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New NYSAC Director Admits ‘Towelgate’ Criticism Wasn’t Wrong

Before Daniel Cormier’s debacle of a rematch with Jon Jones at July’s UFC 214, the controversy spotlight was squarely on “DC” himself when he weighed in prior to his second fight with“Rumble” Johnson at UFC 210. Cormier held on to a towel as he weighed in a second time after he missed weight the first time. […]

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Cormier held on to a towel as he weighed in a second time after he missed weight the first time. The light heavyweight champion was clearly using the towel, which was being held by his teammates, to redistribute his weight in order to make the 205-pound limit, and shockingly dropped 1.2 pounds in mere minutes to make weight for the title fight.

It was one of several such strange occurrences during the State of New York’s foray into MMA, which culminated in the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) being wholly blasted for appearing incompetent. Newly-appointed NYSAC executive director Kim Sumbler expressed her thoughts on the ‘Towelgate’ fiasco in an interview with MMA Fighting, and admitted critics had every right to criticize the commission.

“There were mistakes all around there. We learned from it. We changed our policy. We’re making sure that not only does the fighter not touch the towel, but that nobody else touches the towel except commission staff. As you noticed, it was not commission staff who held the towel at the Dan Cormier fight.”

“It was a trial by fire. We got thrown into the pit of snakes. We had the spotlight on us. We had every eyeball in this whole community on us. We were the last state to regulate [MMA]. Every eyeball was on us, waiting for us to slip up. Yeah, that was really hard to take. But again, I have to go back and say, they weren’t wrong. A lot of these criticisms — the people who criticized us — weren’t wrong. So there’s nothing wrong with speaking your mind.

“I’m willing to take the criticism. I’ve got some pretty heavy shoulders and I’m willing to take it. I’m willing to listen. I want people to realize this athletic commission now and this staff right now is really a good staff. We’re a staff that looks at what’s going on, we look at it realistically. We’re not an authoritative powerhouse. That’s not our philosophy any longer. We look at things realistically, we look at what the community wants and needs, we look at what’s right for the fighter and we make our decisions based on that — criticisms or not.”

The NYSAC ended up implementing a new rule six months after UFC 210, making it against the rules for anyone but commission personnel to hold towels while fighters weigh in.

New York has only recently allowed MMA into the Empire State and has had several hiccups since then. Announcing the wrong winner between Tyron Woodley and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 205, a bizarre end to Chris Weidman’s fight with Gegard Mousasi, in addition to the aforementioned ‘Towelgate.’

The spotlight on the NYSAC will shine once more this weekend, as the UFC returns to Madison Square Garden on Saturday for UFC 217. Let’s hope they’ve hammered out the kinks going into their second year of hosting MMA as the last state in America to do so.

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New York Adopts Instant Replay For Use In MMA

According to a report from Mark LaMonica of Newsday, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) has created a policy that will allow the use of instant replay moving forward. “This policy sets forth a process for the use of instant replay at ringside, adding clarity, transparency and predictability,” a NYSAC spokesperson wrote Thursday in […]

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According to a report from Mark LaMonica of Newsday, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) has created a policy that will allow the use of instant replay moving forward.

“This policy sets forth a process for the use of instant replay at ringside, adding clarity, transparency and predictability,” a NYSAC spokesperson wrote Thursday in an email to Newsday.“Providing clarity to the MMA community through adoption of a written process was the right thing to do, and we are glad to have the policy on the books.”

The implementation of such a policy is certainly a positive, as the need for instant replay in MMA has been made quite apparent in recent memory, especially in New York.

At UFC 210 last April in Buffalo, former UFC middleweight champion and New York native Chris Weidman faced off with former Strikeforce titleholder Gegard Mousasi. In the second round of the bout, Mousasi landed several knees that referee Dan Mirigliotta deemed illegal. After consulting with fellow referee John McCarthy, who was cage side, however, Mirigliotta was made aware of the fact that the knees were indeed legal, which led him to reverse his call. Doctors then decided Weidman was no longer able to compete, and the bout was called off.

