The attention poke that ended Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 heavyweight title protection towards Ciryl Gane has reignited a debate concerning the basic issues plaguing skilled combined martial arts. Veteran fighter Matt Brown, talking oin an interview with Ariel Helwani, outlined what he sees as systemic failures in how the game addresses fouls.
UFC Legend Matt Brown Requires Systemic Adjustments to Fight Eye Pokes in MMA
The incident in Abu Dhabi noticed Gane inadvertently poke Aspinall in each eyes throughout an trade late within the first spherical, forcing referee Jason Herzog to halt the competition at 4 minutes and 35 seconds. Aspinall was unable to proceed, together with his proper eye remaining non-functional three days after the combat, in accordance with his father Andy. The bout was dominated a no contest, permitting Aspinall to retain his title whereas Gane walked away with no loss on his report. But for Brown, the fast ruling missed the bigger level about accountability and prevention in sport.
Brown voiced frustration with critics who blamed Aspinall for not persevering with to combat. The fighter emphasised that calling the heavyweight champion weak for being unable to see was absurd and opposite to what skilled sport calls for.
The core problem, in accordance with Brown, facilities on how the game treats fouls and punishment. He advocated for an easy method: if guidelines exist and a fighter breaks them, that fighter ought to face fast penalties. Brown emphasised that the present system disadvantages the sufferer, not the aggressor. He explained:
Concerning eye pokes and officiating—if there’s a rule and also you break it, you have to be penalized instantly. The UFC wants to repair the gloves as a result of it retains occurring. And the ref ought to cease fights which have been completed, not faux to listen to a horn that’s not there. There’s zero accountability.
Brown proposed that eye pokes leading to damage ought to lead to disqualification reasonably than a no contest ruling. Whereas he acknowledged that Gane deserves a rematch with Aspinall, the Frenchman ought to have acquired a disqualification for this bout to ascertain precedent.
Brown has constantly identified that the UFC’s present gloves power fighters to maintain their fingers comparatively prolonged, making it tough to kind a closed fist. Brown revealed that his personal coaching camps dedicate time to stretching and manipulating his gloves earlier than fights, making them versatile sufficient to permit his palms to shut extra naturally. This workaround, he famous, shouldn’t be vital as different organizations have already solved this downside.
Brown cited the PRIDE Combating Championships glove design, which featured a pure curve that required fighters to actively lengthen their hand to open it. With that design, a relaxed hand fashioned a fist by default. Brown expressed disbelief that the UFC, with all its assets and technological capabilities, has not addressed this decades-old downside.
Brown questioned the function and effectiveness of state athletic commissions, suggesting they’ve abdicated their duty to serve the general public curiosity. These commissions, funded by taxpayer {dollars}, ought to be certain that promoters comply with rules, that fighters are protected, and that referees and judges keep reputable requirements. As a substitute, Brown argued, they seem to prioritize the UFC’s preferences over their responsibility as public servants.
For change to happen, Brown insisted, the UFC and athletic commissions should set up and implement actual requirements. Guidelines with out enforcement imply nothing, he argued. The game operates with sufficient monetary assets and organizational capability to implement higher glove designs, maintain officers accountable for his or her choices, and be certain that when guidelines are damaged.
