Opinion: Maid of the Missed Perceptions

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company, Evolve Media.

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NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.—The Association of Boxing Commissions held its 34th annual conference July 23-27 at the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino. Just as the rivers flow hundreds of thousands of gallons of water every second over The Falls, upwards of 250 commissioners, referees, judges, inspectors, doctors, dignitaries and officials flooded into the 26-story building. Unlike past gatherings, a few media members attended the convention, including a representative from Sherdog. Despite this, it was not a “hide yo’ kids, hide yo’ wife” experience; instead, it was a fruitful one for everyone involved.

Due to a myriad of flight issues across the country and even beyond its borders, attendance did not reach its expected peak, as cancelations and delays made life difficult for those attempting to reach one of the seven Natural Wonders of North America. Many departed after the first two days consisted of training, while the final three held the actual substance of the conference. The majority did make it at least to a day or two of the latter, as they were treated to various informative presentations and discussions ranging from the perils of weight cutting or a study of glove design to a full-throated endorsement of open scoring by an Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran and respected name in the sport.

One of the expectations in attending this gathering as media would be that those involved hold a negative opinion of the press. The barrier to entry for what is considered MMA media these days is lower than ever, with social media allowing practically anyone access to the biggest names around. This comes with many drawbacks: If one establishes themselves by posting on somewhere like Instagram or Twitter with news that proves to be false, it makes the rest of those doing their jobs and putting in the work look bad. Other than a few extremely limited examples, usually from those who had been burned after serving as a source or otherwise strongly disagreeing with coverage, the lion’s share of participants at the ABC Conference hold the press in high regard.

A misperception such as this could be easily blamed on a lack of communication, one which might stem from the preconceived notion that a group like the ABC remains insular as a fraternity that protects its own against threats, foreign and domestic. It took mere minutes for that belief to be dispelled, when those involved warmly welcomed all members of the press and thanked them for taking the time to learn. Four media members enrolled in MMA judging and referee courses, and all four did so with the goal of improving at their jobs. Coming into this conference with an ego and an expectation that one knew all of the information going into this process would have been a mistake, as even the most learned individuals gleaned new details and discovered nuance in the rules they might not have known.

The disconnect is real across the board, and while understandable, it is also preventable. The various hands that represent our sport do not often know what the other is doing. Media has its own perceptions of promotions and the commissions that license them; commissioners get information—and take flak—from the press and the fans; and sometimes the relationship between promoters and journalists or reporters can be shaky at best. Without engrossing oneself into the worlds of another, it might be difficult to know how different camps think. If a judge rules one way or a referee intervenes, observers may not understand their calls without studying the system itself from the inside and out. Even so, just knowing the rules themselves as written may not be enough, as the interpretation and context is often forgotten.

Assumptions are made on every side. Regarding the aforementioned referee intervention, for example, it is typically commission policy that those officials cannot publicly speak about their decision unless the commission approves it. A referee not responding, refusing to comment or not being permitted to comment may be in fact the same things and should not be deemed as the referee claiming some form of executive immunity. Like any organization worth its salt where communication is taken through proper channels, commissions are no different. An official spouting off or shouting back against criticism could go awry fast, and it would not work out for anyone. Ask the judge that thought fighting with fans on Twitter if things turned out alright.

The ultimate goal for every rule, regulation or decision from commissions and their staff members is to protect the fighters. The primary consideration during the referee course was that fighter safety is paramount above all else. Even so, it occasionally bears reminding that these officials are people, too: They make mistakes, change their minds and are only able to rule or score on what they can see, not what they expect. Strikes or submissions may be clearer from one side of the cage than the other, and a referee on the other side might not see the full finish until it’s too late.

Observers are keen to demonize a person after making a simple error, even if it is explained, and when officials cannot say something, those looking on claim malfeasance or ignorance on the part of the official. The perception of these officials changes on a whim, as the notion of “you’re only as good as your last fight” rings true for judges and refs, too—with a caveat. They can get stigmatized with inaccurate reputations that follow them around like specters, even when evidence is presented showing the narrative is untrue. It would behoove the community as a whole, be it commissioners, combatants or media, to set the record straight, because a line like this is ultimately harmful and does nothing but stoke the flames of fury towards otherwise professional, upstanding people that work for the betterment of the sport.

The sport changed for the better as the conference concluded and not just because of the resolved misperceptions held by those who appeared. Although no boxing rules saw amendments this year, a pair of new MMA regulations received unanimous voting support. The first simple tweak came for neoprene sleeves on the ankles and knees. While they were already allowed, a debate arose regarding their validity—again, this was not the issue here—but rather to manage the sleeve colors to a neutral black or matching corner color of red or blue.

The second was far more substantial, determining that fighters who receive eye poke fouls will now be given up to five minutes to recover—period. This used to be only unanimously permitted for groin strikes, and the five-minute pause now extends to eye pokes. According to commission members in the building, this change could be seen as early as UFC 277 on Saturday in Dallas. ABC rules are not binding but rather guidelines that can be adopted by specific states individually. This is why the Unified Rules of MMA may not be as unified as some would prefer.

One of the main mantras of the week was that the Unified Rules were more unified than they have been in quite some time, which means more meetings of the minds and cooperative efforts are occurring. This is a net positive for MMA, which does not operate under the federal umbrella of the Ali Act. The re-popularized sport of bareknuckle boxing, including leagues like the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, are subject to that act, which might come as a surprise. It’s anyone’s guess as to how bareknuckle MMA, a recent revival hearkening back to the days of old for the sport in states like Wyoming and Mississippi, will be regulated going forward.

Like the cover image for this piece, which shows the little Hornblower boat driving itself straight into the Horseshoe Falls of Niagara Falls, sometimes it takes a leap of faith to try something no one had attempted. Multiple officials could not recall the last time any media had ever traveled to an ABC Conference in order to learn about the regulatory side of the sport, and most could not come up with a single past instance. This excursion that peeled back the curtain for a number of governing bodies and major figures in the sport ultimately proved to be exceptionally positive. Learning more about MMA—or boxing, if one prefers the Sweet Science—should never be discouraged, and more individuals from all sides of the sport should at least take the time to consider the perspective of another. Striking down misperceptions is a crucial element in growing this sport and making it the best it can possibly be.

Are you a commissioner, official or organizer that attended the ABC but aren’t sure how to reach out to us? Look no further than fightfinder@sherdog.com, and we’ll be glad to work with you and make sure our records are shipshape.