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diadicic
diadicic's picture
Why would the ref even let this fight continue after the sucker punch?

Why?

Dom

michael rosenbaum
michael rosenbaum's picture

Money?

Ticket sales and TV glitz?

Here's footage of some good punching:

I know, boxing is a bit old fashion, but the fighters like Sugar Ray, Archie Moore, Jack Johnson and others like them did know how to punch and more importantly could take a punch too.

Mike

PASmith
PASmith's picture

I think that's a little unfair on MMA fighters Michael. Plenty of MMA fighters can take a punch (with small gloves on no less). Plenty can throw one too (within an MMA environment). I'm sure I could put up a terrible video of bad reffing or fighting in boxing juxtaposed with some outstanding MMA action from the top guys. Sugar Ray and Hearns are clearly top of the tree. Cage rage and "Attila" are not.

I think the ref made a bad judgement call after the sucker punch because it didn't land strongly and the other guy was OK to continue. Thereafter he just made the best of a dealing with an obviously idiotic fighter that had no business fighting in MMA.

michael rosenbaum
michael rosenbaum's picture

PASmith wrote:

I think that's a little unfair on MMA fighters Michael. Plenty of MMA fighters can take a punch (with small gloves on no less). Plenty can throw one too (within an MMA environment). I'm sure I could put up a terrible video of bad reffing or fighting in boxing juxtaposed with some outstanding MMA action from the top guys. Sugar Ray and Hearns are clearly top of the tree. Cage rage and "Attila" are not.

I think the ref made a bad judgement call after the sucker punch because it didn't land strongly and the other guy was OK to continue. Thereafter he just made the best of a dealing with an obviously idiotic fighter that had no business fighting in MMA.

PASmith,

I'm sure you could, as I could too.

My remark was not intended to "slam" MMA, but instead illustrate some good punching, as opposed to what was shown in the video.

I probably do come across as being bias, but its a generational thing. I grew up watching Ali, Sugar-Ray, Foreman and others fight. And pound for pound for pound where stand up punching and fighting is concerned I'll put my money on them any day as opposed to the top MMA fighters. If, however, we're talking about bad calls, money under the table, fixed fights, or over-hyped fights for the sake of publicity then boxing is just as guilty as MMA is, if not more so.

Nothing personal, but I just like boxing better than I do MMA. I mean after all its not called the sweet science for nothing. Plus I feel more credit should be given to western boxing and its great fighters than what is shown today.

You guys have a good day.

Mike

PASmith
PASmith's picture

micheal rosenbaum wrote:
And pound for pound for pound where stand up punching and fighting is concerned I'll put my money on them any day as opposed to the top MMA fighters.

And I'd put my money on a footballer beating an MMA fighter at a penalty shoot out. I honestly don't see what your point is? That a boxer would beat a non-boxer in a boxing match? Not much of a revelation surely?

Actually there was a recent fight where a top boxer went against a top MMA guy (Toney v Couture). They were both getting on in age and so past their primes but it was still a pretty fair test. It did not go well for the boxer!

Personally I don't think MMA fighters get enough credit. Given that in MMA you can shoot in, kick, clinch, submit etc I'm amazed they land any punches at all let alone good quality ones like you might see in boxing. :)

Training and fighting in MMA is like juggling and playing chess, while running a marathon interspaced with sprints.

To me saying that MMA fighters can't punch as well as boxers is like saying triathlon competitors can't shoot or ski as well as specialist marksmen or skiers. While that may be true up to a point to my mind the all rounder is doing the far more impressive and tricky thing (in some ways).

But don't get me wrong...I love boxing too. The sweet science it is. But that doesn't make MMA any less a sweet science also and the accomplishments of the top MMA any less either.

michael rosenbaum
michael rosenbaum's picture

PA

Good points all round.

I guess we'll just have to mark this one up to personal tastes. Sort of like which tastes better, pale ale or a dark stout.smiley

Mike

michael rosenbaum
michael rosenbaum's picture

Dom,

When Tyson bit Holyfields ear it generated far more press than if he'd knocked Holyfield out in the second round:

 Also, when the movie  "pumping Iron" was made they orginally were going to make Lou out to be the dark horse?bad guy, but switched to Arnold because Lou came across  as to nice of a guy.

Bad boys and girls generate publicity in professional sports and publicity draws a crowd which in turn draws the bucks.

Mike

Gavin Mulholland
Gavin Mulholland's picture

I know the referee, Grant Waterman, personally and he is a very good ref.

He applies the rules well but also looks to do what is fair to the fighters.  My guess is that the guy that got hit had trained hard for between 3 - 6 months and he would have hated the fight to be stopped at that point.  Grant obviously thought he was ok to continue and personally, I think he made the right call.

Tez
Tez's picture

Gavin Mulholland wrote:

I know the referee, Grant Waterman, personally and he is a very good ref.

He applies the rules well but also looks to do what is fair to the fighters.  My guess is that the guy that got hit had trained hard for between 3 - 6 months and he would have hated the fight to be stopped at that point.  Grant obviously thought he was ok to continue and personally, I think he made the right call.

 

I have to agree with you, Grant is one of the top refs in MMA and he made the right decision.

Jon Lean
Jon Lean's picture

Sorry, I have to disagree that the ref should have let the fight continue. I saw a flagrant disregard for the rules which then continued after the fight was ended. "Black Shorts" demonstrated zero respect throughout and one has to ask the question, what else would he have done to "win"?

Question? Who actually won the fight? Was Black Shorts not DQ'd afterwards? What DOES he have to do to get DQ'd? Punch the Ref?!

The ref is there to protect the fighters, even sometimes from themselves. Ref should have DQ'd black shorts after the sucker punch. Instant Hansoku Make IMHO. 

Black Tiger
Black Tiger's picture

I didn't see the sucker punch, I did see a knee to the face though, Which I think is not allowed in these fights (I think) I think the guy wasn't DQ'd because in a fight sometimes the adrenalin kicks in. As soon as the "Black Shorts" realised it was the Ref that Rear Choked him he relaxed a little

These things are sent to try us.

When it comes to these types of Fights, The Ref has the full safety of the fighters at hand and he stopped the fight because he saw  it as finished. I'm with the Ref on this one.

 

Tez
Tez's picture

Like all sports with refs and umpires it's always easy to second guess the ref. I believe in cricket and rugby now they even have a 'video ref' who can use the replay to make the decisions. In MMA the only one who is there, on the spot and see what is going on is the ref and as we've said Grant is one of the three top refs in the UK. The fighters are fighting pro rules and fighting for a purse, there will be more leeway given to them as professional fighters than would be to the semi pros and the amateurs. Not to say safety isn't the refs first consideration but this is full contact, full on fighting and I'd go with Grant's decision.

Kevin73
Kevin73's picture

I believe a sucker punch happened in PrideFC one time because they both got in each other's faces and one fighter kissed the other guy and got sucker punched.  He was disqualified for it.  I could understand a reaction like that, but this guy should have been dq'd plain and simple.