A somewhat contradictory and interesting look at the Kevin Burns/Anthony Johnson fight controversy courtesy of the Official Unified MMA rules definitions as written by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and via http://www.state.nj.us/lps/sacb/docs/martial.html . These are the official explanations on what the situation calls for as a ruling when an opponent is unable to continue do to an illegal maneuver. Section (a) and (b) both are applicable in this case, however seem to inherently oppose one another.

13:46-24A.16 Injuries sustained during competition

(a) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of a legal maneuver is severe enough to terminate a bout, the injured contestant loses by technical knockout.

(b) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an intentional foul is severe enough to terminate a bout, the contestant causing the injury loses by disqualification.

 

As you can see the first entry seems to support the current official decision on the fight. While the second statement appears to call for a DQ loss to Kevin Burns, instead of the loss for Anthony Johnson. With Johnson’s management looking into the situation, it seems that an explanation from the Nevada State Athletic Commission may be the only way to clarify which ruling should be appropriate in the Burns/Johnson case.

According to Johnson’s agent, Ken Pavia, this may just be the case.

Pavia had this to say:

I respect the process and am not trying to cry or complain here. I also believe Keith Kizer is the best Commissioner in the game. He has always been fair and is rational. While there may not be a code section that affords the opportunity to overturn a decision as he informed me, he has always considered all input and done his best to effectuate justice. I do believe however, to a man, everyone who has seen the fight believes that the outcome was unjust. I also believe Mr. Kizer will take everything into consideration and if afforded and opportunity at law or equity will correct this unfortunate situation. Let’s figure out a way to untie his hands.

Meanwhile, Anthony Johnson has accepted what has happened and has shown nothing but class through the process. This was most evident in the first round when he inadvertently kick Kevin Burns in the groin and backed off and apologized. He didn’t not call Kevin Burns out for the six or so eye gouges with and open hand or for pouncing after putting three of his finger print on the back of his eye socket. Rumble told me he thought his eye popped out.

Should he challenge the call? I’d say so. Kevin Burns was repeatedly told to stop eye gouging and he didn’t. If anything, this should be turned into a No-Contest for both fighters.

Props to Johnson for acting so classy when he was robbed of a shot at winning the fight with Burns.

I think this animated gif says it all.

Kevin Burns admitted that he couldn’t close his hand, but would you call this a palm strike or an eye gouge? The fight was stopped and Burns was given the TKO win over Anthony Johnson.

Should it be changed to a no-contest?

Check out a spectator cam version of the Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia fight. Here’s the long televised version.

Here’s Andrei Arlovski vs. Ben Rothwell. This was an exciting standup war that did showcase a little bit of the ground game as well.

Anthony Johnson supposedly got robbed at the hands of Kevin Burns in this fight. Check it out for a climatic finish.

We all thought James Irvin was going to last longer than this. Check out the short fight between him and reigning middleweight champ Anderson Silva at 205.

Have you ever seen a Peruvian necktie in MMA before? Watch CB Dollaway vs. Jesse Taylor here.

MMA fans and bloggers have been talking a lot about Cain Valesquez and there’s no surprise why. Watch his fight against Jake O’Brien.