Rewatch What do you think the ruling should have been on the Paul Craig upkick?

[Kaiokenrye24]

Can't say it enough, the NC was the right call unless the rules change.

 

[maximus__]

Burgos got hit and was able to reset from the striking exchange before collapsing moments later. You saw his eyes sort of roll back in real time, but he was lucid before that. The point being made is/was that -- hypothetically -- Bellato could've gotten hit with the illegal upkick, registered it as such and looked to the ref to complain while still lucid (such as the time Burgos spent resetting), only to then go unconscious right after.

I personally am not saying that's what happened. If you said Occam's Razor would dictate that he's an unrepentant flop I certainly wouldn't argue with you. But I'm just throwing it out there because weird shit happens in fights and only Bellato himself can be 100% certain why he did what he did I guess.

This is genuinely what I think happened. Look at his eyes when he comes back.

I think he got put out cold. It wouldn't surprise me if we find out he recently got Ko'd in prepping for this fight or something.
Looked like he had recently been ko'd.

 

[Paolo Delutis]

Paul Craig vs Rodolfo Bellato (Upkick) No contest GIFS​

I'm borrowing the GIFs from @KazDibiase and his above thread to copy here for the sake of convenience to those voting.

Understandably this exchange drew a lot of attention:


The fight took place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Here is that state's rule set for professional MMA for reference:

GA R&R - GAC - Chapter 85-3 PROFESSIONAL MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Interestingly, it makes no mention of upkicks to the head as a foul. So either it has not been updated, or more likely the UFC simply utilizes its own more specific rule set that naturally conforms to the state's regulations. Not my area of expertise. Nevertheless, I don't intend for the poll to be worried about stickling to rule set interpretations. I'm curious what Sherdoggers think would be the right thing to do, not necessarily the by-the-books thing to do, but it's up to you to vote according to what you think it is important.

If we are just assessing the up kick as a foul it should be a point deduction if there is no obvious impedance to the fighter (, no cut was created, swelling, rocked .) and the fight should resume standing. ..

If the up kick caused any damage or would imped the fights regular course of action then it should be a DQ... .aka being rocked, swelling, broken bone, etc

It was a no contest because of the over embellishment of the Brazilian fighter...yes there was foul but the Brazilian basically ruined the fair ness of the situation by pretending he was more hurt then he was ..

 

[Mr. Snrub]

A $50k POTN bonus to Paul Craig.

 

[gentel]

I voted for a point deduction, but DQ and NC are both legitimate opinions as well

 

[LEWIS540]

Guy should have been given 5 to recover if hurt from an illegal shot.

Obviously wasn’t hurt. Continue fight from stand up position.

Cheated to try and win.

DQ win for Craig.

 

[Judge Lance Ito]

Bellato wanted out.

 

[Shaolin Alan]

Change Bellato Sherdog profile pic to a still of him flopping with an Oscar in his hand

Also, double DQ for illegal up-kick and terrible acting. LaBellato is PFL bound...

 

[jeff7b9]

Under the current rules that should 100% be a DQ

The rule is retarded though.

They should allow all the strikes.

 

[Thy]

win by ko.

 

[Axe720]

Take a point because it was a clear foul but then ask him if he wants to continue. Clearly though, he didn't. And hopefully this rule gets changed soon anyway.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

Per the rules, it was a foul. Take the point and resume, if the affected fighter wants to.

In reality the Unified Rules suck, and upkicks are handy dandy in protecting yourself on the ground

 

[CutStryker]

It was an illegal up kick, however the opponent flopped on purpose. I think they got it right

 

[Aurelian]

It was illegal, but Bellato probably could have continued so it would just be a point deduction for Craig. A DQ would be fine too if it was determined Bellato couldn't continue.

I think that rule is stupid and shouldn't exist though.

 

[jmboyd24]

I think you should absolutely be able to upkick an opponent in the head while on your back, but that's not allowed so it should have been a DQ.

I also think there no chance that Bellato was staging - that's a slightly delayed KO and then he woke up with no idea what was happening.

 

[Sms_productions713]

I've seen a lot of opinion on Bellato being disqualified for trying to milk an injury. That is certainly a viable thing, but it shouldn't go without mentioning the potential DQ for the guy who did the foul. Some of y'all excuse the stupidest shit. Craig threw a kick he should have known was illegal, showed everyone he knew the guy was down, but he was too dumb to get the rules right.

And we still have these people complaining about fouls not being called enough because fighters get away with eye pokes and groin shots and cage grabs all day, but when you get presented with an actual foul, it's always straight to victim blaming.

I think Bellato's performance was horse shit. But I also realize that, because refs never deduct points, that a fighter either has to continue with the disadvantage of being fouled usually with no deduction to compensate, or try to do something to get some actual enforcement by the refs. I don't like milking, but this is symptomatic of a greater issue facing the sport, and one that fans know is wrong, but the second they get an opportunity to react to it, they go "But I need my fight entertainment to be more fighty and only fighty! Death to the ones who paused the fighty!" Sherdoggers disappoint, yet again.

I'm sure in time, more people will start pointing out Craig's fault in this. The poll already shows more "disqualify" Craig results than I thought it would have gotten last night, but damn, y'all really need to practice not having your initial reactions dominated by thoughtless emotion

*Edit* Looking at the options, I would have liked the ref to have the balls to call out Bellato on his acting, warn him that if the doctor feels he can continue, then Bellato can get into serious trouble and try to encourage a continuation, after which Craig gets at least 1 point deducted, cuz 2 is also on the table.

Bellato had one knee off the ground. I don’t think Craig could have noticed the other leg unless he sat up. He is not stretch

 

[Kwic]

I always get triggered when I think about upkicks being illegal like that.
Someone is trying to smash your face in with elbows from the top but you cannot defend yourself because the guy on top who wants to murder you is defenseless down opponent?
Get the fuck out with this bullshit.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Bellato had one knee off the ground. I don’t think Craig could have noticed the other leg unless he sat up. He is not stretch

This isn't just a snapshot in time, Bellato was coming from laying on Craig after diving fully into his guard. He was on both knees and BARELY got one leg up. There is every expectation in the world Craig should have known (just as Craig demonstrated one knee down to the ref the instant he got up, seemingly showing he did know), and that's because it would be nearly physically impossible for Bellato to get back to standing in that time. After all, Bellato is not stretch

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Take a point because it was a clear foul but then ask him if he wants to continue. Clearly though, he didn't. And hopefully this rule gets changed soon anyway.

I was debating this myself, because I think If the point was already taken, it should put a big dent in a fouled fighter's inclination to milk it, so that's the greatest result. I don't think there's any administrative issue preventing them from deducting before fully "assessing the damage."

Something I worry about is, a fighter might think if a point was taken, that would mean they'd  haveto make it a DQ if they couldn't continue, but that'd be wrong because you can deduct for accidentals

 

[Sms_productions713]

This isn't just a snapshot in time, Bellato was coming from laying on Craig after diving fully into his guard. He was on both knees and BARELY got one leg up. There is every expectation in the world Craig should have known (just as Craig demonstrated one knee down to the ref the instant he got up, seemingly showing he did know), and that's because it would be nearly physically impossible for Bellato to get back to standing in that time. After all, Bellato is not stretch

Well most people wait till knees are off the ground to throw it. Not like he is going to wait till home dude is literally standing straight up to where it’s useless. He couldn’t see his right leg cause everything blocking it. His left, he can actually see cause it was on the outside and just had to tilt his neck. Accidents happen, but it’s a dumb rule either way