Our Last Mazzagatti Moment: Goodbye to 2008
Posted by Tommy Hackett on December 31st, 2008
I always enjoy the end of the year threads of discussion around the net. Alan had a nice article yesterday describing 2008 and how it will (and will not) effect the year to come. Many sites feature contests where you select 2008’s best bouts, instructional material, etc. Nostlagia can lead to generosity, too. On the Underground Forum there’s a thread where your New Year’s Resolution might net you $150 in merchandise.
There’s a lot of that out there, so that’s not what I decided to write about today. What follows are my list of three moments from 2008 which I never need to see again.
Owie. Our wrestling expert Lee Casebolt missed this moment in our 2008 Olympics coverage. I sure wish I did. This, friends, is known as an “oil check,” and it happened at least three times in the match. In her defense, it was a cool Sunday afternoon in Beijing, so I suppose Japan’s Olympic veteran Kyoko Hamaguchi must be understood in her sudden desire for some dim sum, as she reaches quite eagerly for the nearest set of buns. In this case, they belong to promising American Ali Bernard, competing in her first large international event. If it’s legal, it shouldn’t be. But it’s clear that bronze medalist Kyoko (daughter of pro wrestler “Animal” Hamaguchi, seriously) and her foul play isn’t dissuading Bernard, who just barely missed the podium this year, from continuing in her promising career. She didn’t even mention it in a single interview, either.
On the other hand, what hasn’t been said about this one? Should 6′4″ 155 lb guys like Corey Hill be doing MMA? I don’t know. But if they are, they shouldn’t be firing off leg kicks that look like this. If you watch closely, you’ll notice his leg seems to fold prior to impact. The kick is at a bad angle to begin with — it’s being delivered with an ugly bend and aimed right through the opponent’s shin rather than at a proper target. Hill always had a stiff, uncomfortable look to his standup but I never saw this coming. One of the highlights of the best TUF in my memory, Hill probably won’t be seen in ‘09 at all, sadly.
Sure, I know refereeing is tough. I’m not one to complain about them much. But I must agree with Dana White on this : “he’s a nice guy, but he’s not a referee.” Steve Mazzagatti has been infuriating many of us with his late stoppages but he finally drew the ire of the UFC President, so maybe things will finally change in 2009. The capper: Forrest Griffin and Mustapha Al-Turk must have taken about ten unnecessary blows each at UFC 92 prior to Steve’s stoppages. I’m sure the relevant footage is on a “Mazagatti Moments” compilation that’s circulating somewhere on the net. From the horror of GSP/Hieron to today. How’s that for a legacy?
January 1st, 2009 at 2:11 am
I have to say I would much rather see a referee stop a fight late than early. People are really hard on referees who stop fights prematurely, rightfully so. Thats how the fighters want it, they know what theyre getting into. Only Big John stops them perfectly. Mazzagatti is slow, but i think its intentional, and if the commission is fine with it then he isnt doing anything wrong.
January 1st, 2009 at 9:32 am
I kind of agree that early stoppages suck. I feel like we get so many fights that end with the guy who was declared the loser popping right up and getting in the ref’s face for stopping the fight too early.
I know that fighters’ safety is the main concern, but it is hard to declare them “knocked out” when they can hop right back onto their feet and start arguing. If there were knockdown rules like in kickboxing I could understand it, but there aren’t.
January 1st, 2009 at 3:03 pm
You guys need a reality check. Admittedly that’s better than an oil check or a Kup Cheik (nice Dave)
The fighters will always argue the stoppage. Refs are there to look out for a fighter’s safety when they won’t. Otherwise, why have them there at all?
If anything, any popularity Mazzagatti has with fighters is a bad sign.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
If you are knocked out you aren’t arguing shit!