If more fighters do what Tom did, the UFC might actually crack down on fouls.

[don't ask]

When they react to a foul, it's up to the ref to see them. They don't always. That's on the ref tho. I'm talking about fighters who think they can call time in the middle of a fight like Luque did when it was a punch that hit him not an eye poke. More and more fighters are acting like they were fouled when they aren't so they're gaming the system.

Gaming the system is another reason this needs to be fixed, but fighters who are legitimately fouled and compromised would do the exact same thing.

 

[don't ask]

It doesnt affect them, tickets have been sold, PPV´s have been sold, the UFC for the most part dont care who wins and who loses, they have both guys under contract.

I'm speaking hypothetically about more fighters doing what Tom did, which might affect them enough to create change. I know it doesn't affect them the way fighters currently handle being fouled.

 

[JohnMandick]

I love how morons speak with authority about what Tom was experiencing.

It's ultimately the Refs and UFC's fault. That should have been a DQ or a point. Stop rewarding the cheaters.

 

[El Fernas]

It's ultimately the Refs

Thats who this thing falls on, the refs in MMA are so timid with the rules its not even funny.

-Low blows? 1-2 fouls usually get a free pass, no problem.
-Eye pokes? Same as low blows, 1-2 fouls get a free pass, no problem.
-Knees/kicks to the head of a grounded opponent? Unless they are very blatant they get called accidental its usually a NC/Point with rare DQ..
-Blows to the back of the head? Almost like a recommendation than a rule to them.
-Cage grab? Not a big issue for them, they just warn the fighter to stop doing it, at best.
-Glove grabbing? Not a big issue for them, they just warn the fighter to stop doing it, at best.

I would say the first two need to be addressed and up the punishment to 1 point on all of them no matter what.

 

[don't ask]

Thats who this falls on, the refs in MMA are so timid with the rules its not even funny.

-Low blows? 1-2 fouls usually get a free pass, no problem.
-Eye pokes? Same as low blows, 1-2 fouls get a free pass, no problem.
-Knees/kicks to the head of a grounded opponent? Unless they are very blatant they get called accidental and move from there to DQ/NC/Point.
-Blows to the back of the head? Almost like a recommendation than a rule to them.
-Cage grab? Not a big issue for them, they just warn the fighter to stop doing it, at best.
-Glove grabbing? Not a big issue for them, they just warn the fighter to stop doing it, at best.

I would say the first two need to be addressed and up the punishment to 1 point on all of them no matter what.

Why do people think that the refs aren't reffing the way the UFC wants or that they would change this if the UFC doesn't want it to change?

 

[El Fernas]

Why do people think that the refs aren't reffing the way the UFC wants or that they would change this if the UFC doesn't want it to change?

Cause they are NOT UFC employees, and then again, it doesnt really affect the UFC if they enforce the rules better or not, the UFC has both the winner and losers under contract, then again, are you implying the UFC benefits from the shit reffing? Like, other than Herb Dean allowing Conor Mcgregor to foul Khabib like 20 times, what else? Jones getting away with eye pokes? The whole org gets away with eye pokes.

 

[don't ask]

Cause they are NOT UFC employees, and then again, it doesnt really affect the UFC if they enforce the rules better or not, the UFC has both the winner and losers under contract, then again, are you implying the UFC benefits from the shit reffing? Like, other than Herb Dean allowing Conor Mcgregor to foul Khabib like 20 times, what else? Jones getting away with eye pokes? The whole org gets away with eye pokes.

Yes, the UFC benefits from shitting reffing. Early stoppages that just happen to go their way, fouls not being called result in more finishes, etc. Some of us are noticing that refs who do really good jobs outside the UFC suddenly stop calling fouls and penalizing fighters in the UFC.

And how can you possibly say with a straight face that the UFC, one of the most powerful combat sport organizations on the planet, has no say in how the referees do their job (especially in light of the shady things the UFC has pulled with athletic commissions' cooperation in the past)?

That's sheer delusion.

 

[Hotora86]

One problem with that is we're also seeing more and more fighters play it up. and call their own fouls. I forget the fight but it was recent, where someone called time and looked to the ref complaining of an eye poke. The fight was halted for a minute then they showed the replay and it was a fist and knuckle in his eye.

