First of all, I wasn’t quite sure where to start this thread. So if it needs to be moved, please do!
I was watching the fight earlier this evening and it seemed the refs were letting the contestants be beaten way more than usual before calling the fight. In most of the fights, it was completely obvious the guy was seriously injured or unconscious for at least a few seconds before the ref would break it up. Personally I think the referees might have been instructed to let the fight go on a little longer because it was a special event. What do you think?
It would be helpful to know which fights you’re talking about. Not that I saw any of the fights myself but if others who did wander in they might be able to comment. Based on my limited viewing experience I’m of the opinion that the refs jump in too early more often than they let things go on too long. One fighter goes down on a slip and the other fighter lands a couple of shots and the ref stops it. I get that the fighter is supposed to be able to intelligently defend himself and that I’m hardly an expert on fighting but every so often it looks to me like a fight is stopped for no reason.
I have no reason to believe that the UFC would instruct its referees to lt fights run after a fighter is clearly injured nor do I have any reason to believe that the refs would follow such an instruction.
I only saw Griffin-Jardine, Alves-DeSouza and the main event, but I didn’t see anything egregious. McCarthy could have stepped in before letting Griffin eat a couple of shots, but it wasn’t that bad.
Some Ortiz fans think the fight was stopped too soon, actually. Personally, I think Yamasaki could have stopped the fight in the first when Tito was out on his feet (and got dropped) but I think there’s a little hesitance to stop fights after the reaction Herb Dean got for stopping Ortiz-Shamrock II when he did. Yamasaki basically had to stop it when he did in the 3rd because while Ortiz was covering, he wasn’t doing anything to get out of it.
The problem is that UFC simply does not have any ironclad standard of when to stop things. In boxing, as soon as someone goes down, the action halts and the count begins. In mixed martial arts, it’s the downed man’s own responsibility to get up, including escaping a mount if necessary. Maybe he can’t, and maybe he can, but he always gets a chance. There have been countless instances of someone being at a horrendous disadvantage for a long time before finding a way to turn the tables and win.
In the past, the league took a lot of heat for fights that went a little too long. The pendulum has seemingly swung completely to the other side as of late, with Ortiz-Shamrock 2 being a prime example. (Personally, I had no trouble with the stoppage and thought Shamrock would’ve lasted a couple more seconds at the most.) Given that there has not been a single fatality or disabling injury in the entire history of UFC, I’m more than happy to give the refs the benefit of the doubt.
I only watched Liddell-Ortiz the other day but I think that Yamasaki made the right call in that fight. In the first round when Ortiz went down and Liddell started punching, Ortiz was maintaining position and looked to be blocking with his arms - “intelligently defending himself”. In the third round Ortiz was just curled up in a fetal position on his side.
Ditto what others have said about refs maybe feeling a little gunshy following Ortiz-Shamrock 2.
Wow, perception is reality.
I watched the UFC during/after the great comeback by U of GA. We were all remarking that it was good to see the refs not end the match too soon. So, we too noticed they didn’t seem to stop the fight as early as we’ve seen before, but we were glad of it. UFC has come a long way since the olden days. Now there are weight classes for example. That sure didn’t used to be the case.
For me, it’s the new boxing. Boxing has become so corrupt I’ve lost my taste for it. You never know whos paid off, judges, referees etc. The promoters (ala Don King) are all crooks and felons. Not that UFC doesn’t have it’s share of unsavories, but it doesn’t APPEAR to be as tainted yet. Maybe it’s just too new for anyone to publicize it yet.