Saturday night’s “Strikeforce: Nashville” saw some great battles and the crowning of two new champions, but with a day for fans and media to reflect on the event it seems there is controversy developing around a few of bouts from the main card.
Bouts featuring fights between Chad Griggs vs. Bobby Lashley and KJ Noons vs. Jorge Gurgel displayed poor calls, or non-calls by the referees. Another issue was the blatant use of canned oxygen, “a substance banned from nearly every endurance sport, including MMA; in every state, including Texas,” by Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and KJ Noons (credit goes to MiddleEasy.com for this story).
Referee Jon Schorle has come under fire for his performance during the Griggs vs. Lashley bout. BloodyElbow.com put together an article discussing several of Schorle’s “bad calls” as a referee in the past.
While in the mount, but not staying extremely active, referee Jon Schorle inexplicably called for a stand up. But there was some confusion in the moment as Schorle then had doctor’s check on Lashley’s cut. He then restarted them standing rather than in the advantageous position that Lashley held.
Although Lashley was undoubtedly looking at a loss, the failed call certainly ended the fight for the former WWE star.
Two late blows by KJ Noons in his fight with Jorge Gurgel, could also be laid at the feet of the referee in their bout. Noons landed a punch after the bell of the first round and an illegal knee to Gurgel’s head in the second, both of which Noons insists was unintentional.
Gurgel didn’t fault Noons but instead blamed the referee for failing to prevent the late strikes.
“I apparently got hit a couple times when the round was up, but it was definitely not K.J.’s fault,” Gurgel said. “It’s usually the referee’s fault. He has to stop it.”
Looking at the photo, you can see KJ Noons ingesting or inhaling some substance from a can that looks like a portable canned oxygen tank. MiddleEasy.com pointed why this was a breach in the rules of the sport of mixed martial arts as well as the failure of the Texas State Athletic Commission to prevent such a blatant disregard for the rules.
Although no deaths were caused last night (phew!), modifying safety equipment, or utilizing substances that give one fighter a clear advantage have legal and sometimes lethal ramifications. In King Mo’s case, it was a title fight, but he lost and it’s doubtful that Feijao’s camp will protest the outcome. However, in KJ Noon’s already controversial win (due to a haymaker that landed after the first round bell and an illegal knee to a downed opponent after the fight was waved-off), this may or may not become a problem should Jorge Gurgel decide to protest. We hope you to gain some transparency on the subject, all I know is they can’t pin this one on Lee Harvey Oswald.