This past Saturday, Bellator Fighting Championships came to Michigan for the first time in the promotion’s nearly four-year history with its 82nd event. It’s been said that you only get one chance to make a first impression, and I’m not sure this was what CEO Bjorn Rebney had in mind, despite the obligatory smile on his face. Don’t get me wrong, the night could have gone worse — but it could have also went so much better. But I’m just a hack “journalist,” so what do I know?
I know demand for Bellator’s Michigan debut was low. Although the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort was pretty full for the main card fights, it was by no means a packed house. This just wasn’t one of those ‘standing room only’ functions, which probably explains why one of the more popular local watering holes* didn’t show Bellator that night.
When asked about the decision in the hours leading up to the fights, the response from one of the employees was an apathetic “Because we’re just not.” Not one of their dozen or so TVs would be allowed to show the second largest mixed martial arts promotion. Not one. I wonder how much of this could have been prevented with a proper main event — you know, the kind where the two guys set to throw down are ones you’ve heard of before or maybe even seen on the cover of a magazine.
I also know that all MMA events are improved with at least one matchup featuring two “Let me bang, bro!” type of guys. And while I thoroughly enjoy a great display of BJJ and wrestling, watching two highly skilled ground specialists do their thing, not everyone shares my opinion.
This past Saturday, Bellator Fighting Championships came to Michigan for the first time in the promotion’s nearly four-year history with its 82nd event. It’s been said that you only get one chance to make a first impression, and I’m not sure this was what CEO Bjorn Rebney had in mind, despite the obligatory smile on his face. Don’t get me wrong, the night could have gone worse — but it could have also went so much better. But I’m just a hack “journalist,” so what do I know?
I know demand for Bellator’s Michigan debut was low. Although the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort was pretty full for the main card fights, it was by no means a packed house. This just wasn’t one of those ‘standing room only’ functions, which probably explains why one of the more popular local watering holes* didn’t show Bellator that night.
When asked about the decision in the hours leading up to the fights, the response from one of the employees was an apathetic “Because we’re just not.” Not one of their dozen or so TVs would be allowed to show the second largest mixed martial arts promotion. Not one. I wonder how much of this could have been prevented with a proper main event — you know, the kind where the two guys set to throw down are ones you’ve heard of before or maybe even seen on the cover of a magazine.
I also know that all MMA events are improved with at least one matchup featuring two “Let me bang, bro!” type of guys. And while I thoroughly enjoy a great display of BJJ and wrestling, watching two highly skilled ground specialists do their thing, not everyone shares my opinion.
What Doug Marshall did to the crowd at Bellator 82 when he viciously knocked Kala Hose unconscious can be likened to what a package of Mentos does to a bottle of Diet Coke. The place went nuts. Sure, there were other stoppages earlier in the evening, but you know how it is with fights on the undercard — empty seats abound. Impressively, this fight was on the televised portion of the card and was seen by tens of thousands thus preventing the frustration of having the KO of the Night come from a dark match. If there’s one thing Michiganders, or anyone watching on MTV2 for that matter, will remember from Bellator 82 it’s going to be the return of the “Rhino.”
*****
As hinted at earlier, Bellator needs better talent. This isn’t about quality vs. quantity or anything like that; it’s about the x-factor. Michael Chandler is a talented young champion, but little is known about the man who has yet to defend his title in the year he’s held the strap. Ben Askren is the definition of a dominant wrestler, but the undefeated champion is as crowd pleasing as Arianny Celeste on open mic night.
Seven seasons in and we’re still getting cards where fights like Lyman Good vs. Andrey Koreshkov masquerade as main events. Bellator FC’s biggest detractors argue they need bigger stars while others suggest having stars period would increase their ratings and live gate. With the departure of Hector Lombard and the inevitable parting of ways with Eddie Alvarez, Bellator is hurting for names to put on the marquee that interest casual fans — especially ones they can pronounce.
*****
Fans came. Fans saw. Fans bought tee shirts. Fans were treated to a moderately priced night of dudes punching each other in the face. Some cheered. Some booed. Some were indifferent. Some will look back fondly at the night they saw a few good fights with a few good friends. Maybe that’s exactly what the Bellator brass wanted.
