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

[nostradumbass]

Probably a DQ. I could see calling it accidental if Craig thought he was standing up, because it's borderline unreasonable to expect guys to see through their own legs and hips to know the exact second the guy's knee pops up to throw down GNP from the top, but Craig did show the ref right after that he knew the knee was down, so it was just misunderstanding the rules that are his responsibility to know.

 

[Söze Aldo]

I see no reason for an either or situation. DQ Craig for the kick, and after watching the replay, DQ Bellato for unsportsmanship/faking a KO from a kick that hits him mostly on his trap.

Any ruling based on the replay could not cause Craig to be DQ'd. If it show's the kick really did mainly make contact with the trap, then it was not an illegal strike. An up kick to the body is not illegal, solely one to the head.

 

[El Fernas]

Its a DQ because of two things:

-Thats no accident, its just being reckless from Craig.
-Opponent "couldnt" continue, fake or not, if a fighter gets fouled and he doesnt feel like continuing the fight thats a DQ, completely accidental fouls are NC or Technical decisions depending on round (afaik).

And, said fighter should get cut, period, thats poor sportsmanship at its finest, he got fouled, but still, no place for that flopping around, just say you cant continue.

Diego Sanchez got fouled (and a big cut) by Michel Pereira, he made sure foul was called intentional, then he said he couldnt continue, good reffing there, good move by Diego Sanchez, do that, or continue fighting, save us the poor acting.

 

[MDoza]

Based on the current rules, it’s a clear illegal upkick. A point should be deducted and the right resumed.

They need to change the rule though. Upkicks should be allowed, it’s part of the danger of following a guy to the ground. When you’re on the ground, and upkick to the face is as intelligent defense as imaginable.

 

[JBJ was here]

Anderson Silva would think that this is a loss for Paul Craig

Very different. That's a solid ball-of-the-foot to the chin; Craig landed a glancing blow to the shoulder that maybe lightly brushed the neck.

Should be a point taken from Bellato for faking the injury. Once the fight is actually stopped, Bellato should be disqualified because his intentional foul--faking the injury--is why the fight was stopped.

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

Immediate firing of Rodolfo Bellato

Genuinely. The most bitch made shit I've ever seen.

Also upkicks should be legal. All knees and kicks should be legal

 

[El Fernas]

FYI, the fact that it was an upkick is irrelevant in the eyes of the standard Unified Rules. Bellato was a grounded opponent by virtue of his knee being down and Paul kicked him in the head. Thus, it was a foul. The Rules make no distinction for when the kicker is also grounded... though they arguably should. But I digress.

I am fine with it being a No Contest I guess. The commissions have been playing fast and loose with the distinction between NC/DQ and what makes for an "intentional foul" for several years now. Did the perception of Bellato flopping help bring about the NC? Perhaps. I wouldn't have minded a DQ, either. As much as I don't like this part of the Rules, Craig still violated it blatantly and delivered a pretty significant blow that likely altered the fight.

Also, just to chum the waters, I saw someone throw out an interesting perspective last night that maybe Bellato didn't actually flop. They suggested that maybe what we saw was a delayed KO reaction a la Shane Burgos vs. Edson Barboza. Not sure I believe it, but I suppose it's possible especially for someone who's taken as much concussive damage as Bellato.

As an aside, not surprised Justin posted that. Him and the other fighters up in the lounge lost their shit watching the screen when the replay came on lmao

The issue here, you can see him looking at the ref and complaining, Burgos reaction was weird, but different, this was all acting, bad acting.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

I can’t believe how committed to acting that dude was, I believed it at first because who the fuck is still pretending to fight the ref a minute later due to confusion

That guy must be a complete sociopathic weirdo

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

it looked as fake as it could look imo. idk if it was. if that was some weird delayed ko situation. it just doesnt look like it. it looks fake. with that said id kick that guy out of the ufc and give paul craig a win bonus.

 

[Safton]

The issue here, you can see him looking at the ref and complaining, Burgos reaction was weird, but different, this was all acting, bad acting.

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.

 

[Deltron 6060]

I thought it would be Craig getting dq'd. Atleast I get my money back on that bet

 

[dipstickjimmy]

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.

For me the Right thing to do is actually enforce the rules. The fight can't be restarted, the guy was KO'd. The result is what matters. Paul Craig KO'd him with an upkick. It was illegal. DQ.

If Craig KO'd him legally but it wasn't a way he intended to KO him it is still a KO. So why when he illegally KO's him is it not a DQ? No it wasn't malicious and no it doesn't deserve any further punishment from the commission but a DQ is the correct result. The idea Bellato was play acting is stupid, kind of the way Gathje is stupid. He was winning the fight.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

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

Interestingly, it makes no mention of upkicks to the head as a foul.

Also not sure if you didn't read the rules set in your own post but it clearly states under Fouls:
14. Kicking the head of a grounded fighter

 

[aerius]

Double DQ. Craig for throwing an illegal upkick, and Bellato for flopping & milking it to the moon.

 

[pseto223]

Back in the day people got TKO losses on their record for being blinded by an eye poke.

 

[Madmick]

Also not sure if you didn't read the rules set in your own post but it clearly states under Fouls:
14. Kicking the head of a grounded fighter

Incorrect. That's not an upkick. The "grounded fighter" is the guy on the ground. It's telling you it's illegal for the standing fighter to kick the head of the man on the ground, not that it is illegal for the man on the ground to kick the head of the man who is standing.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Incorrect. That's not an upkick. The "grounded fighter" is the guy on the ground. It's telling you it's illegal for the standing fighter to kick the head of the man on the ground, not that it is illegal for the man on the ground to kick the head of the man who is standing.

I get that you are looking for something here but a grounded fighter is a grounded fighter. Where is Bellato's knees? Answer is on the round. Both fighters can be considered grounded. Bellato was a grounded fighter.

 

[Madmick]

I get that you are looking for something here but a grounded fighter is a grounded fighter. Where is Bellato's knees? Answer is on the round. Both fighters can be considered grounded. Bellato was a grounded fighter.

Ah, I see now your argument. Fair point.

 

[ocfightfan]

Just rub some dirt on it and continue.

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

Craig should have been DQd but that should be legal, so all in all a bad outcome.