The ghost of Tito Ortiz vs. Chael Sonnen simply won’t go away. First, there was controversy surrounding Ortiz for not letting go of his choke on Sonnen. Then fans hurled accusations of the fight being “fixed.” Now, Sonnen is claiming that “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” verbally submitted in their bout at Bellator 170. Ortiz […]
The ghost of Tito Ortiz vs. Chael Sonnen simply won’t go away. First, there was controversy surrounding Ortiz for not letting go of his choke on Sonnen. Then fans hurled accusations of the fight being “fixed.” Now, Sonnen is claiming that “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” verbally submitted in their bout at Bellator 170. Ortiz […]
In advance of changes to the Unified Rules of MMA being implemented January 1 2017, the California State Athletic Commission has employed official Big John McCarthy to break down the key changes refs and j…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgudcUzW88I
In advance of changes to the Unified Rules of MMA being implemented January 1 2017, the California State Athletic Commission has employed official Big John McCarthy to break down the key changes refs and judges will be expected to enforce moving forward. To make this simple, they’ve posted a break-down video that illustrates many changes MMA officials, and fans, can expect to see.
The video, posted to the CSAC’s official Youtube channel, covers an updated rule protecting fighters from eye-pokes and preventing them from extending their fingers towards an opponent’s head while measuring distance, changes to the definition of a downed fighter, and removes a ban on heel kicks to the liver when on the ground, among other changes. For judges, changes to how fights are scored, and when to award 10-8 rounds, are discussed.
The new rules were introduced this past Summer by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, and represent the biggest changes to the rule set governing the sport since the early 2000s. New Jersey was the only state to oppose the changes.
The third person in the ring for each of the two UFC Bantamweight Championship fights at UFC 207 was determined at today’s Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting in Las Vegas. The same goes for the judges at cage side who will determine the winners if either bout goes the distance. Here are the official assignments per MMAJunkie:
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
Referee: Herb Dean
Judges: Adalaide Byrd, Sal D’Amato and Chris Lee
UFC Men’s Bantamweight Championship Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Cody Garbrandt
Referee: John McCarthy
Judges: Derek Cleary, Jeff Mullen and Tony Weeks
Of Ronda Rousey’s professional fights, Herb Dean had previously refereed her title first defense, where she fought Sarah Kaufman (first round submission win), her third UFC title defense, against Sara McMann (first round body shot TKO win), and her title loss to Holly Holm (second round TKO). Aside from the head kick knockout itself, possibly the most memorable visual of the Holm fight was Dean clutching Rousey as she screamed “NO!!” when she realized she lost her title. The McMann fight is also notable for being considered an early stoppage in some circles. Dean dead also officiated four of Nunes’ fights, but there was nothing particularly memorable about the officiating.
Barring a regional fight with an incomplete record in the Fight Finder, John McCarthy has never refereed a Dominick Cruz bout before. McCarthy was in the cage for Garbrandt’s last two fights though, showing excellent judgment in when he called the stoppage for “No Love’s” knockout wins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3dCCiIuNzg
The third person in the ring for each of the two UFC Bantamweight Championship fights at UFC 207 was determined at today’s Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting in Las Vegas. The same goes for the judges at cage side who will determine the winners if either bout goes the distance. Here are the official assignments per MMAJunkie:
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
Referee: Herb Dean
Judges: Adalaide Byrd, Sal D’Amato and Chris Lee
UFC Men’s Bantamweight Championship Dominick Cruz (c) vs. Cody Garbrandt
Referee: John McCarthy
Judges: Derek Cleary, Jeff Mullen and Tony Weeks
Of Ronda Rousey’s professional fights, Herb Dean had previously refereed her title first defense, where she fought Sarah Kaufman (first round submission win), her third UFC title defense, against Sara McMann (first round body shot TKO win), and her title loss to Holly Holm (second round TKO). Aside from the head kick knockout itself, possibly the most memorable visual of the Holm fight was Dean clutching Rousey as she screamed “NO!!” when she realized she lost her title. The McMann fight is also notable for being considered an early stoppage in some circles. Dean dead also officiated four of Nunes’ fights, but there was nothing particularly memorable about the officiating.
Barring a regional fight with an incomplete record in the Fight Finder, John McCarthy has never refereed a Dominick Cruz bout before. McCarthy was in the cage for Garbrandt’s last two fights though, showing excellent judgment in when he called the stoppage for “No Love’s” knockout wins.