Having instant replay at that time would have certainly helped, and it likely will moving forward.

Listed below are the eight points found in the NYSAC’s policy:

1. When adequate technology is available, instant replay may be used by the in-ring referee to examine the fight ending sequence to determine the correct outcome of a bout

2. Instant replay may be used after the fight has officially concluded and before the final official outcome of the fight is announced in the ring.

3. Only the in-ring referee is authorized to initiate instant replay review.

4. The in-ring referee him/herself must watch the instant replay footage of the fight ending sequence on a video monitor provided for such purpose.

5. The in-ring referee may consult with the alternate referee to determine the correct outcome of a bout.

6. Only the in-ring referee is authorized to make the final official in-ring determination of the outcome of the bout following the instant replay review.

7. The fight cannot be resumed after the instant replay review.

8. Nothing in this policy shall restrict the Commission’s authority to review video evidence to determine the correct outcome after the final official outcome of a bout has been announced in the ring.

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NYSAC Makes Rule Changes to Weigh-Ins Following Daniel Cormier’s ‘Towel Trick’

There are some changes being made to weigh-ins under the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC). Taking the “fool me once, shame on me” approach, the NYSAC is preventing fighters from holding onto any objects while being weighed. Reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title holder Daniel Cormier grabbed hold of a towel on […]

Charles Oliveira Says There’s no Need For NYSAC Suspension

Charles Oliveira doesn’t see the point in his 60-day suspension. Oliveira is coming off a first-round submission win over former Bellator lightweight title holder Will Brooks. The two met at UFC 210 this past Saturday night (April 8) inside the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. After the fight, “do Bronx” jumped next to the cage […]

Anthony Johnson’s Appeal Asks For Daniel Cormier To Be Stripped Of Title

Anthony Johnson may have retired after his submission loss to light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at last weekend’s (April 8, 2017) UFC 210, but he has still elected to appeal the weigh-in debacle that took place prior to the event. During the early weigh-in session, Cormier showed up with just minutes to spare before weighing

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During the early weigh-in session, Cormier showed up with just minutes to spare before weighing in over the 205-pound limit at 206.2 pounds. He then left the stage only to return minutes later and somehow weigh in at 205 pounds. Many have said that Cormier had his hands on the towel that was held around him, which could have helped him make the weight.

Either way, Johnson has filed an appeal to the New York State Athletic Commission in which he requests 20% of Cormier’s fight purse, while also asking that “DC” be stripped of his title.

Check out the appeal below courtesy of MMAFighting.com:

“While Mr. Cormier’s weight loss of 1.2lbs is within the acceptable guidelines, the time it took him to lose it, less than 2 minutes, should have raised some concern and the scrutiny of the medical officials at the weigh-in. Losing 1.2 lbs. in 2 minutes, which calculates to over a 30lb. weight loss per hour, not only violates the letter of 19 NYSCRR 208.14 but the spirit of it. Mr. Cormier should have been examined by the medical officials assigned to the weigh-in to ensure that he was physically fit enough to fight the next day and to explain how he achieved such a substantial weight loss in so short a period. Since he was not required to do so on April 8, 2017, the NYSAC should require him to do so now, particularly considering his curious towel holding while on the scale.

“It is clear, that in the state of New York, a fighter must weigh in and conduct himself in the best interest of the sport. Not only do both fighters deserve to be absolutely sure that his/her opponent has weighed in and made their contracted weight, but the general public and sport of mixed martial arts require that a fair and honest weigh-in is conducted for the integrity of any fight. Unfortunately, in the case, Anthony Johnson, the general public, and the sport of mixed martial arts were deprived of a fair and honest weigh-in and a true championship fight when Daniel Cormier was allowed to grab the towels held in front of him for privacy purposes only while his official weight was being determined.

