Carlo Prater – (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
A disqualification loss to Brazilian welterweight Erick Silva at this past weekends UFC 142 event will stand according to promotion officials who released a statement on Thursday night.
Silva appeared to have stopped opponent Carlo Prater with hammerfists in just 29-seconds of the first round, but referee Mario Yamasaki was quick to announce that he in fact had stopped the fight over illegal blows to the back of the head.
Replays showed that most of Silva’s strikes were to the side of the head and not the back.
UFC officials had promised to look into the the matter and has now rendered their decision.
UFC Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner released this statement Thursday night.
“Based on the referee’s verbal warnings and his determination that the blows were intentional and a disqualifying foul, this is not the type of decision that can be reviewed. Therefore, the decision stands. Recently, Zuffa has decided to implement the use of instant replay at all international events that are self-regulated, and to encourage all regulators to consider the feasibility and effectiveness of instant replay in the sport of MMA. While instant replay would not have reversed the call in the Silva-Prater bout, we believe that it could be valuable to referees and the sport in the future.”
Zuffa also noted that Silva was awarded his potential Win Bonus following the contest.