UFC Fight NIght - Lauzon vs, Stephens

[hamato_yoshii]

I'm behind on posting this, but here's my thoughts on what happened on Sat.


Cain Velasquez showed that he may be worth the hype. While he didn't finish Stojnic in any kind of dramatic fashion, he fought really well, and Stojic was just a tough dude. Cain showed his skills in a lot of different ways, and one thing I really noticed that was great was, it looked like his stamina was pretty good. He threw a lot at Stojnic, and he seemed to still look pretty crisp twords the end of the fight.

Having said that, I would like to see Stojnic get another fight in the UFC. He looked like with some more seasoning, he may be a decent fighter, or at least a "gate-keeper" type guy.

Joe Lauzon looked pretty good. It was one of those fight where one guy was more talented as an overall fighter, and you could see it during the fight, but because of the nature of mma, that didn't mean for sure that guy will win (ask Brandon Vera about those kinds of fights). I'm glad Joe won, because he does look like he is taking his training, and the sport very seriously, and I appreciate that.

One thing I noticed that I did not like was the comments made about the officials during some of these fights. Some people are familiar with the idea that one of the issues facing mma right now is that there aren't many officials that are credible. Or at least that are viewed as credible by the fans and insiders. We've seen the same guys for so long, Dean, McCarthy, Yamisaki, Mazzigatti, Lavigne, and maybe a couple more, but for the most part, thats it. So, the UFC is trying to integrate new guys to give them a shot, and to get them some credibility. Some of these guys were there on Sat, and of course they got over-scrutinized for how and when they decided to end some fights. This really bothers me. I have had enough of throwing trash at a ref if he calls a fight before a guy is completely unconscious, or friggin dead. We have seen over the years that guys (especially heavyweights) can continue to show signs of being able to fight, long after they really need to be fighting. A lot of these guys can take a ton of shots and keep going, and while I'm all for guys having tough chins, you have to call fights if guys are getting lit up, time after time. I just saw some new officials, who the UFC really need to gain credibility in the eyes of fans, get called out for stopping fights, granted they were judgement calls, but these guys NEED to error on the side of caution for the benefit of the sport. If someone really gets hurt in the ring, mma will have an extremely difficult time getting over an issue like that, and they may not get over it. I watched Fight Night, and saw some of the calls that were made, and then watched some past UFC's and compared the two and really the only difference was who the guy was making the call. If Mario Yamisaki makes a call it's cool and he was being cautious, but if new guy is making the call, he's jumping the gun. Joe Rogan needs to chill out on calling out UFC officials when they make a judgement call on a guy, because I would rather them stop a fight a little too early than a little too late any day, and Joe Rogan and the UFC better feel the same way.

 

[ewurm]

Joe said he was going to take his opponents arm home with him, and he almost did that

 

[Reiner]

One thing I noticed that I did not like was the comments made about the officials during some of these fights. Some people are familiar with the idea that one of the issues facing mma right now is that there aren't many officials that are credible. Or at least that are viewed as credible by the fans and insiders. We've seen the same guys for so long, Dean, McCarthy, Yamisaki, Mazzigatti, Lavigne, and maybe a couple more, but for the most part, thats it. So, the UFC is trying to integrate new guys to give them a shot, and to get them some credibility. Some of these guys were there on Sat, and of course they got over-scrutinized for how and when they decided to end some fights. This really bothers me. I have had enough of throwing trash at a ref if he calls a fight before a guy is completely unconscious, or friggin dead. We have seen over the years that guys (especially heavyweights) can continue to show signs of being able to fight, long after they really need to be fighting. A lot of these guys can take a ton of shots and keep going, and while I'm all for guys having tough chins, you have to call fights if guys are getting lit up, time after time. I just saw some new officials, who the UFC really need to gain credibility in the eyes of fans, get called out for stopping fights, granted they were judgement calls, but these guys NEED to error on the side of caution for the benefit of the sport. If someone really gets hurt in the ring, mma will have an extremely difficult time getting over an issue like that, and they may not get over it. I watched Fight Night, and saw some of the calls that were made, and then watched some past UFC's and compared the two and really the only difference was who the guy was making the call. If Mario Yamisaki makes a call it's cool and he was being cautious, but if new guy is making the call, he's jumping the gun. Joe Rogan needs to chill out on calling out UFC officials when they make a judgement call on a guy, because I would rather them stop a fight a little too early than a little too late any day, and Joe Rogan and the UFC better feel the same way.

