UFC president Dana White promised wackiness and Wednesday night’s The Ultimate Fighter more than delivered.
After judges decided a fairly one-sided bout favoring Team Edgar’s Ian Stephens over Team Penn’s Roger Zapata deserved a third round, referee Steve Mazzagatti deducted a point from Zapata for illegal 12-6 elbows in the final stanza. Zapata was then announced as the bout’s winner, despite the point deduction.
White would later explain that a single judge had scored the third 10-9 for Stephens, making it a 10-8 with the deduction from Zapata. The other two judges both scored the final round 10-9 for Zapata, which then became scores of 9-9. Rather than have the majority draw simply go to a fourth round, the judges were told to circle the name of the fighter they believed won the fight. All three judges choose Zapata, making him the winner.
“It was super controversial,” White told FOX Sports 1 Wednesday evening. “Both teams saw what happened, knew what happened. You heard B.J. Penn and his team saying [to Zapata], ‘Hey, get out of here before they figure this thing out and make the right decision.'”
Rather than take much of an exception with the inexplicable judging, White seemed especially upset over the refereeing of Steve Mazzagatti and his call to deduct a point from Zapata.
“I’ve had my issues with Steve Mazzagatti for a very long time. Don’t know the guy personally. He could be the nicest guy in the world. He’s just not a good referee. A referee is a guy who is supposed to be in control of the fight the whole time. Not only are the fighters supposed to know what’s going on but all the judges and fans are supposed to know what’s going on. Nobody ever knows what’s going on with Mazzagatti and his refereeing.
“The guy needs a lot more work before he ends up being in big fights on big stages and can affect peoples’ careers and lives.”
Asked whether or not Mazzagatti would be on duty for this weekend’s UFC 173 in Las Vegas, White said that would be up to the commission. Mazzagatti hasn’t worked a UFC bout since Dec. 28, 2013 at UFC 168 in Las Vegas.
“[The athletic commission] put Mazzagatti in a position now where he’s going to have to stay in the lower fights, learn a lot more. Guy’s got a lot to learn. He’s not a bad guy. Nothing bad to say about Mazzagatti. He’s just not a good referee yet. He’s got a lot of work to do.”
Always one to find the silver lining, White says the TUF fiasco was just the catalyst required to urge an end to the status quo in Nevada.
“After that moment on The Ultimate Fighter I think it created change,’ said White. “Finally, everything that I’ve been crying about and yelling about and screaming about finally came to a head in this episode of The Ultimate Fighter. I think that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has done a great job fixing the problem and moving forward in fixing the future of reffing and judging in mixed martial arts. Here in Nevada, anyway.
“I think this was the explosion of what’s going on and has been going on here in Nevada for a few years now. I think this was the moment where the right people recognized what was going on and that some changes needed to be made.”
A motion to Improve the overall competency of referees and judges seems to have coincided with the resignation of former NSAC executive director Keith Kizer in January.
“The positive side to this is that after this went down [NSAC Chairman Francisco Aguilar], head of the athletic commission, has really stepped in and stepped up,’ said White. “Making sure not only that the right guys are in there, guys that have a history of making the right decisions.
“It’s never going to be perfect, but what he’s doing is after the fights now he’s sitting everybody down, they’re reviewing films, they’re seeing what things were done right, what things were done wrong and what can be done better. This situation, as crazy and as bad as it was, has actually been a positive thing for the state of Nevada.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘No sense.’ Dana White has no interest booking Nate Diaz vs. Matt Brown, but would do Nick Diaz vs. Brown.
Monday out. Blackzilians wrestling coach Kenny Monday says he was ‘blindsided’ by being let go from the team.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas recaps Bellator 120, previews UFC 173, answers your questions and more in this week’s live chat. Also, see his UFC 173 predictions here.
On ice. The UFC is holding Dustin Poirier back as an opponent for Conor McGregor if the Irishman makes it past Cole Miller.
‘HIV, Hepatitis C, And More.’ A disturbing look at how unregulated MMA in the state of New York is endangering fighters all over the country. ‘There have been many contestants who have been banned from regulated combative sport in New Jersey because of subdural hematoma, hepatitis C, HIV, detached retinas, and other medical concerns who have competed freely in amateur MMA and kickboxing in New York under the direct supervision of state-approved sanctioning bodies, or at shows without such direct supervision.’