I’m not sure what each fan thought of the show overall, but I hope what they saw Saturday night in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan is the potential Bellator has to make a major impact in the world of MMA. Beginning next month, Spike TV will be the new home of the Newport Beach based promotion and will increase the exposure of the company and its fighters. A larger platform located at a more favorable spot in the channel lineup is just the tip of the iceberg.
The fans in attendance might not have been aware of this, but if they hoped for just a little bit more that night — excitement, interesting fighters, storylines — then they must’ve noticed just how little it would’ve taken to make Bellator 82 on par with its UFC counterpart. Just like the Israelites on the shore of the Jordan River, the Promised Land is within reach.
Below are a few other notable things that I noticed on press row:
– The crazy lady on the floor who kept screaming at one of the fighters in the main event turned out to be Lyman Good’s mom and she was featured in the picture-in-picture on the broadcast. Isn’t that spot reserved for whoever is fighting the winner?
– Speaking of Good, the dude couldn’t have picked a worse place to chill after his loss to Koreshkov. He showed up at the same shoddy bar we were at and the band played some of the most inopportune sad songs ever topped off by the worst cover of Chris Isaac’s ‘Wicked Game.”
– Dan Mirgliotta moonlights as a photographer for fights fans who weren’t turned gay after watching the fights as they lined up for a picture with ring girls Mercedes Terrell and Jade Bryce.
– Speaking of Jade, she gave me an interview that will be up later this week.
– Cornermen were prohibited from entering the cage in between rounds until after the cameramen had entered.
– During the final round of the main event, I realized that Ben Askren must have been at home watching the same fight, thinking to himself, “piece of cake!” Turns out, I was right.
You guys remember when Jordan Meinelbow-raped Evangelista Santos like a God damned Papau New Guinea savage back at Strikeforce: Kharitonov vs. Barnett? Well, he did the same thing again last weekend to Forrest Petz, who is kind of like the poor man’s Jay Hieron, meaning that he is damn near flawless on the local circuit, yet falls apart every time we see him under the bright lights. To be fair, Petz can actually claim a UFC victory under his belt (he’s actually 2-5 lifetime), but Jordan Mein gives not a shit about where you’ve been. He only cares about where you are going to be, which, should you decided to scrap with him, will be crumpled against the cage beneath a hellstorm of elbows that would send Kenny Florian into a jealous, baby-kicking tantrum.
Not unlike Sensodyne’s rapport with American dentists, 9 out of Mein’s last 10 opponents would recommend him to anyone seeking to get their ass kicked. Now that he’s managed to successfully separate himself from Strikeforce’s sinking ship, how long do you think it will be until we see this kid in the UFC?
You guys remember when Jordan Meinelbow-raped Evangelista Santos like a God damned Papau New Guinea savage back at Strikeforce: Kharitonov vs. Barnett? Well, he did the same thing again last weekend to Forrest Petz, who is kind of like the poor man’s Jay Hieron, meaning that he is damn near flawless on the local circuit, yet falls apart every time we see him under the bright lights. To be fair, Petz can actually claim a UFC victory under his belt (he’s actually 2-5 lifetime), but Jordan Mein gives not a shit about where you’ve been. He only cares about where you are going to be, which, should you decided to scrap with him, will be crumpled against the cage beneath a hellstorm of elbows that would send Kenny Florian into a jealous, baby-kicking tantrum.
Not unlike Sensodyne’s rapport with American dentists, 9 out of Mein’s last 10 opponents would recommend him to anyone seeking to get their ass kicked. Now that he’s managed to successfully separate himself from Strikeforce’s sinking ship, how long do you think it will be until we see this kid in the UFC?
Although most of us were too busy watching the resurgence of one Georges St. Pierre last weekend to even realize that a Bellator event was happening, well, a Bellator event totally happened last weekend. In the evening’s main event, UFC veteran Rich Clementi squared off against rising prospect Marcin Held in the lightweight tournament semifinals.