It’s not easy being an MMA referee. When the cage door closes it must be a lonely place knowing that they are the only person standing between two fired-up fighters ready to go to war. The two fighters safety is always a referee’s primary concern during a fight, but as you’ll see in this article,
When the cage door closes it must be a lonely place knowing that they are the only person standing between two fired-up fighters ready to go to war.
The two fighters safety is always a referee’s primary concern during a fight, but as you’ll see in this article, all it takes is for one angry, adrenaline-fueled combatant to disagree with a call they make in the cage and suddenly it’s their own safety that’s in jeopardy.
That’s led to some nasty incidents over the years, though don’t be fooled – just because referees aren’t wearing gloves and a mouthpiece doesn’t mean they can’t fight, and you might be surprised to see how many of them can more than hold their own when it’s time to restore order in the Octagon!
Atilla Kubilay
Atilla Kubilay became an instant villain in the sport after his appaling behavior both before and during his fight with Richard Bowkett at Cage Rage 11 in 2005.
As UK referee Grant Waterman brought the two fighters together in the center of the cage to receive their final instructions prior to the fight, Kubilay suddenly punched his opponent square in the face.
That should have been an instant disqualification, but he was extremely fortunate that Bowkett was still able to continue, and that officials decided that the fight could go ahead.
Despite being warned about his behavior, Kubilay hadn’t learned his lesson, and early in the first round he began landing illegal knees to the head of his downed opponent.
Waterman’s initial attempts to pull Kubilay off Bowkett failed, and so he had to apply a standing rear-naked choke to end the assault, bringing the thug to his knees as other officials rushed in to help him out.
Kubilay only fought one more time before his career came to an abrupt halt.
It appears as though Roy Nelson will be judged for kicking referee Big John McCarthy after his UFC Fight Night 95 clash with Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in Brazil. Nelson took the Brazilian out in the second round, but kicked ‘Big John’ after the stoppage and gave him the one finger salute after feeling that the
It appears as though Roy Nelson will be judged for kicking referee Big John McCarthy after his UFC Fight Night 95 clash with Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in Brazil.
Nelson took the Brazilian out in the second round, but kicked ‘Big John’ after the stoppage and gave him the one finger salute after feeling that the referee stopped the contest too late:
“I didn’t want to hurt ‘Bigfoot’ more than I had to,” Nelson said during the post-fight press conference in Brasilia. “And I got taken by the moment, because it’s like I’m beating the sh*t out of somebody and you’re like, dude, enough is enough.
And for me, it hurt my feelings. And I apologize to Big John, but I wouldn’t take it back. It just hurt me, that I’ve got to keep on hitting a guy that doesn’t need to be hit.”
MMA Fighting obtained a document from The Superior Justice Court of MMA (STJDMMA) earlier today, which states that Nelson was notified of a 90-day suspension that begun on September 29th. Following the event The STJDMMA accepted a complaint filed by one of its attorneys
Nelson could be charged a potential fine of up to $30,000 and anywhere from a 30-day to six-month suspension for assaulting McCarthy.
The attorney is suggesting a 14-month suspension and $18,500 fine, however, the President of the STJDMMA still must evaluate the case. Nelson has been given business days to present his defense.
After the UFC Fight Night 95 event in Brasilia, Brazil on Saturday night, UFC Heavyweight contender Roy “Big Country” Nelson spoke in a backstage interview among other things, about his decision to kick referee “Big” Joh…
https://youtu.be/-8-J2C_OLt4
After the UFC Fight Night 95 event in Brasilia, Brazil on Saturday night, UFC Heavyweight contender Roy “Big Country” Nelson spoke in a backstage interview among other things, about his decision to kick referee “Big” John McCarthy in the butt after his second-round TKO of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.
Nelson, who said it was hard enough fighting a friend in Bigfoot Silva, spoke about being frustrated with “Big” John over the late stoppage in the fight.
“The referee just did a late stoppage,” said Nelson. “If I gotta do his job too, to stop the fight, because I had a big conversation with John [McCarthy] in the back about doing his job” said Neson, through a number of stutters, before closing by saying, “Bigfoot doesn’t need to take anymore blows to the face.”
For video highlights of the Nelson-Silva fight, click here. For video footage of Big Country kicking “Big” John McCarthy in the butt after the fight, click here.
For complete UFC Fight Night 95 results, click here.
