One of MMA`s most renowned officials has offered his perspective on Saturday night`s most contentious incident.
Although several fight cancellations led to criticism for some competitors before UFC Perth, the event itself proceeded relatively smoothly.
Nevertheless, a puzzling incident occurred during a welterweight bout featured on the main card.
Neil Magny achieved an impressive comeback victory against Jake Matthews, defying expectations at 38 years old.
While the veteran`s late surge was undeniably impressive, it can be argued that he shouldn`t have been afforded that opportunity.
`Big` John McCarthy Ponders if Referee`s Error Adversely Affected Jake Matthews
As the first round drew to a close, it seemed the referee had halted the contest between Neil Magny and Jake Matthews.
He apparently thought Magny had been choked unconscious, but after separating the fighters and realizing Magny was still alert, the bout was allowed to proceed.
Whether critiquing or commending officials, `Big` John McCarthy remains the sport`s leading authority on rules and officiating.
On a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, McCarthy expressed agreement with the official`s decision to let the fight continue.
He further noted that, due to the initial misjudgment, this decision might have adversely affected Matthews.
“The fundamental issue is that such an occurrence can profoundly impact a fighter like Jake Matthews, abruptly shifting him from a state of heightened adrenaline to a slump. He might feel, ‘You just stopped me, I had a win, and now I don`t.’ This could lead to a mental breakdown, and it`s truly not Jake`s fault, which makes it particularly challenging.”
As McCarthy highlighted, Matthews maintained an advantage in the bout even after this incident, ultimately being submitted in the third round.
“I do feel sympathy for Jake Matthews,” McCarthy remarked. “I’m unsure if he lost some concentration in the third round. I can`t pinpoint what happened, especially since he was ahead by two rounds.”
Jake Matthews Acknowledged This Specific Incident in His Post-Fight Statement
Jake Matthews reflected on the contentious moment in his post-fight statement shared on social media.
The welterweight competitor echoed John McCarthy`s sentiment, indicating that the referee`s error had an impact on him.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the local commission is already reviewing the incident, which could potentially lead to the overturning of the result.
UFC executive Dave Shaw stated in his post-fight press conference that he believed an error had occurred, but it would be up to the commission to investigate further.
