UFC 104: Machida gets a gift...never rely on the judges
Shogun Rua learned a very tough lesson at UFC 104...close fights go to the champion.
It's human nature to have bias. And judges, over the years, continue prove that they are human too. The champion is the champion because they are better than everyone else, right? Both fighters do not enter the octagon as equals. One is the champ and the other isn't. Everyone knows that and subconsciously no one can get that out of their minds.
In baseball they say 'all ties go to the runner'; meaning the benefit of the doubt goes to the runner. The same has held true in combat sports for decades, especially boxing. The champ receives the benefit of the doubt and gets the nod in close fights. They've earned it. They are the champ.
The challenger must take chances and bring it. They cannot afford to lay back forever and let the fight come to them. At some point, they start running out of time and must go and take it.
The vast majority of MMA judges come from the world of boxing. Even the very best have tens of MMA contests but hundreds of boxing bouts. Some like Tony Weeks are a referee in boxing but a judge in MMA.
Not to imply that boxing judges are not qualified to evaluate MMA matches or that they have done a poor job. But their disproportionate experience in boxing may subconsciously allow them to favor (bias) striking over grappling and jiu jitsu. More wresting refs need to be included in MMA.
Take home message from UFC 104: No one will give a challenger the belt. They must take it.
It's human nature to have bias. And judges, over the years, continue prove that they are human too. The champion is the champion because they are better than everyone else, right? Both fighters do not enter the octagon as equals. One is the champ and the other isn't. Everyone knows that and subconsciously no one can get that out of their minds.
In baseball they say 'all ties go to the runner'; meaning the benefit of the doubt goes to the runner. The same has held true in combat sports for decades, especially boxing. The champ receives the benefit of the doubt and gets the nod in close fights. They've earned it. They are the champ.
The challenger must take chances and bring it. They cannot afford to lay back forever and let the fight come to them. At some point, they start running out of time and must go and take it.
The vast majority of MMA judges come from the world of boxing. Even the very best have tens of MMA contests but hundreds of boxing bouts. Some like Tony Weeks are a referee in boxing but a judge in MMA.
Not to imply that boxing judges are not qualified to evaluate MMA matches or that they have done a poor job. But their disproportionate experience in boxing may subconsciously allow them to favor (bias) striking over grappling and jiu jitsu. More wresting refs need to be included in MMA.
Take home message from UFC 104: No one will give a challenger the belt. They must take it.
Posted by Johnny Benjamin MD at 10/25/2009 7:21 AM 
Categories: MMA
Tags: UFC Machida Dr. Johnny Benjamin Rua MMA
Categories: MMA
Tags: UFC Machida Dr. Johnny Benjamin Rua MMA
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