The match was rife with the kind of grappling exchanges that could make a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fan out of Seth Davis (although ironically, the amount of heel hook attempts alone in this fight would have given Rousimar Palhares an erection so strong that he would have had to hate-fuck your Mom’s cankles like a dog in heat to quell it), but it was the finishing toe hold that really caught people’s attention. It was undoubtedly the most effective use of the technique we’ve seen since Frank Mir fought Tank Abbott, so check it out before it gets taken down.
With his fifth straight win (fourth in Bellator) under his belt, Held will now face Dave Jansen for the right to meet lightweight champ Michael Chandler — who defeated Held by arm-triangle in Held’s Bellator debut — next.
After the jump: A gif of yet another Bellator referee sleeping on the job and allowing a fighter to absorb way more punishment than necessary, because that’s kind of their thing these days.
Although most of us were too busy watching the resurgence of one Georges St. Pierre last weekend to even realize that a Bellator event was happening, well, a Bellator event totally happened last weekend. In the evening’s main event, UFC veteran Rich Clementi squared off against rising prospect Marcin Held in the lightweight tournament semifinals.
The match was rife with the kind of grappling exchanges that could make a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fan out of Seth Davis (although ironically, the amount of heel hook attempts alone in this fight would have given Rousimar Palhares an erection so strong that he would have had to hate-fuck your Mom’s cankles like a dog in heat to quell it), but it was the finishing toe hold that really caught people’s attention. It was undoubtedly the most effective use of the technique we’ve seen since Frank Mir fought Tank Abbott, so check it out before it gets taken down.
With his fifth straight win (fourth in Bellator) under his belt, Held will now face Dave Jansen for the right to meet lightweight champ Michael Chandler — who defeated Held by arm-triangle in Held’s Bellator debut — next.
After the jump: A gif of yet another Bellator referee sleeping on the job and allowing a fighter to absorb way more punishment than necessary, because that’s kind of their thing these days.
Taken from the Brennan Ward vs. Sam McCoy undercard bout, witness yet another case – albeit far less brutal – of a referee jumping in dangerously late after a fighter has clearly been knocked the fuck out. We’ll give ref Todd Anderson a little leeway for the somewhat unexpected manner in which McCoy was knocked out in the first place, but suffice it to say, when a fighter can take another fighter’s back and start reigning down punches with no resistance whatsoever, it might be time to step in. A note to all future referees: Plankingis not a legitimate form of self-defense unless you are fighting a bear. I’m glad I could clear that up for you.
The full results for Bellator 81 are below.
Main Card: -Marcin Held def. Rich Clementi by Submission (Toe Hold) at 3:04, R2
-Dave Jansen def. Ricardo Tirloni by Split Decision, R3
-Marlon Sandro def. Dustin Neace by Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:05, R1
-Perry Filkins def. Jonas Billstein by Unanimous Decision, R3
Preliminary Card: -Ruben Rey def. Robbie LeRoux by Unanimous Decision, R3 –Andrew Calandrelli def. Eric Brown by Submission (Armbar) at 3:10, R2
-Dan Cramer def. Joe Lamoureux by KO (Punches) at 3:26, R1
-Murad Machaev def. Lorawnt-T Nelson by Unanimous Decision, R3
-Mike Mucitelli def. Matt Uhde by Submission (Armbar) at 0:26, R1
-Brennan Ward def. Sam McCoy by KO (Punches) at 2:49, R1
-Matt Bessette def. Paul Barrow by Unanimous Decision, R3
UFC 154 wasn’t the first time I’ve attended a UFC event. It wasn’t even the first time I’ve attended one at the Bell Centre. (That would be UFC 113, when Mauricio “Shogun” Rua emphatically put an end to the Machida Era.) But with Georges St. Pierre fighting — returning from a serious knee injury, no less — this card was a special experience. Not to say it didn’t have its flaws — the decisions got to be a bit much after a while, Alessio Sakara managed to get himself disqualified, and Tom Lawlor managed to get himself robbed. Still, the atmosphere of the crowd, Johny Hendricks’ knockout of Martin Kampmann and the finale, in which St. Pierre withstood the most adversity he’s faced in years, more than made up for it.
