UFC 105 | Graciemag

Specialists put MMA judging in check

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 01:02:33 +0000

Thomson celebratez, to Gesias's frustration. Photo: Esther Lin

The result of the fight between Gesias Cavalcante at Saturday’s Strikeforce event in California again put in doubt the competence of athletic commissions in judging MMA matches.

There was room for Thomson’s unanimous decision to be interpreted differently, there’s no denying it. However, the opinion of most, voiced over the various communication tools available on the internet, is that the bout was misjudged.

As mentioned, it’s been some time now that the decisions Commissions make on who wins a fight have been contested. We can look back on the relatively recent first fight between Maurício Shogun and Lyoto Machida at UFC 104 – it’s a tough one to judge, but it provoked a lot of chatter – and Brandon Vera versus Randy Couture at 105, among others.

The first fight between Lyoto and Shogun caused controversy. Dana White promptly set up the rematch. Photo: Josh Hedges

Recently, GRACIEMAG bounced the subject off a number of specialists. UFC referee Herb Dean, for example, remarked about how most judges have never practiced martial arts:
“One needs to train to understand the techniques, to understand what the guys are doing. I feel a lot of the problems arise precisely for that reason. They may not do the best job of evaluating a choke attempt and the likes. Often they don’t understand certain movements.”

If I’m a orthopedic doctor, am I the right guy to see for someone with heart trouble” André Pederneiras

Now ex-fighter and MMA coach André Pederneiras criticizes the fact that the commissions controlling MMA are the very ones that judge boxing:

“They have to put in judges experienced in MMA, they need to have a well-rounded black belt in martial arts. I feel the trend will be to stop working with boxing commissions and to create one specifically for MMA. For example: if I’m an orthopedic doctor, will I be the right doctor to see for someone suffering heart problems? That’s what is going on.”

Vera hit Couture more, but lost at UFC 105. Photo: Josh Hedges

Carlão Barreto, a former fighter now a referee, brings up the importance of understanding the ground game:

“Commissions need to get up to date on ground fighting, if just because of the the technical level grappling has reached in MMA. Grappling and striking should carry the same weight. What should count is how effective the fighters was. MMA is a blend of all fighting styles and should be interpreted as such”

Mario Yamasaki, another UFC referee, says what is going on at the moment to improve the situation:

“There a movement going on among table referees. There’s been a lot of controversy regarding a number of fights, but the sport is still young and will evolve a lot. The Commissions are evolving, but each state has its own and things vary between them. In Nevada, New Jersey and California, where the movement started, they are holding meetings after each event. The referees meet and debate. But there are commissions unconcerned with all that. A lot of judges come from boxing backgrounds, and MMA is a different sport. But that will change, because it’s been causing too much controversy.”

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Especialistas põem o julgamento do MMA em xeque

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 18:20:56 +0000

Thomson comemora, enquanto Gesias fica frustrado. Foto: Esther Lin

O resultado da luta entre Gesias Cavalcante e Josh Thomson, no Strikeforce deste sábado, na Califórnia, coloca mais uma vez em dúvida a competência das Comissões Atléticas no julgamento de lutas de MMA.

O combate, vencido por Thomson em decisão unânime, abriu espaço para interpretações diferentes, não há como negar. Entretanto, a opinião da maioria, expressada pelas diversas ferramentas que a internet dispõe, é de que o julgamento foi equivocado.

Como comentado, há tempo que as decisões das Comissões em diversos combates são contestadas. Podemos lembrar, recentemente, da primeira luta entre Maurício Shogun e Lyoto Machida – esta até um julgamento difícil, mas que deu o que falar- , no UFC 104, e a de Brandon Vera contra Randy Couture, no UFC 105, entre tantas outras.

A primeira luta entre Lyoto e shogun trouxe polêmica. Dana White fez a revanche. Foto: Josh Hedges

Em reportagens recentes, a revista Nocaute debateu o assunto com diversos especialistas. O árbitro do UFC Herb Dean, por exemplo, comenta o fato de muitos jurados não praticarem artes marciais:

“É preciso treinar para entender as técnicas, saber o que os caras estão fazendo. Acho que muitos problemas surgem justamente por isso. Podem não fazer a melhor avaliação em relação a uma tentativa de estrangulamento ou algo assim. Muitas vezes não entenderão certos movimentos.”

Se sou médico ortopedista, vou ser o ideal para um paciente com problemas no coração?” Dedé Pederneiras

Já o ex-lutador e treinador André Pederneiras critica o fato de as Comissões que controlam o MMA serem as mesmas que julgam o boxe:

“Eles têm que colocar árbitros com experiência em MMA, é preciso uma formação geral de luta. Acho que a tendência é parar de trabalhar com comissões de boxe e criar, realmente, uma de MMA. Por exemplo: se sou médico ortopedista, vou ser o ideal para um paciente que está com problemas no coração? É o que estão fazendo.”

