Over the past weekend at UFC 99, a very controversial ending occurred in the fight between Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Mostapha Al-Turk. The only problem is that it wasn't discovered until after referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight, calling it a TKO via strikes as Cro Cop pounded Al-Turk as he crumbled to the mat.
The issue? Replay after the fight showed that Cro Cop inadvertently poked Al-Turk in both eyes, which immediately immobilized him, allowing Cro Cop to go in for the kill.
A similar situation happened a couple of years ago involving Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Kevin Burns at Ultimate Fight Night 14. In that instance, Burns inadvertently poked Johnson in the eye while punching, causing an injury to Johnson's eye that required surgery to fix.
In both instances, the fighters were handed losses, which if you were to see the fights, probably weren't deserved. Johnson appealed the decision and considered filing suit against Octagon referee Steve Mazzagatti, but lost the appeal, and continues to carry a chip on his shoulder regarding that fight.
In the UFC, one fight can carry a great deal of weight, so it is easy to see how either fighter that ended up on the wrong end of an eye poke would be angry and disappointed.
If the UFC and the sport of MMA were to add cageside instant replay, it would add to the legitimacy of the sport, as well as reducing important errors that are made that greatly impact the career track of the unfortunate fighters in these situations.
So I ask for your thoughts regarding instant replay in MMA, deal or no deal?
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