Does MMA Need Instant Replay? - Write That Down - Comcast.net Sports

By Chris Young, Comcast.net Sports

The NFL, NBA, and MLB use it. Even Tennis has “Shot Spot.” And sooner rather than later, the playback gift of modern technology could be headed for mixed martial arts.

At least that’s what Keith Kizer, the director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is saying should happen, according to Cagewriter.com

The latest push for cageside replay comes less than a week after Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s accidental eye poke led to his first-round stoppage of Mostapha Al-Turk at UFC 99 in Germany. Al-Turk was visibly shaken by the poke, shielding his left eye with his glove when Filipovic moved in and landed a huge right that sent him reeling to the canvas, where the fight was eventually stopped by referee Dan Miragliotta.

The errant shot was missed by Miragliotta who should have brought a temporary halt to the bout to have Al-Turk’s eye examined.

But the shot didn’t escape the big screens at Laxness Arena, nor did it swing wide of Kizer’s gaze here in the States.

Kizer told MMAJunkie Radio that there is a growing need to aid fighters and officials inside the cage and that the accidental shot that incidentally costs Al-Turk the match could have been avoided. He likened the scenario to Anthony Johnson’s loss last July to Kevin Burns at Ultimate Fight Night 14:

Let's say the doctor looked at Mr. Al Turk, or the situation we had with Anthony Johnson, and says, 'He can not continue.' So the fight's over, so it's not going to change the strategy whether the referee changes his mind on the call. In those situations, then the ref can look at it and say, 'You know what, it was an accidental foul. Let's go to the scorecards.' Or in the other situation, 'I thought it was an accidental foul to go to the scorecards, but on instant replay it was actually a legal punch.' Either way, the fighter could not continue, so it wouldn't have mattered, and we can take our time and look at it.

First Anthony Johnson (who was dominating Burns), and now Mostapha Al-Turk. Both fighters were rendered defenseless after their incidents and both lost because of them. The question isn't whether mixed martial arts needs instant replay; the question is how many more fighters will continue to be at risk of serious injury without it?

It's time to get with the times. If Dana White and Co. want to make a statement that UFC cares about the safety of its fighters and the validity of its results, they need to institute replay or some form of supportive judging.

What do you think? Should mixed martial arts implement instant replay? Will it slow the sport down or help it grow? Sound off here.


Message Edited by ComcastSports on 06-18-2009 06:33 PM