Erick Silva DQ Loss to Carlo Prater Not Overturned: Why It's the Right Call

UFC 142 was a great event, all things considered. Only one major point of controversy surrounded the event: the disqualification of Erick Silva for illegal blows to the back of the head of his opponent, Carlo Prater. Replays added a little clarity to the situation, although I still considered the issue up for debate. Given how quickly and thoroughly Silva handled Prater, and given what the instant replay seemed to show, many feel that the referee’s decision should be overturned. For better or worse we’ve now got some closure on this situation, as it’s been confirmed that the original decision will stand as is. Here are all the details as well as my reaction.

Courtesy of Sherdog, here are some quotes from UFC’s Marc Ratner that explain the situation: “Based on the referee's verbal warnings and his determination that the blows were intentional and a disqualifying foul, this is not the type of decision that can be reviewed. Therefore the decision stands.”

Normally, the decision would be reviewed under whichever athletic commission the UFC was answering to at the time of their event. As an international event with no athletic commission, figuring out how to handle the Silva/Prater situation fell to Ratner, the UFC’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and a former member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

I know I’m in the smallest of minorities here, but I actually agree with this decision. Originally I had said that my fandom of Carlo Prater may be playing a role in my judgment of the fight, but enough time has passed from the original airing of UFC 142 that I’ve gotten the chance to replay the fight (all twenty-nine seconds of it) several times.

While I don’t think me being a fan of Carlo Prater has a role in my decision anymore, I do think my original decision stands: if the punch that knocked you out is illegal, your opponent deserves to get disqualified.

I admit that we can all see things differently, and that people definitely see this fight differently than I do. But what I saw with my very own eyes was this: Erick Silva dropping Carlo Prater was legal, the shots where Erick Silva swarmed on Carlo Prater were legal, but the shot that really dropped him, the one where it looked to knock him out cold…that shot looked like the back of the head to me.

It’s the same situation Jon Jones found himself in against Matt Hamill. The damage was already done, the opponent was already gone, but the final blow was against the rules.

I agreed with the decision in that fight, and I agree with the decision in this fight.

I’m not unsympathetic to Erick Silva, though. I think Silva is an incredibly hot prospect with a very bright future. But he made a mistake, and his punishment fit the crime. In my eyes, it really is as simple as that.

Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan, and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews, and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.