The implementation of video monitors for judges has been suggested for some time as a means to improve officiating in MMA bouts. It was announced today that UFC 131, which goes down this June in Vancouver, will feature judges' monitors in the hopes to lessen the instance of questionable calls made by judges.
UFC vice president of regulatory affairs, Marc Ratner, spoke with Sherdog.com about why the UFC requested judges' monitors for UFC 131.
"Anything we can do to give the judges another tool is great," said Ratner. "We're very excited about it."
Ratner also revealed that the UFC will be requesting from the Nevada State Athletic Commission that judges be allowed the use of monitors for the upcoming UFC 130 event, which is to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Perhaps as an indicator of things to come, California State Athletic Commission executive director George Dodd, revealing his stance on the use of judges' monitors.
"Hopefully this small step, along with mandatory education for all officials, will enhance the fairness and consistency of judges' decisions if other jurisdictions follow suit," said Dodd. "The fighters deserve as much.
"There are no regulations that say we can't have monitors in that area," he continued. "Sometimes we don't get the best look because those big bars are in the way. It just gives the judges another angle to score fights."
UFC 131: Lesnar vs. Dos Santos goes down on June 11 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Anthony Perosh out, Igor Pokrajac in against Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 131
Krzysztof Soszynski (25-11-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has a new opponent for June's UFC 131 event.
Igor Pokrajac (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has replaced injured Anthony Perosh (11-6 MMA, 1-3 UFC), UFC officials announced overnight.
UFC 131 takes place June 11 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A heavyweight title eliminator between "The Ultimate Fighter 13" coaches Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos headlines the night's pay-per-view main card.
Pokrajac vs. Soszynski is slated for the night's preliminary card.
The nature of Perosh's injury was not revealed.
Pokrajac, a Croatian Top Team fighter and veteran of the country's regional scene, made his UFC in 2009 and suffered back-to-back losses to Vladimir Matyushenko and James Te Huna. However, he's won two of his past three, which included a submission victory over James Irvin and a recent TKO of Todd Brown at UFC on Versus 3. Nineteen of the eight-year pro's 23 wins now have come via stoppage.
Soszynski is back at it after undergoing surgery for meniscus tears in both knees, as well as a deviated septum. He most recently appeared this past November at UFC 122, where he bested Goran Reljic by unanimous decision. The win put him back on the right foot after Stephan Bonnar stopped him by second-round TKO at UFC 116 (though he and Bonnar were awarded an extra $75,000 each for "Fight of the Night" honors). That fight was a rematch from a meeting at UFC 110 that ended when doctors ruled Bonnar unable to continue in the third round due to a nasty cut.
For more on UFC 131, stay tuned to BCMMAA.COM.
Props: MMAJunkie
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