[johnkordic]

I have a suggestion regarding fighter safety.

To prevent fighters from taking further (dangerous) punishment when they are unconscious on the floor, the referee should have a whistle to blow as soon as they see a fighter get knocked out. I actually have no problem watching and actually enjoy seeing a fighter land a free shot or two on an unconscious fighter but people who think MMA is dangerous have a point when this happens. Fighters who jump on an unconscious fighters can land 3 or 4 unprotected blows before a ref is able to jump in. Having a ref blow a whistle will instantly let the fighters know the fight is over and ignoring the whistle MAY/CAN bring penalties. Sometimes a ref can't see a fighter's eyes roll in the back of their head, or a ref may be too far away to stop it quickly enough.

I know this can wrk b/c when hitting pads, when the holder makes a mistake and puts the pads in a different spot from where someone is going to hit the hitter is able to pull back a kick or a punch before it lands, so this would prevent a 2nd or 3rd blow to an unconscious fighter, maybe even the first.

Ok, this is coming from a guy who's favorite highlight reel finishes is Randleman smashing CroCop, Wand stomping Kondo, Baroni stomping Minowa, Ninja's repeated back kicks while Matsui is down, Goodridge blowing Taktarov up when he was on his stomach with his hands by his side, and Renzo punching Taktarov when he sat up while completely out of it.

This thread is first and foremost about fighter safety, please stick to that only.

[mirko>anyone]

Interesting. I completely understand what you are saying but some people might find a whistle more like a game. Plus when the ref speaks sometimes he tells them to keep working or ask them if they give up. But in this sport you would really need the whistle in your mouth at all times because somebody can get fucked up REAL fast.

[atm]

good read man

[JoeyDiamonds]

interesting I think it's for sure something to at least think about I don't know how it'd work though since as mentioned above the refs are talking to the fighters alot and they usually do get in there in sufficient enough time to prevent something really bad

[asugar]

Sometimes fighters continue while the refs are pushing them, without realizing it.

They wouldn't even notice a whiste.

[Piranesi]

Whistles don't kill adrenaline.

[bigblair]

a whistle wouldnt work, people in the crowd could whistle, yo cannot be serious in the fact you njoy a fighter who is out cold take another hit to the face, that is extremly dangerous, when you get KO your body defences go down, so you can get seriously hurt this way.
the best refs are close to the action and generally get in their before it gets to bad, the whistle is a nice idea but it would invole the ref havig to put it in his mouth wasting a bit of time that be better spent trying to get between them

[BeardotheWeirdo]

Originally Posted by bigblair

a whistle wouldnt work, people in the crowd could whistle, yo cannot be serious in the fact you njoy a fighter who is out cold take another hit to the face, that is extremly dangerous, when you get KO your body defences go down, so you can get seriously hurt this way.
the best refs are close to the action and generally get in their before it gets to bad, the whistle is a nice idea but it would invole the ref havig to put it in his mouth wasting a bit of time that be better spent trying to get between them

A buzzer would be better, like when a hockey team scores.

The refs are pretty good, most of the time though. What if they hurt a fighter breaking up the action though, this is the only downside to the way it is now, and that is very unlikely to happen, but I do remember Big John plowing into Brian Johnston in an early UFC and butsting his lip open breaking up the fight, johnston was pissed

[Purger]

the ref. speaks a lot eith the fighters so he can´t have the whistle in his mouth a the time.
And it takes longer to put the whistle into the mouth then jumping in.

[Lukaas]

Good Idea,

Some sort of horn (loud) activated by a button on refs chest, or somewhere that dosent restrict the movement of the ref....

Very good idea!