Mixed martial arts is rapidly on the rise. This sport has ancient roots and its history is vast. Yet the modern evolution of the sport has happened quickly. This evolution has brought change. With change comes complication and debate.
Throughout that evolution the most drastic changes have come in the form of regulation and implementation of more safety conscious rules. This change has opened the door for a more legitimate and publicly acceptable combat sport. Public acceptance has been paramount in the survival and forward movement of mixed martial arts.
The officials have also evolved with these regulations and rules. There was a day when all “Big John” McCarthy had to do was point to the corners, ask if the combatants were ready, and tell them “Let’s get it on!”. Then he made sure nobody was killed in the cage. Other than that he stayed out of the way.
Today it is much more complicated. Officials that oversee combat in the cage have a very thankless job to do. While they quietly and professionaly go about their business, it seems their business is not an exact science. This opens the door for second guessing.
With a move towards becoming a truly legitimate combat sport, MMA has displayed a commitment to a safety conscious culture that prioritizes the fighter. With this commitment comes the need for a more refined approach to officiating.
In MMA, the official clearly has the very lives of the combatants in his hands. Yet there is nothing exact about his position or responsibility. No science exists. It’s their flash judgement and immediate perception that provides the expertise to protect both the fighters and the integrity of MMA.
Every now and then, in a fluid high paced sport, an official can lose sight of every angle. He can become a victim of his own haste, or worst yet his own hesitation. Or of no consequence of his own, a victim of simple unexpected circumstances.
At the most crucial of moments, where a fighter may be unable to defend themselves or worse risking their own injury, a referee must decide if the fight should stop or continue. This decision must be swift, decisive, and most importantly correct.
If it were left up to combatants at the business end of a beating or submission, many would be much worst off at the end without a referee intervening. Pride is a strong emotion without reason and many fighters refuse to show weakness.
With that said, the responsibility lies solely on the referee to make the call. Do they stop a fight, do they allow it to proceed, how many warnings should be issued before stepping in? All questions they must answer in the blink of an eye. In a sport as unpredictable as this one, the fight can change instantly, and the referee must anticipate, they must react swiftly.
In the split second that a referee jumps in or decides not to, at times a questionable call can be made. For those on the outside looking in, with the luxury of instant replay and time to reflect, it is easy to pass judgement on these calls. In the heat of the moment, only one opinion matters. Right or wrong can be discussed later.
Over time though, even if the official can justify what may be a questionable call, they may have displayed a pattern of indecision or haste when interrupting a fight. There is a growing question throughout MMA regarding this very aspect. In this sport that is so young, the high profile, experienced officials are few. The ones that have emerged are falling under greater scrutiny with every bout.
Recently during a bout between Jake Rosholt and Chris Lebin, Rosholt sunk a virtually inescapable choke hold on Lebin and proceeded to choke his opponent into unconsciousness. In an effort many perceived as a tapout Lebin’s hand struck the side of Rosholt’s body then went limp.
Lebin’s half hearted gesture constituted a submission, but the official allowed the hold for a few seconds longer. Once the fight was stopped Rosholt released the hold. The late call resulted in Lebin’s unconscious limp body convulsing on the octagon floor. An officials indecision resulted in an unsafe situation for a vulnerable fighter. In the end Lebin was fine, but the situation remained.
In a sport struggling greatly to gain acceptance, it can ill afford questionable officiating, or even the hint of safety being overlooked. Officials must be held to the highest of standards. As the sport evolves hopefully those standards are ever improving, just as the sport itself has improved for the better. This sport has been built on change. The officials are no exception and they are learning on the fly just like the rest of the MMA world.
Yet even with the idea that greater standards should be implemented it is important to help these officials remain unbiased in their decisions. Some call for punishment or disciplinary action for poor officiating. This is not a sound idea.
If punishment were implemented for questionable calls, then the sport would suffer referees making decisions based on concern of retaliation for every move they make. Decisions should be made based on the moment not what may be said tomorrow.
For the sake of purity within the sport, officials should be held accountable. Surely they are professional enough to ensure that their best efforts will be put forth based on that commitment. No fear of reprisal should be what dictates the choices of an MMA referee. Their expertise should guide them not their concern for criticism.
They should be expected to deliver a return on the expectation of excellence. If they stumble along the way it’s the responsibility of the MMA community to trust their judgement. After all it is they who have seen the truest, most pure form of MMA that has ever transpired. They are experts and professionals, and their judgement more often than not reflects as such.
Expect more? Always. Disciplinary action? Never.