I was seated a few rows above the exit ramp, where the fighters made their way backstage following their fights. It provided me a great view of the action, the fighters as they walked by, and Dan Hardy’s mohawk. Hardy was in attendance, and made frequent trips back and forth between cageside and backstage. So, consider it official: Dan Hardy pees a lot. Maybe. Also seen frequenting the backstage area were Brittney Palmer and Arianny Celeste, both of whom are (quickly) escorted out after the third round commences in each fight, and Bruce Buffer, who was rather short. I also managed to catch Ben Fowlkes walking down towards cageside and yelled after him, but whether my voice was lost in the din of the crowd or Fowlkes is just terrified of being associated with CagePotato yet again, I cannot say. (It’s definitely the latter.)
The Canadian crowd was pretty solid throughout. They’re not quite as partisan as the Brazilian crowds, but damn if they don’t cheer their fighters on — even if they don’t know who those fighters are. I suspect no one there knew who Ontario’s own Antonio Carvalho was. (I also suspect I was part of this group.) They occasionally boo too early, but in general they seemed fairly knowledgeable. Unfortunately, that generalization did not apply to the group sitting directly behind me, who complained that Chad Griggs was matched up unfairly with Cyrille Diabate — he was, but not because he was “tiny” — and were under the impression that an armbar was “a wrestling move.”
UFC 154 wasn’t the first time I’ve attended a UFC event. It wasn’t even the first time I’ve attended one at the Bell Centre. (That would be UFC 113, when Mauricio “Shogun” Rua emphatically put an end to the Machida Era.) But with Georges St. Pierre fighting — returning from a serious knee injury, no less — this card was a special experience. Not to say it didn’t have its flaws — the decisions got to be a bit much after a while, Alessio Sakara managed to get himself disqualified, and Tom Lawlor managed to get himself robbed. Still, the atmosphere of the crowd, Johny Hendricks’ knockout of Martin Kampmann and the finale, in which St. Pierre withstood the most adversity he’s faced in years, more than made up for it.
I was seated a few rows above the exit ramp, where the fighters made their way backstage following their fights. It provided me a great view of the action, the fighters as they walked by, and Dan Hardy’s mohawk. Hardy was in attendance, and made frequent trips back and forth between cageside and backstage. So, consider it official: Dan Hardy pees a lot. Maybe. Also seen frequenting the backstage area were Brittney Palmer and Arianny Celeste, both of whom are (quickly) escorted out after the third round commences in each fight, and Bruce Buffer, who was rather short. I also managed to catch Ben Fowlkes walking down towards cageside and yelled after him, but whether my voice was lost in the din of the crowd or Fowlkes is just terrified of being associated with CagePotato yet again, I cannot say. (It’s definitely the latter.)
The Canadian crowd was pretty solid throughout. They’re not quite as partisan as the Brazilian crowds, but damn if they don’t cheer their fighters on — even if they don’t know who those fighters are. I suspect no one there knew who Ontario’s own Antonio Carvalho was. (I also suspect I was part of this group.) They occasionally boo too early, but in general they seemed fairly knowledgeable. Unfortunately, that generalization did not apply to the group sitting directly behind me, who complained that Chad Griggs was matched up unfairly with Cyrille Diabate — he was, but not because he was “tiny” — and were under the impression that an armbar was “a wrestling move.”
That said, it could have been worse. Following the Rafael Dos Anjos–Mark Bocek fight (Or was it the Lawlor-Francis Carmont bout? I don’t know, after a while all of the decisions kind of blurred together) there was a brawl in the stands on the other side of the arena from where I was sitting. Some dude was tossed down the stairs, some other guys were knocked out, security had to run in and intervene. Even members of the Canadian military — there were a lot of them there for some reason — got involved to stop the fighting. So let it be known; despite its progressive image, Canada has meatheads too. Though I’m sure they all apologized profusely to each other over a bowl of poutine later that night.