Take points for FAKING an injury as well.
It's IN THE RULES already.

 

[Hotora86]

Athletic commissions are malfunctional in several ways -- with none interested in fixing them.

There is the issue of plain corruption.

But besides that, there are several reasons why Commissions don't want to reprimand refs and officials. Its a trash job where for a long time you're essentially working pro bono. (So sort of like being an MMA fighter). Before you get UFC gigs -- you're going to have to work local, regional shows. These don't pay. At all. This means there is low interest for the positions and low-quality control.

Commissions fixing this is going to take a lot of work. If you ban a ref who are you going to replace him with? The local-levels who want to move up are just as bad. Training and managing refs is going to take resources that Commissions either don't have or are to corrupt/lazy to do.

Plus, the UFC don't want powerful commissions. Because powerful commissions are going to start talking back and making demands. Like their numerous spats with the NY commission.

I wasn't aware of that, thanks.
At the same time it's ridiculous that refs would do their job for free. Nobody should work for free. Don't they have a union or something? If not, they should form one and demand fair pay.

 

[CasualBot]

Dana basically checked out years ago, just watch the post fight presser. He practically blames Tom for getting fouled and praises Ciryl. By Dana not condemning a blatant foul, it makes it look like he supports the shit.

Spot on.

Since Tom saying he won't fight a training partner, would vacate, and his dad pushing the boxing idea...

Dana was checked out on Tom 100%

He's stuck with Stipe retiring, Francis leaving, Jones being Jones, Gane's failures, and Tom's family. Heavyweight is fuct.

 

[HeffDoesWant]

Its only fighters with belts who have any semblance of power to not continue.

The UFC clearly doesn't give a shit about fouls and every fighter knows you are heading straight to the bad books if you don't continue.

 

[egk]

Take points for FAKING an injury as well.
It's IN THE RULES already.

How do you tell if a fighter is faking tho? In this case, Luque may have thought it was a finger poke when it was actually a punch and the knuckles went in. I'm talking about fighters stopping the action to call their own fouls. That's the referees job but the refs often miss them.

 

[Hotora86]

How do you tell if a fighter is faking tho? In this case, Luque may have thought it was a finger poke when it was actually a punch and the knuckles went in. I'm talking about fighters stopping the action to call their own fouls. That's the referees job but the refs often miss them.

They have VAR in soccer and faking is penalized with cards.
I see no issue.

 

[jjjjjjjjjjohnny]

the rematch is great for the UFC.... it would be curious to see the stats on buy-rates in these circumstances.

 

[egk]

They have VAR in soccer and faking is penalized with cards.
I see no issue.

But how do you tell if a fighter is simply mistaken that it was a foul because it felt like a finger in the eye? That's not the same as faking it. That's why it's up to the refs to make the call not the fighters.

 

[m249viking]

The point is fighters are trying to call their own fouls and it's not up to them. It's the ref's job.

Oh yes the unbiased refs who do nothing about fence grabbing eye pokes etc based on who is doing it

 

[egk]

Oh yes the unbiased refs who do nothing about fence grabbing eye pokes etc based on who is doing it

I never said they were good at their jobs but it is supposed to be their job. Fighters calling their own fouls just leads to them faking it when they're losing.

 

[SupremeGuy]

They tried switching gloves. Dana says the fighters didnt like them so they switched back. Rountree says he was one of the testers for the new gloves and they wore them in the fight with Poatan. He claims the real reason they ditched them is the UFC Logo kept fraying off the leather hehehe

Khalil Rountree reveals real reason UFC abandoned new glove design

According to Khalil Rountree, the UFC had a practical reason for changing back to the old gloves.

www.mmafighting.com

I have a tough time believing that lol

 

[icemun]

How many fighters have quit from eye pokes?

 

[gentel]

And don't even pretend it's a matter of the commissions and the UFC has no sway to protect their fighters.

No one should be expected to continue to fight after being compromised by a foul, let alone multiple fouls. A little while ago, people were talking about some statistics that showed most fighters who were fouled lost the fight. Yeah, no shit, that's the entire reason these fouls keep happening.

Yes, I want an NC on every eye poke until Dana starts to give a fuck