“Daniel Cormier is a well decorated wrestler having wrestled, starting in high school, and all the way up to the highest level in the Olympics. He has had 20 professional fights. Before each and every wrestling match or professional mixed martial arts fight, Daniel Cormier was required to weigh in and meet an agreed upon weight. If he failed to do so, he was aware of the consequences. Given this illustrious wrestling and fighting history, Daniel Cormier keenly understands the importance of a fair and honest weigh-in, yet he chose to, inexplicably, grab the towels in front of him while on the scale. He must be called upon to explain, under oath, to the NYSAC, Anthony Johnson, the general public, the UFC, his fellow fighters, and the sport of mixed martial arts, the reason for his actions at the weigh-in on April 8, 2017.

“After such sworn testimony, if Mr. Cormier could not, would not, or did not satisfactorily provide an evidence and fact based explanation for his conduct, then he should be disciplined for his action by the NYSAC to preserve the integrity of the sport. Should Mr. Cormier be subject to discipline, while it is clear he could be suspended for his actions, at a minimum, Daniel Cormier should be ordered to pay 20% of his fight purse to Anthony Johnson and should be stripped of his UFC Men’s Light Heavyweight Title for failing to make weight on April 8, 2017.”

Do you feel as if Johnson’s appeal should be honored by the NYSAC?

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Charles Oliveira Suspended For UFC 210 Post-Fight Celebration

The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) isn’t done with their strange decision making for last weekend’s (April 8, 2017) UFC 210 from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo. After massive controversy arose first at the event’s early weigh-ins – both in the form of Daniel Cormier’s questionable ‘towelgate’ and Pearl Gonzalez’s initial banning from the event

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The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) isn’t done with their strange decision making for last weekend’s (April 8, 2017) UFC 210 from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

After massive controversy arose first at the event’s early weigh-ins – both in the form of Daniel Cormier’s questionable ‘towelgate’ and Pearl Gonzalez’s initial banning from the event due to her having breast implants – and then the absolute mess that the ending of the Gegard Mousasi vs. Chris Weidman co-main event became, another fighter on the card has been suspended for doing something we see fighters do on a consistent basis.

Lightweight Charles Oliveira has been held out of action for 60 days for jumping over the cage in the immediate moments after his first-round submission win over Will Brooks on the main card.

That’s according to NYSAC representative Laz Benitez, who confirmed the punishment to MMAJunkie.com:

“Charles Oliveira was administratively suspended 60 days for exiting the fighting area by jumping over the cage after his bout.”

Jumping over the cage wall at the height of an emotional victory is hardly anything new for MMA fans, as we’ve seen countless other athletes do just that after coming out on top in UFC bouts. They’re often warned by the cageside staff to get down, but few fighters actually end up suspended for their over-exuberant celebrations.

However, the NYSAC, as we’ve seen to an extreme degree over the past week, is not like every – or any – other commission, and will do what they see fit regardless of what conventional wisdom or the fans and media think. They also suspended Yoel Romero the same term for jumping over the cage following his TKO win over Weidman at last November’s UFC 205.

The suspension probably won’t affect Oliveira, who returned to lightweight for his win over Brooks after he missed weight by nearly 10 pounds before losing to Ricardo Lamas in his previous fight, all that much, as UFC fighters rarely turn around in two months’ time.

The decision more serves to the chaos of the NYSAC’s strange regulation of MMA so far, as they’ve appeared brutally harsh on some things while allowing some other astonishing things to fly, such as Cormier holding the towel and the unclear use of instant replay or referee accountability in the Mousasi vs. Weidman ending, even if “The Dreamcatcher’s” knees were legal and he was on his way to finishing the bout.

That’s to be expected from a state that’s only regulated MMA for months – at least some of it. But the NYSAC could also be moving towards losing a ton of potential revenue for the state if they keep alienating the world’s biggest MMA promotion as well.

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