These fights took place in Florida and this is why you saw a bunch of new judges since they were appointed by the Florida State Athletic commision. The UFC does not provide or has a say in the judges. They get appointed by the athletic commision of the state they are in. The only reason why we are more familiar with judges like Dean, McCarthy, Yamisaki, Mazzigatti, Lavigne, and maybe a couple more is that most of the PPV happen in Vegas and these judges work with the Nevada State Athletic commison. The only time when the UFC hires a judge directly is when they have a PPV in England then they pay US judges to fly with them since there are no experienced english MMA judges.

I agree with you though Joe Rogan should keep it down more with the negative talk about some judges.

 

[BIGguppy]

he got rocked and owned

 

[Stump]

These fights took place in Florida and this is why you saw a bunch of new judges since they were appointed by the Florida State Athletic commision. The UFC does not provide or has a say in the judges. They get appointed by the athletic commision of the state they are in. The only reason why we are more familiar with judges like Dean, McCarthy, Yamisaki, Mazzigatti, Lavigne, and maybe a couple more is that most of the PPV happen in Vegas and these judges work with the Nevada State Athletic commison. The only time when the UFC hires a judge directly is when they have a PPV in England then they pay US judges to fly with them since there are no experienced english MMA judges.

I agree with you though Joe Rogan should keep it down more with the negative talk about some judges.

There's a difference between a 'judge' and a 'referee'. The men you named are referees.

 

[hamato_yoshii]

These fights took place in Florida and this is why you saw a bunch of new judges since they were appointed by the Florida State Athletic commision. The UFC does not provide or has a say in the judges. They get appointed by the athletic commision of the state they are in. The only reason why we are more familiar with judges like Dean, McCarthy, Yamisaki, Mazzigatti, Lavigne, and maybe a couple more is that most of the PPV happen in Vegas and these judges work with the Nevada State Athletic commison. The only time when the UFC hires a judge directly is when they have a PPV in England then they pay US judges to fly with them since there are no experienced english MMA judges.

I agree with you though Joe Rogan should keep it down more with the negative talk about some judges.

Right, I am familiar with the process, but I speak more to the idea that currently besides those faces that we know (Dean, Mario, so on), that there is a lack of trust with the "new guys", and it is vitally important to have the new officials gain credibility. Now, if they stink, fine, get them out, but when they are making close judgement calls, and one's very similar to calls the regulars make, we have to cut them some slack for the better of the sport, and I thought Joe was out of line.

I feel like that the commmon guys have also been around when the fights were in other cities besides Vegas. Am i incorrect? I have also heard that they can ask for certain officials if they want. I believe the commision has the right to deny them, but maybe I have it wrong.

 

[Reiner]

I feel like that the commmon guys have also been around when the fights were in other cities besides Vegas. Am i incorrect? I have also heard that they can ask for certain officials if they want. I believe the commision has the right to deny them, but maybe I have it wrong.

You are right they have been around other states as well since they work with a few different states. As far as I know the UFC usually gets a list of Refs available for the event and they then choose 3 or 4 but the athletic commision will assign them to the fights on the event. The UFC or also the fighter camps can request a certain ref from the list for the fight but the Athletic commision in the end will make the decision.

Less then 2 weeks and we are getting UFC 95 from London free on Spike TV instead of PPV.

 

[hamato_yoshii]

You are right they have been around other states as well since they work with a few different states. As far as I know the UFC usually gets a list of Refs available for the event and they then choose 3 or 4 but the athletic commision will assign them to the fights on the event. The UFC or also the fighter camps can request a certain ref from the list for the fight but the Athletic commision in the end will make the decision.

Less then 2 weeks and we are getting UFC 95 from London free on Spike TV instead of PPV.

Yeah, to me it sounds like there are rules in place for who you get and how, but it also seems that since the UFC is well, the UFC, that they can kind of get who they want. I just know that mma is facing that issue with new, credible guys, and it really made me angry when Joe went off on the guy for some of his calls.

I was just having an argument the yesterday because I thought for sure that it was free, and a guy I know said it wasn't.
So, it is free for sure?

 

[Reiner]

yes UFC 95 in London is free on Spike TV for sure. On this day just stay off the fight websites since it is brought to us on time delay from London and most websites will have the winners posted way before they broadcast it. The broadcast starts on 9 pm EST

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.fightCard&eid=1877

 

[hamato_yoshii]

yes UFC 95 in London is free on Spike TV for sure. On this day just stay off the fight websites since it is brought to us on time delay from London and most websites will have the winners posted way before they broadcast it. The broadcast starts on 9 pm EST

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.fightCard&eid=1877

Yeah, that is a deadly situation. I walked into the place (bar) where I normally watch the fights, and the guys says "why weren't you here earlier, we already showed it", and I had to yell at him to keep his mouth shut.