Oh, and there were some other fights as well. Ones that took place inside the Octagon. In fact, I recognized a number of fighters from the last time I was at the Bell Centre — Hendricks, Lawlor, Patrick Cote, and Sam Stout all fought at UFC 113. Some hadn’t really changed at all; Stout put on an entertaining performance, but was undone by his relatively porous defense against John Makdessi. Cote was yet again a victim of piss-poor luck; last time I saw him, he was the recipient of a piledriver that barely managed to avoid being ruled a head spike, courtesy of Alan Belcher. This night, he was knocked out with roughly seven strikes to the back of his head. At least this time he got the win via disqualification. (Interestingly enough, this drew huge cheers from the crowd, despite the fact that Cote himself was clearly unsatisfied.)
But other fighters looked noticeably different this time around. Tom Lawlor — who I expected to get wrecked by Francis Carmont – actually managed to fight the fight that he wanted, bullying Carmont into the fence and outlanding him. Not that he was able to do much damage, but he controlled the Octagon and was able to block most of Carmont’s shots. The judges, however, failed to see it that way and awarded Carmont the victory, which caused a significant amount of the crowd to actually booCarmont. If you’re a judge, and a Canadian crowd boos your decision giving a Canadian fighter the victory, it probably means you fucked up. Lawlor walked out disgusted, and no post-fight interview was held.
Meanwhile, the last time I had seen Johny Hendricks, he had eked out a majority decision win over TJ Grant. Oh, what a difference two years can make. I expected him to have trouble against Kampmann, who I thought was the superior striker of the two. Kampmann might be more technical, but he’s eminently hittable and Hendricks packs a wallop in his punches. As it turned out, that was not a good combination for Kampmann. 40 seconds into the fight, Hendricks followed a missed right hook with a left haymaker that hit Kampmann on the jaw and felled him like a tree. After a night of decisions, the crowd — finally afforded a moment of spectacle — erupted with euphoria. Hendricks was the new number one contender (until Nick Diaz manages to shit talk his way into the discussion), and Kampmann was helped backstage, as he still hadn’t recovered five minutes after he had gone down.
Then it was time for the return of the prodigal son, Georges St. Pierre. After Condit was lustily booed during his entrance, St. Pierre’s music hit and the French Canadian made his way to the Octagon to the raucous cheers of the masses. (He actually entered through the ramp I was right next to, but it was impossible to get close to the sides as everyone had crowded around them by that point. Hat thieves must be a tenacious bunch.) Somehow, as GSP entered the ring, the crowd got even louder. By the time Bruce Buffer introduced St. Pierre, you couldn’t even hear him.
But all the noise the crowd made seemed to underscore a certain anxiety it was trying so desperately to hide. No one knew how St. Pierre would perform, whether his knee was still affecting him, whether ring rust would play a role in his fight. The first round began, and St. Pierre landed occasional jabs. Each time, the crowd ooh’d and aah’d, perhaps in an effort to support St. Pierre as much as convince themselves these were significant strikes. Then St. Pierre landed one of his trademark takedowns, and the place erupted again. The hero was back, their fears alleviated. St. Pierre did a brilliant job of maintaining distance on the feet while never letting Condit move forward, dictating the pace at which the fight was fought and when the exchanges would take place. On the ground, he utilized a can-opener to repeatedly mitigate Condit’s attempts to utilize a high guard, and passed to side control while landing elbows that cut Condit open. Everything was going as the crowd had hoped.
Then the kick came. In the third round, Condit came forward, missing with a left-right combo, ducked and threw a head kick. It was an unorthodox position to throw a kick from, and St. Pierre didn’t see it coming. From where I was sitting, I was facing St. Pierre’s back at the time. I saw the kick connect on his temple, his legs stagger and St. Pierre fall. The crowd let out a collective gasp in shock and terror. Immediately, that anxiety returned. As Condit began following up with ground and pound, I had flashbacks of Serra-St. Pierre I. Would St. Pierre wilt under pressure again? The answer was a resounding “no.” St. Pierre defended Condit’s onslaught, grabbed a leg, and seemingly willed by sheer determination as much as his brilliant grappling technique, was able to turn the tables and get up. When St. Pierre managed to take Condit down, the crowd — yet again — erupted in euphoria. You know how the rest of the fight went, and when St. Pierre had the belt wrapped around his waist yet again, the Bell Centre went nuts for a final time. Sadly, Anderson Silva did not step in the cage and claim he was unimpressed with GSP’s performance.
