With the recent news that instant replay may be coming to MMA, I have been flooded with a barrage of feedback about whether it will be good, bad or even necessary in MMA.
Earlier this week, Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission stated that instant replay might be installed into MMA later this year. I thought it would be a good thing for the sport.
I posed the question on my Twitter and Facebook sites and I had no idea that I would receive such a response. The majority are in favour of bringing instant replay to MMA, so later in the evening, I raised the topic on my Fan 590 radio show. Again, a couple of callers basically were not in favour of bringing this type of technology to MMA.
I personally do not have any issues with bringing instant replay to MMA. Pending its defined usage as to when it will be allowed to be used, I do not see it as a detriment.
There are a variety of times it should not be used in a bout but a few instances when it would be a blessing. This past weekend at UFC 99, instant replay would have overturned Cro Cop's victory over Mostapha Al Turk to make it a no contest after it was obvious the eye poke rendered the Brit unable to defend himself vs. the Croatian.
Do I believe it should be used every time a foul is committed in a bout? Absolutely not. That's up to the referee to administer warnings and take away points. But in the case where two fighters are battling it out and there is a premature stoppage (i.e. Aaron Riley and Shane Nelson at UFC 96), instant replay would save the day. In that case, both fighters were still okay and should have been allowed to fight. Here's a situation where the commission could work with the promoter to quickly review the fight and determine that there was a judgment error made and the bout should be restarted, from the same position with the clock at the exact time of the stoppage.
It's by no means a perfect scenario or system, but it would allow MMA fans and fighters the right to see a true end result and not leave with a bad taste in their mouth.
There are more examples we could discuss, but being in the minority affords me the beauty of reading everyone else's opinion. I'm interested in seeing if I can be swayed to the majority.
What are your thoughts on instant replay in MMA? Should it be adopted? Should it be squashed before the idea gains any more momentum? Feel free to share your thoughts.
