Lesnar’s Reps Freak Out Over Mazzagatti

In the wake of Big John leaving the reffing world, someone has to fill the void covering the ever important title fights. The big names, of course, are Mario Yamasaki and Steve Mazzagatti. It looks like Mazzagatti, though, will not be the referee at the title fight between Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar.

Lesnar’s representatives have attacked Mazzagatti’s impartiality to the case on the basis that Mazzagatti has given Brock Lesnar a point deduction for striking to the back of the head in the fight with Frank Mir.

I have to say that apart from the attack on Mazzagatti’s impartiality, which is both unwarranted and stupid, is based on what is absolutely not a controversial decision, what is most incredible to me is this notion that Mazzagatti would be impartial and that there would be a controversy because of a call he made.

Herb Dean is a different story, as Dean has been known to step in a little early, but this notion that a lone call by a referee, that had no significant impact on the fight (though people would argue that the standup was what gave Mir the opportunity to win, he would have caught that submission with any opening that he got), will create a stir.

Obviously they are trying to give Brock Lesnar the same defense that Ken Shamrock had going into the third fight with Tito; the “oh, that loss doesn’t count” defense. It doesn’t matter, though, as it’s not like Lesnar will be recognized as a legitimate contender after the tournament.