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It’s UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez in Australia. Stephan “The American Psycho” Bonnar and Krzysztof “The Polish Experiment” Soszynski are in the heat of battle, when all of a sudden it happens: their heads collide. It’s at this point that it’s likely the huge gash over Bonnar’s eye developed.
Head butts, as most people know, are illegal in MMA. But a head butt is really considered something done on purpose and as a consequence, would constitute a foul, and grounds for a penalty, point deduction or disqualification if committed.
But that cut over Bonner’s eye wasn’t caused by an illegal head butt. If indeed the cause was due to their heads hitting, then this was a clash…basically an accident – and not illegal. So – no foul, no point deduction and no disqualification, which is what is usually called for if a head butt’s involved.
There are really two issues at hand here. #1: Which was this – a head butt, and hence an illegal blow, as Bonnar claims or just an accidental collision of their heads? #2: The ref called the fight a TKO, saying the gash was caused by a punch; Stephan Bonnar says it was caused by a head butt.
Half of the fans I’ve spoken to feel the TKO was justified, and the other half feel Bonnar got robbed. We almost had to hire a referee to regulate the combat of words going on after this fight!
Per Bonnar: “It’s only fair to get this overturned to a no contest or draw,” and “In the rules, if after two rounds a fighter suffers a cut from an illegal blow, they go to the scorecard. The judges had it one round a piece, which would have made it a draw.”
See – that’s issue #1 right there: this was not an illegal blow. It’s pretty obvious this was an accident, so – it shouldn’t go to the scorecard at all. Take a look at the slideshow.
Bonnar then goes on to say: “I have never been wronged so bad in a situation that was so obvious,” he said. “I still can’t understand the referee. Yes, I will appeal this decision. I just want what is fair. How do 20,000, people including my opponent and the commentators, see that a clash of heads occurred and the referee not see it? I feel like I’m in a pro wrestling match, where one of the wrestlers hits his opponent over the head with a chair when the referee’s back’s turned. Everyone in the arena sees what happened but the ref, then the ref gets down and gives the three-count and gives the guy the win. It really feels like that.”
And this points to issue #2: No one denies their heads clashed; I’m sure not even the ref denies that point. You can see in one of the pictures that referee John Sharp is looking right at the fighters, so he had to have seen it.
The issue is “what caused the gash and outpouring of blood?” The ref was close enough to see if it was the clash, or the follow up punch and elbow by Soszynski, that drew blood. Again – look at the slideshow.
Based on Bonnar’s statement above, he himself first admits it was a clash of heads, not an illegal head butt.
He then says: “Right after (it) happened, I pointed to my head and told him, ‘Head butt.’ Why he didn’t look up at the replay, which they showed about 30 times, I have no idea.” and “Krzysztof acknowledged the cut was from a head butt and would like to finish the fight as well,” Bonnar said. “He was a good sport and a class act. We gave each other credit for a great fight. He knew the clash of heads opened the cut, and like myself would like a rematch. It just shows what kind of sportsman he is. He earned my respect as well.”
Now Bonnar is saying he’ll repeal the loss per a report by the NWItimes.com. And if the loss is overturned? According to Craig Waller, an executive officer for the Combat Sports Authority, the New South Wales-based commission that oversaw UFC 110, if the bout were to be overturned, it would then be ruled a technical points draw. I don’t see that happening.
I don’t blame him – Bonnar’s got a lot of heart and wanted to continue the fight; that says volumes. The gash on his head was just a torrent of blood and we’ve all seen fighters give up for less. But sometimes you need to move on.
Take a look at the images to see if you can tell what caused the gash in Bonnar’s forehead. Illegal head butt? Accidental head clash? Punch? Elbow? Or a combination?
Regardless, according to a report on February 22nd by Sherdog.com Bonner and Soszynski have agreed on a rematch.
