I want to take a minute and speak about last night's TUF show. If you haven't seen it I strongly encourage you to watch it. I am going to address several things from my point of view from working as a Licensed Official and as a Commissioner so if you don't want to know the spoiler from the show do not read on.
Blackzillion Owner Glen Robinson's conduct last night is something that is wrong with our sport. It showed that mma is just a play thing for a rich guy. Nothing more nothing less. As a Owner/Manager to have climbed the cage to cuss out an Official is unacceptable. To have went outside of the venue to confront the Ref and threaten him is criminal in some states and could have gotten him arrested on felony charges. The Florida Commissioner is where he should have addressed any issue he had if he felt his fighter was done wrong. I have dealt with countless Managers and several appeals and I have never that stepped over the line like Glen did last night. I understand he was upset and is feeling the pressure but to be a person in the position he is in you should hold yourself to a higher standard and set the example to your team. If I was on his team I would have deep concerned about entrusting him with my career after seeing how he cannot handle situations. Even Liborio tried to calm him down and said "he's hurting the sport this is not the place to do this" which Glen even agreed and yet still went outside and after the Ref.
Ref
I have been a huge critic of the officiating this season but let me be the first to say the ref last night did an outstanding job. The groin shot would have been missed even from the best angle as the way it landed in the groin and more-so on the torso. He didn't stop the fight from body shots. I agree that it should not have been stopped at that point. He was right there making sure Graves was ok. You give fighters all the time they need as long as they are not in harms way. Let them fight out of a bad situation. He did just that.We had proof of how ineffective they were when Graves hit a double and choked out his opponent. Also the Ref caught the back of the head blows and the fence grab. If anything this Ref should be given a huge thanks from anyone who is a fan of the sport.
Allot can be learned from last night. Good and Bad
Blackzillion Owner Glen Robinson's conduct last night is something that is wrong with our sport. It showed that mma is just a play thing for a rich guy. Nothing more nothing less. As a Owner/Manager to have climbed the cage to cuss out an Official is unacceptable. To have went outside of the venue to confront the Ref and threaten him is criminal in some states and could have gotten him arrested on felony charges. The Florida Commissioner is where he should have addressed any issue he had if he felt his fighter was done wrong. I have dealt with countless Managers and several appeals and I have never that stepped over the line like Glen did last night. I understand he was upset and is feeling the pressure but to be a person in the position he is in you should hold yourself to a higher standard and set the example to your team. If I was on his team I would have deep concerned about entrusting him with my career after seeing how he cannot handle situations. Even Liborio tried to calm him down and said "he's hurting the sport this is not the place to do this" which Glen even agreed and yet still went outside and after the Ref.
Ref
I have been a huge critic of the officiating this season but let me be the first to say the ref last night did an outstanding job. The groin shot would have been missed even from the best angle as the way it landed in the groin and more-so on the torso. He didn't stop the fight from body shots. I agree that it should not have been stopped at that point. He was right there making sure Graves was ok. You give fighters all the time they need as long as they are not in harms way. Let them fight out of a bad situation. He did just that.We had proof of how ineffective they were when Graves hit a double and choked out his opponent. Also the Ref caught the back of the head blows and the fence grab. If anything this Ref should be given a huge thanks from anyone who is a fan of the sport.
Allot can be learned from last night. Good and Bad