As everyone left the arena, it was hard not to appreciate what we had just witnessed. Yes, there had been a lot of decisions, but there wasn’t necessarily a lack of action throughout the night. And the last two fights had more than made up for any disappointments that had preceded them. A new challenger had announced his presence in the welterweight division, and the hometown hero had made a successful return after months of speculation and uncertainty. It was a glorious homecoming for St. Pierre, who overcame the type of adversity his detractors had long claimed he was somehow too mentally fragile to withstand en route to a clear-cut decision win over a man he claimed was the toughest test in his career. There isn’t much more you could’ve asked for.
OK, maybe a couple more finishes.
UFC 154 QUICK RESULTS
Main Card (PPV)
– Georges St-Pierre def. Carlos Condit via unanimous decision (49–46, 50–45, 50–45)
– Johny Hendricks def. Martin Kampmann via KO, 0:46 of round 1
– Francis Carmont def. Tom Lawlor via split-decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
– Rafael dos Anjos def. Mark Bocek via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
– Pablo Garza def. Mark Hominick via unanimous decision (29–27, 30–26, 29–28)
Preliminary Card (FX)
– Patrick Côté def. Alessio Sakara via disqualification (punches to back of head), 1:26 of round 1
– Cyrille Diabaté def. Chad Griggs via submission (rear-naked choke), 2:24 of round 1
– John Makdessi def. Sam Stout via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 30–27)
– Antonio Carvalho def. Rodrigo Damm via split-decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
– Matthew Riddle def. John Maguire via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
– Ivan Menjivar def. Azamat Gashimov via submission (armbar), 2:44 of round 1
– Darren Elkins def. Steven Siler via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
For those who missed the fights on Saturday, here’s another look at Johny Hendricks‘s devastating knockout of Martin Kampmann, which earned “Bigg Rigg” a $70,000 Knockout of the Night check, cemented him as the likely #1 contender in the UFC welterweight division, and saved the UFC 154 main card from a long night of decisions. The 46-second KO increased Hendricks’s win streak to five, with his last three victories coming against Jon Fitch (via 12-second KO), Josh Koscheck (via split-decision), and now this smash-up of Martin Kampmann.
On yesterday’s edition of the Verbal Submission radio show, Hendricks stated that he won’t take another fight before getting his title shot, even if reigning champion Georges St. Pierre decides to fight Anderson Silva in his next appearance. Judging from GSP’s non-committal post-fight interview with Joe Rogan on Saturday, squaring off against the Spider doesn’t really seem to be a priority for him. UFC fans may want to see GSP in a champion vs. champion catchweight superfight against Silva, but if St. Pierre decides to remain in his division for now, there’s at least one challenger who could give him a hell of a match. (Hint: It’s the bearded dude with the magical death-fists.)
(Props: Fox Sports/FUEL TV)
For those who missed the fights on Saturday, here’s another look at Johny Hendricks‘s devastating knockout of Martin Kampmann, which earned “Bigg Rigg” a $70,000 Knockout of the Night check, cemented him as the likely #1 contender in the UFC welterweight division, and saved the UFC 154 main card from a long night of decisions. The 46-second KO increased Hendricks’s win streak to five, with his last three victories coming against Jon Fitch (via 12-second KO), Josh Koscheck (via split-decision), and now this smash-up of Martin Kampmann.
On yesterday’s edition of the Verbal Submission radio show, Hendricks stated that he won’t take another fight before getting his title shot, even if reigning champion Georges St. Pierre decides to fight Anderson Silva in his next appearance. Judging from GSP’s non-committal post-fight interview with Joe Rogan on Saturday, squaring off against the Spider doesn’t really seem to be a priority for him. UFC fans may want to see GSP in a champion vs. champion catchweight superfight against Silva, but if St. Pierre decides to remain in his division for now, there’s at least one challenger who could give him a hell of a match. (Hint: It’s the bearded dude with the magical death-fists.)
(A full replay of Quieroz vs. Volkov. For those of you who don’t have time for the whole thing, the relevant bits are after the jump.)
