New York State Athletic Commission Officially Adopts Instant Replay Policy
The New York State Athletic Commission has officially implemented
instant replay, according to a report from
Newsday.
With the new policy in place, the in-cage referee can review a fight-ending sequence to determine the correct outcome of a bout. The review can only occur during the period between the stoppage of the fight and the announcement of the final decision. The in-cage referee can seek help from the alternate official but must make the final ruling himself or herself. No fights can continue following an instant replay review.
“This policy sets forth a process for the use of instant replay at
ringside, adding clarity, transparency and predictability,” a NYSAC
spokesperson wrote in an email to Newsday.
Replay became a controversial topic in New York during UFC 210 on April 8. A middleweight bout between Gegard Mousasi and Chris Weidman was halted after Mousasi landed what referee Dan Mirgaliotta deemed to be an illegal knee in the second round. Initially, Weidman was given five minutes to recover from the blow, but Miragliotta consulted with fellow official “Big” John McCarthy, who told him that the knee landed by Mousasi was indeed legal.
Weidman attempted to file an appeal to have the NYSAC overturn the bout to a no contest, but it was denied. At the time, the NYSAC claimed that it “has the discretion to review video evidence in order to arrive at the correct determination.”
Now, the NYSAC has adopted the standard recommended by the Association of Boxing Commissions in July.
“Providing clarity to the MMA community through adoption of a written process was the right thing to do, and we are glad to have the policy on the books,” the NYSAC spokesperson wrote to Newsday.
Big-time MMA will return to New York when UFC 217 heads to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 4. The card is headlined by a middleweight championship clash between Michael Bisping and Georges St. Pierre.
With the new policy in place, the in-cage referee can review a fight-ending sequence to determine the correct outcome of a bout. The review can only occur during the period between the stoppage of the fight and the announcement of the final decision. The in-cage referee can seek help from the alternate official but must make the final ruling himself or herself. No fights can continue following an instant replay review.
Advertisement
Replay became a controversial topic in New York during UFC 210 on April 8. A middleweight bout between Gegard Mousasi and Chris Weidman was halted after Mousasi landed what referee Dan Mirgaliotta deemed to be an illegal knee in the second round. Initially, Weidman was given five minutes to recover from the blow, but Miragliotta consulted with fellow official “Big” John McCarthy, who told him that the knee landed by Mousasi was indeed legal.
Shortly thereafter, cageside physicians examined Weidman and ruled
him unfit to continue, giving Mousasi the technical knockout
victory at the 3:13 mark of round two. Meanwhile, UFC Senior Vice
President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner appeared on the
pay-per-view broadcast and said that the use of instant replay was
not allowable in New York.
Weidman attempted to file an appeal to have the NYSAC overturn the bout to a no contest, but it was denied. At the time, the NYSAC claimed that it “has the discretion to review video evidence in order to arrive at the correct determination.”
Now, the NYSAC has adopted the standard recommended by the Association of Boxing Commissions in July.
“Providing clarity to the MMA community through adoption of a written process was the right thing to do, and we are glad to have the policy on the books,” the NYSAC spokesperson wrote to Newsday.
Big-time MMA will return to New York when UFC 217 heads to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 4. The card is headlined by a middleweight championship clash between Michael Bisping and Georges St. Pierre.
Related Articles
