It hasn't been a good 2009 for Yves Lavigne, and it got worse on Saturday night at UFC 98. Lavigne, one of the best-known referees in mixed martial arts, was loudly booed at the MGM Grand Saturday night because he brought the undercard bout between Phillipe Nover and Kyle Bradley to what many in attendance thought was a premature ending.
Lavigne stopped the fight when Bradley hit Nover on the ground and Nover went limp for an instant, but by the time Lavigne jumped in, Nover was alert and ready to defend himself intelligently. It was a close call, and after watching multiple replays (available at UFC.com) I'm still not sure whether it was a good stoppage or a bad one. I've asked a few of my fellow MMA journalists what they think, and the opinion is basically split: Some say it was a terrible call, while others say Lavigne did the right thing to protect Nover.
But while that stoppage is the one that got Lavigne booed, I think Lavigne made a bigger mistake a few hours later, looking indecisive and hesitant when Drew McFedries knocked Xavier Foupa-Pokam senseless. Lavigne stopped the fight and gave McFedries the TKO win just 37 seconds into the contest, but he should have stopped it even sooner, as McFedries had Foupa-Pokam reeling in the opening moments. Foupa-Pokam took more damage than he should have because Lavigne didn't want to stop the fight too quickly. He looked gun shy.
Lavigne was also the ref who badly botched the Pete Sell-Matt Brown fight at UFC 96, so he's already been hearing quite a bit of criticism this year, and I wasn't too crazy about the way he handled the main event at UFC 97, either. A few months ago Lavigne was considered one of the sport's best referees, but it seems that with each passing UFC show, Lavigne's reputation takes another hit.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yves Lavigne is still the best referee in the business. No one is perfect and all referees make mistakes especially in a very fast paced sport.
Bradley was more to blame because Yves had jumped in and he dragged the referee so it looked like indecisiveness when Yves stepped out of the way when he thought he might get hit himself. Bradley should be fined for it, who else would be dragging him from behind but only the other man in the ring the Ref.
The rules clearly state the fight is to be stopped when a fighter is out. It doesn't say duration, and Nover was out cold, slumped on the canvas.
Technically every knockdown could be a stoppage. I personally don't agree with that. As was the case in this fight these highly trained athletes recoup quickly, but the indecisiveness that you see in the Ref's is down to the lack of a central body to handle the officials. Each commission does some work but it is all disjointed and can be confusing to one man that has to Ref for 40 Commissions all with different nuances.
Also there is a conflict of interest with the UFC as some Ref's feel the need to also impress Dana, as to get good reviews.
The Professor X fight was a fair finish and he was still attempting to defend himself.
If you thought that went too long then Yamasaki who is also one of the best let Rashad go too long cause he was out a few times on the way to the huge blow to finish decisively.
Big John was a great Ref or still is, but even he had many howlers, these are humans and mistakes happen. You analyzing repeat slow-mo's shows how difficult it truly is in real-time.
The complaint with Yves from the Brown fight was that he was indecisive, Dana made that claim, and Yves apologized publicly.
Yesterday he was decisive on both accounts and you found fault with both. I don't think the media helps to make referees jobs any easier. Considering he is still considered top 2 or 3 what does that say about all the rest.
I think the media should be denied the priviledge of a million replays, so the fans of the sport could berate and chide the reports made under a pressure deadline.
All reports should be conducted without any reference and handed in at the end of the fight. With no spell-checking, or re-writes, only what was produced in real-time should be used. It would make for a great laugh.
Pretty much what I meant with a much better exlanation lol
You make an excellent point Doc, what does that say about the rest of the Refs. I find the answer rather appearant.
I do not blame Refs for a close-early stop. I find fault with Refs for letting it go on too long. You can always rematch and early call, a late call could result in terminal refing.
And by the way, any Doc who can’t make the correct call and wants the benefit of replys due to indecisiveness for whatever reason is not inspiring; for laughs or otherwise.
still did not see the nover fight.
As for Mcfedries. I am sorry but Lavigne did not look more confuse then Herb Dean usualy does. He did not Look at Mcfedries like Mazagatti looked at Rashad when forrest was tapping from strikes. Praticaly saying keep it on
Mcfedries knock pokam down. Pokam grab the leg Yves let him get up and gave him a chance.
Nobody is perfect learn from your mistakes
I hate early stoppages, those are highly trained athletes that work for months preparing to fight.
I think it is very unfair to stop it early, which is the cry from one corner. It could mean the career of a fighter if he loses, and if you think his career is terminal with one more punch then they should outlaw all strikes altogether because it could cause injury.
Again these are highly trained athletes that recoup very quick.
Most deaths in boxing occur from years of heavy head traumas in a sport that targets the head, the same is not true of MMA. Those small gloves reduce the amount of blunt trauma to the head to make a fight decisive. This should help to avoid many long term repurcussions in the sport.
I say let them fight, one or two extra punches will not change anything. In the Forrest case it went too long he was rag dolled for many extra blows.
Doc, no one likes an early stopage. If the guys career is over because of it - either he was on the edge or the organization is flawed. Posibbly both.
I would suggest there is a difference between pounding an unconscious guy unable to defend himself and a guy getting punched that is capable of movement/deflection. I would also suggest there’s a significant difference between injury and terminal injury. Theoretically that should have come up in med school. That said, are you willing to provide written warranty to the Nevada Athletic Commission of your above assertions? Willing to stand behind your beliefs, or are they less than absolute.
haha finally saw the Nover fight
Sorry mister MDS maybe a questionable stopage but if you look the moment Lavigne comes in is where Nover's body is like rubber face down. Once Lavigne decides its over he does not change is mind this time. He actually does is job. And if you actually think of it he shows excellent reflexes lol
I think your too harsh with Lavigne. Everyone can have there opinions he might not be your favorite ref but this article paints him in a way I dont think he deserve.
I rank refs this way
Grade A
Big John as close to perfect as you can be.
Yamazaki (can not think of any mistake he made recently)
Grade B
Herb Dean (he too seems very undecisive at times and would like him to be more of a pressences)
Yves Lavignes(He needs to get is confidence back)
Grade E
Steve Mazagatti (Watch Evans KO Forrest nuff said)
Grade Z
Miriglata I have no clue how to spell it
MDS= negative points
We don't care that you aren't a fighter, but please respond to comments. If you don't want to, we can call you Mariotti.