Vera acertou mais Couture, mas perdeu no UFC 105. Fot: Josh Hedges

Carlão Barreto, ex-lutador e árbitro, lembra da importância de entender a luta de solo:

“As Comissões têm que se atualizar mais quanto às lutas de chão, até pelo alto nível técnico que esse quesito alcançou no MMA. Não deve ser mais valorizado a luta em pé ou no chão. O que deve contar é quanto efetivo o lutador foi. O MMA é a mistura de todas as lutas e deve ser interpretado assim.”

Mario Yamasaki, que também é árbitro do UFC, diz o que é feito para melhorar:

“Há um movimento entre os juízes de mesa. Está havendo polêmica em muitas lutas, mas o esporte é novo e ainda vai evoluir muito. As Comissões estão evoluindo, mas, cada estado tem a sua e isso varia. Em Nevada, Nova Jersey e Califórnia, que começaram isso, tentam fazer reuniões após cada evento. Os árbitros se reúnem e debatem. Mas há comissões que não se preocupam com isso. Muitos juízes vêm do boxe, e MMA é outro esporte. Mas isso vai mudar, porque começou a dar muita polêmica.”

Quer saber antes, então não deixe de ler a Nocaute, que agora vem dentro da revista GRACIEMAG. Garanta a sua clicando aqui.

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Brandon Vera: “My Jiu-Jitsu is world-champion level”

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:37:17 +0000

Brandon Vera in the controversial fight with Randy Couture. Photo: Josh Hedges

Coming off a dubious loss to Randy Couture at UFC 105, Brandon Vera prepares himself to face Jon Jones at the UFC on Versus event March 21. In an exclusive interview with NOCAUTE magazine, Vera spoke about the fight among other things. Check out part of the interview with Mike Fowler’s training partner to our Nalty Jr:

What do you have to say about the Couture fight? A lot of people felt the outcome was unfair.

In my opinion, I won that fight. After the result, I started thinking about the strategy of keeping the fight standing the whole time. Truth is, not many people know that my Jiu-Jitsu is really good. I’m world-champion level. I haven’t shown the world my Jiu-Jitsu yet, just for the fact that I want to keep the fight standing and because I’m good at defending takedowns. But, after this fight, I started thinking, ‘what would be the problem with fighting some on the ground and using my Jiu-Jitsu more?’

There are those who say Jon Jones has the best takedowns in MMA. What do you think of him as a fighter?

I’m not even thinking about his takedowns. He’s an excellent fighter with many different qualities. I like his standing game. I hope he uses his boxing in this fight. I’d love to stand and trade with him and see if he can handle the pressure.

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Minotouro’s training secret to beat Banha

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:48:40 +0000

Morango, Junior, Minotouro and Alvinho Romano in Las Vegas. Photo: Publicity.

To steal the show from Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin was already no easy task. Much less so is beating Luiz “Banha” Cane.

Therefore, Rogerio Nogueira had to bring in the big guns – on earth, in water and air – for his UFC debut, on November 21, at the 106th installment of the American event, to take place in Las Vegas.

Under the command of Alvaro Romano, GRACIEMAG columnist, Rogerio and Fabricio Morango – who debuts on the same night, against Caol Uno –, accompanied by Junior Cigano, have been doing Natural Gymnastics-based work to gain not just wind, but strength and explosion, in the pool.

Rogerio does abdominal exercises, while Morango waits his turn. Photo: Publicity.

On Saturday, Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin headline the card – in a rematch requested in 2006, after Tito overcame Griffin by split decision at the 59th event, in April of that year.

The bout between Ortiz and Griffin substituted the heavyweight-title fight between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, which has been put off indefinitely due to Lesnar’s recent health problems.

Minotouro’s opponent, Banha, 28, is riding a three-fight winning streak – two by technical knockout and the latest against Steve Cantwell by unanimous decision – into the bout.

The event also features an all-wrestler matchup in Josh Koshcheck and Anthony Johnson, in one of the most intriguing under 77kg bouts of 2009.

Check out the card for the event:

UFC 106
Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
November 21, 2009

Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin
Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson
Amir Sadollah vs. Phil Baroni
Luiz Cane vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Ben Saunders vs. Marcus Davis
Paulo Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann
Kendall Grove vs. Jake Rosholt
Brock Larson vs. Brian Foster
Caol Uno vs. Fabricio Camoes
George Sotiropoulos vs. Jason Dent

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