the third of his last four fights dating back to 2012, the boss praised his performance. Saying the Brazilian has only fought once in the past two years, after getting past the "rusty" first two rounds and as the fight progressed he looked sharper and better.

Especially for a 40-year-old set to turn 41 in April.

As for Michael Bisping, White had props for him as well. Many fans decided to "Count" out the Brit when the fight was announced, but the high volume striker put in a great performance to earn a win over a legendary fighter.

"Bisping has never won a world title but he's been around here for a very long time and everybody gets excited when Bisping fights because Bisping comes to fight. Bisping never backs down from a fight. He's in your face from the minute the fight is made until the last bell rings and it's one of the reasons so many people like to watch his fights and so many people respect him."

For complete UFC Fight Night 84 "Silva vs. Bisping" results, including play-by-play updates, click here.