Issue 110

January 2014

Octagon crime doesn’t, and shouldn’t, pay

MARIO YAMASAKI

An MMA referee for 12 years, Mario has black belts in judo and BJJ. Each issue he discusses the hottest topics in the sport through the eyes of an official

For those of you who are regular readers of my third man column, you’ll know I have previously discussed Brazilian fighter Rousimar Palhares and how his past actions in the cage should be a concern for any referee chosen to officiate one of his bouts.

As it turns out, my predictions and comments were somewhat accurate. UFC Fight Night 29 saw the return of Palhares at an event at Jose Correa Arena in the Brazilian city of Barueri. During the bout Palhares quickly submitted Mike Pierce via an ankle lock, which is a signature move for ‘Toquinho.’ What has started to become the norm with Palhares is that he did not release the submission despite both physical and audible prompts from Pierce – even after the referee attempted to stop the fight.

Subsequently the UFC decided to release him from his contract, and the new Brazilian commission, Comissão Atletica Brasileira de MMA, attached an additional suspension due to unsportsmanlike conduct in the cage, to draw the point home even further.

Perfect.

This issue, I want to address how this pertains to the relationship that develops with fighters and referees. I have been writing articles for several years now and most of you will understand how my job as a referee relates to protecting the fighter. 

I have given an insider’s look at how referees should think, act and what skills they need to work on to develop themselves to undertake the most important responsibility that they have: to protect the combatants.

This role is not one sided. When a fighter accepts a fight and signs a contract with a promoter, then they are entering an agreement to fight within the rules and regulations of the sport.

When I do a rules briefing with any fighter prior to him or her going into the cage, it is a reminder to them of their responsibilities to obey those rules. I expect with any fighter that there will be a “clean, fair fight” and if those expectations are not met, then ultimately that fighter will pay the price. I don’t make the rules, I enforce those rules the same as a police officer who is tasked with providing protection in their jurisdiction. My jurisdiction happens to be the Octagon.

There is no denying Palhares’ skill and heart as a fighter. He is exceptionally talented and extremely dangerous if he happens to get hold of your leg. His manager, Alex Davis, has stated that Palhares tends to get into a zone where he forgets everything and just subconsciously loses control.

As a referee, much of what I do involves verbal communication. If a fighter cannot or will not obey my commands then they should not be fighting in the cage. This is a sport and as I stated earlier, when a fighter signs a contract to participate in MMA they need to play by the rules of the sport. 

Some fighters are what is known in the industry as a frequent offender – someone who has ongoing issues with this type of behavior. In the case of Palhares, this wasn’t an isolated incident. It now marks the second time he has been suspended by an athletic commission as the result of holding a submission too long.

If he continues to be allowed to fight under different promotions and cannot or will not correct his behavior then he presents a serious concern for his own career. The sport as it continues to grow needs exciting and skilled athletes. However, what it needs even more are fighters who display those skills within the framework of the Unified Rules of MMA.

I was somewhat surprised that the UFC took the action it did, but it reinforces the mandate of safety within the sport of MMA. Individuals who continually break the rules will find themselves as spectators and lose the privilege to compete.