MEDIA STEW
More UFC Embedded. The chicken episode.
Inside the Octagon with Ariel Helwani.
Great stuff from Kyle Maynard.
Mark Munoz on MMA sparring.
Fighters killing Nazis.
Pretty great.
Long watches.
WARNING: Violent Street Fight (Gracie Breakdown)
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Vivisection: UFC 173 preview + predictions with Dallas, Nate and Connor
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Countdown to UFC 173: Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Ellenberger
TWEETS
Get well soon.
” @PatricioPitbull @BellatorMMA Thanks. I will be 100% for our fight, and I won’t be the one with any excuses. My belt isn’t going anywhere
— Pat Curran (@PatCurranMMA) May 22, 2014
.@PatCurranMMA I know your belt isn’t going anywhere. @BellatorMMA is gonna give me a new one after I beat you.
— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) May 22, 2014
Lucky?
You got lucky Matt Brown http://t.co/sj2MtwFijK
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) May 22, 2014
Eh.
I think @jonfitchdotnet should take it as a compliment Phalhares wouldn’t fight him and now shields backed out.
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) May 21, 2014
Agree?
I’m with everyone else on this one. Eddie should take the easier fight against me. Take the easy W bro and roll out into the sunset
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) May 22, 2014
Cigarette controversy.
Me and my friend in Dubai http://t.co/QvaSWdoRvL
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) May 21, 2014
Very cool.
All I can say is wow! I once stayed here and ran out of money, and had to borrow before we went home… http://t.co/YMHFT3wxIA
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) May 22, 2014
Mercy.
Good news bad news..good news: Got my fav gf back today.. Bad news: when 2 fast in her. Haha lesson… http://t.co/5pBIHa4f0b
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) May 22, 2014
Good lord.
It’s like a legal soccer kick: https://t.co/qZHXstjamS HT: @GrabakaHitman
— Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) May 21, 2014
TUF talk.
hate seeing people get wrestle fucked, but I’d still probly have given red the first 2 rounds. And the 3rd as well. And a -1 30-26 #TUF19
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) May 22, 2014
She’s back.
@UFC__Alerts_ @fightersxchange @MMACalifornia @TheFightLine @FightCove @MMAPod @WMMANews @MMAjunkie @BadNewsEric pic.twitter.com/K6XDH791KW
— Ediane Gomes (@IndiaGomesMMA) May 22, 2014
http://t.co/w2yWZ24peI. Im ready to answer your questions on my AMA !
— Arianny Celeste (@AriannyCeleste) May 21, 2014
Something I didn’t think I’d ever see.
You’re the man! I do this for a living and you picked it up in no time See you soon @nickjonas
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 21, 2014
People still troll Josh Barnett?
“@WorkingBrother: how much worse would you suck if you never juiced?” Can’t say but I feel good in knowing I’d never be as pathetic as you
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) May 22, 2014
Outstanding.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (May 21 2014)
cancelled Jon Fitch vs. Jake Shields at WSOF 11
cancelled Pat Curran vs. Patricio Freire at Bellator 121
Patrick Cummins vs. Roger Narvaez at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Graham Douglas.
Keys for Bellator’s long term success.
I have watched most if not all the Bellator events of the past few years. Needless to say, the first PPV event from Bellator was a crowning achievement of sorts for the organization.
It has become quite clear that Bellator would like to be more like the UFC. Not only in success, but also in method. Makes sense. Excellence and success can show a path for others to the same promised land. Bellator has had various talent over the years, but when champions like Ben Askren aren’t welcomed to the UFC, one has to wonder. Do these organizations despise each other to the extent that they won’t use clear judgement when it comes to scooping up released fighters? There are exceptions of course, but certainly UFC fighters rarely end up in Bellator and vice versa. The UFC has often scoffed at Bellator being in the same league as them, but having Viacom in the mix is certainly worth taking note of. Nothing made Bjorn Rebney more jolly than announcing their TV deal with Fox Sports Latin America. These guys love getting digs in with each other whenever possible. Sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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