One thing that became painfully clear after watching last night's fights, and something that really bothers me, is how the fans' boos influence the referees.
During the Bocek-Miller fight (great fight by the way), in the third round, I believe, Bocek was in deep with single-leg takedown attempt against the cage, and immediately, the partisan New Jersey crowd began booing, and sure enough, as soon as the boos started the ref warned Bocek to keep working or he was going to break them up. It didn't seem to matter to him that Bocek was in great positin for a potential takedown, all that mattered was the fans weren't pleased.
Now, I have no doubt that the crowd realized that if they began booing enough there was a great chance the ref would separate the fighters, and Miller- a New Jersey native- would be saved from potentially being taken down by the BJJ black belt Bocek. Don't get me wrong, it's smart strategy by the crowd, but it's disturbing that the ref would even consider separating two fighters when one of them is in great position for a takedown just because the fans started booing.
This was especially true with Dan Miragliotta-reffed fights last night, but I give him a pass because he is hands down the WORST referee in MMA. The fact that he even has a job still, is a disgrace to the industry.
I mean, sure, if one fighter is pressing another fighter against the cage for an extended period of time and really isn't working to inflict danmage and/or better his position, then they should be separated. But in the Bocek-Miller fight that ceratinly wasn't the case. Has anyone else noticed this disturbing trend of referees' actions be influenced by the crowd? I know Joe Rogan noticed, haha, and he wasn't too pleased by it either.
During the Bocek-Miller fight (great fight by the way), in the third round, I believe, Bocek was in deep with single-leg takedown attempt against the cage, and immediately, the partisan New Jersey crowd began booing, and sure enough, as soon as the boos started the ref warned Bocek to keep working or he was going to break them up. It didn't seem to matter to him that Bocek was in great positin for a potential takedown, all that mattered was the fans weren't pleased.
Now, I have no doubt that the crowd realized that if they began booing enough there was a great chance the ref would separate the fighters, and Miller- a New Jersey native- would be saved from potentially being taken down by the BJJ black belt Bocek. Don't get me wrong, it's smart strategy by the crowd, but it's disturbing that the ref would even consider separating two fighters when one of them is in great position for a takedown just because the fans started booing.
This was especially true with Dan Miragliotta-reffed fights last night, but I give him a pass because he is hands down the WORST referee in MMA. The fact that he even has a job still, is a disgrace to the industry.
I mean, sure, if one fighter is pressing another fighter against the cage for an extended period of time and really isn't working to inflict danmage and/or better his position, then they should be separated. But in the Bocek-Miller fight that ceratinly wasn't the case. Has anyone else noticed this disturbing trend of referees' actions be influenced by the crowd? I know Joe Rogan noticed, haha, and he wasn't too pleased by it either.