Although it’s a given that fight promotions have no control over which referees are assigned to their events/fights — because if they did, Dana White would have permanently relegated Steve Mazaggati to the UFC’s super secret “AIDS-ridden Lion Fights” division — it has become apparent that Bellator is clearly getting the shit end of the stick when it comes to acquiring a decent referee. Just a couple weeks ago at Bellator 78, referee Jerry Poe allowed Andrey Koreshkov to savage Maruis Zaromskis’ unconscious body so badly that it would have been considered necrophilia in some states. And just two events later at Bellator 80, referee James Warring displayed a similar, albeit less dangerous, incompetency during the Vinicius Queiroz/Alexander Volkov fight.
Our friends over at Fightlinker were able to find a compilation of Warring’s missteps during the fight, which we’ve placed below, and my God do they redefine the phrase “interesting interpretation of the rules.” Amidst a barrage of ridiuclously quick stand-ups, Warring appeared as if he were making up rules out of thin air, warning Queiroz that he could not “lead with the forehead” while he was on the ground, nor could he strike the top or the “Mohawk area” of his opponent’s head. While the first rule is an outright fabrication, the criteria for the “Mohawk area” head strikes can be found in the unified rules of MMA. That being said, Warring’s belief that a Mohawk typically starts in the middle of one’s forehead highlights the growing problems in MMA refereeing when it comes to interpreting the rules.
After the jump: The aforementioned lowlight reel of Warring’s Bellator 80 performance set to an oddly poignant soundtrack and the official complaint from Quieroz’s camp.
(A full replay of Quieroz vs. Volkov. For those of you who don’t have time for the whole thing, the relevant bits are after the jump.)
Although it’s a given that fight promotions have no control over which referees are assigned to their events/fights — because if they did, Dana White would have permanently relegated Steve Mazaggati to the UFC’s super secret “AIDS-ridden Lion Fights” division — it has become apparent that Bellator is clearly getting the shit end of the stick when it comes to acquiring a decent referee. Just a couple weeks ago at Bellator 78, referee Jerry Poe allowed Andrey Koreshkov to savage Maruis Zaromskis’ unconscious body so badly that it would have been considered necrophilia in some states. And just two events later at Bellator 80, referee James Warring displayed a similar, albeit less dangerous, incompetency during the Vinicius Queiroz/Alexander Volkov fight.
Our friends over at Fightlinker were able to find a compilation of Warring’s missteps during the fight, which we’ve placed below, and my God do they redefine the phrase “interesting interpretation of the rules.” Amidst a barrage of ridiuclously quick stand-ups, Warring appeared as if he were making up rules out of thin air, warning Queiroz that he could not “lead with the forehead” while he was on the ground, nor could he strike the top or the “Mohawk area” of his opponent’s head. While the first rule is an outright fabrication, the criteria for the “Mohawk area” head strikes can be found in the unified rules of MMA. That being said, Warring’s belief that a Mohawk typically starts in the middle of one’s forehead highlights the growing problems in MMA refereeing when it comes to interpreting the rules.
Following the loss, Queiroz’s manager, Josef Borges, filed a complaint with the Florida State Boxing Commission. Opposing Views has the scoop:
“[Referee James] Warring could have contributed to [and] altered the result of the fight after he ordered the fighters to rise up with only 15 seconds [on the ground] … in a moment that was favorable for Vincius,” wrote Borges.
Borges has stated that he wouldn’t attempt to overturn the result, but hopes that the referee will go back and reread the rulebook.
“I would like you to register my protest and I hope that Mr. James Warring will update [his] knowledge of the rules of MMA,” wrote Borges. ”MMA means also fighting on the ground. Getting a takedown and dominating the ground also adds points to the fight.”
Now, we’re not going to say that Queiroz would have won the fight had he not been the victim of some egregious standups, but just skip ahead to the 3:18 mark of the video and tell us that the cards were not at the least stacked against him. Quieroz secures a takedown with roughly 1:05 left in the round and is almost immediately stood up with 50 seconds remaining in said round. That, my friends, is some grade A bullshit. While Bellator commentators Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock were quick to call out Warring for his injustices, can you imagine what would’ve happened if Joe Rogan had been cageside? Warring would’ve probably left the arena in tears and looking for his favorite blankey.
