CFFC Exclusive: NJSACB to Analyze Judging Experiment at CFFC 52 This Halloween!
Oct 21, 2015 Comments
(PRESS RELEASE) -- At the forefront of mixed-martial-arts (MMA),
the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) is taking
another innovative approach when they plan to analyze MMA judging
at the next Cage Fury Fighting Championship’s (CFFC) event this
Halloween at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New
Jersey. Credited with the creation of the “Unified Rules” of MMA
used across the country, the NJSACB hopes that this new experiment
will further the growth of MMA worldwide. This new approach came to
fruition from personal observations made by Commissioner Larry
Hazzard and Counsel Nick Lembo, feedback from licensed judges,
comments from the media serving as shadow judges at events, and
discussion with executives in the industry.
By no means is this a knock on the current judges licensed by the NJSACB. “This agency has been pleased with both the quality of judging and our judging roster in this State, but we recently have wondered about the effects of blocked views, limited angles, sight distance and to a small degree, crowd noise,” Lembo and Hazzard stated. “Technological advances and skilled camera technicians can now offer the viewing fan base a closer, clearer and more precise visual of the action at hand as compared to what the judge sees cage side. It is noteworthy that promotional executives and event broadcasters sitting cage side frequently view a table monitor as much or more than they view the live action itself.”
"I've often wondered if the hometown crowd and the limited viewing
angles in which a judge sees the fight swayed the decision
process,” stated CFFC CEO Robert Haydak Jr. “This is really going
to be interesting whether the scoring remains the same or differs
in any way.”
“This experiment, obviously in its first step of actual implementation, will provide data gathering by allowing the review and comparison of three experienced NJSACB judges' cage side scores, which will still be the official scores, with the scores of three experienced NJSACB judges in sound proof isolated rooms who will be viewing and scoring the fight on a large television monitor showing the actual broadcast without audio commentary,” continued in the statement released from the NJSACB exclusively to CFFC.
This isn’t the first time CFFC and the NJSACB worked collaboratively. Last year the NJSACB implemented instant replay on November 1, 2014 for the first time at CFFC 43. This was later used the night during the main event when Lyman Good inadvertently poked Jonavin Webb’s eye causing the
referee to stop the bout. Because of the instant replay showing the accidental foul, the bout was a ruled a no contest moments after the replay was viewed by the NJSACB that evening.
"We're fortunate in New Jersey to have such a proactive commission,” stated Haydak. “Nick and Larry have embraced this idea from the very beginning and are now spearheading the efforts to see it to fruition."
About Cage Fury Fighting Championships
Cage Fury Fighting Championships (www.cffc.tv) is a pioneer in bringing prominent and elite MMA talent to the East Coast. Since CFFC’s debut, past, and current champions have competed at the highest level. Before they were in the UFC, Jim and Dan Miller were both CFFC champions. That legacy remains the same today. Six recent CFFC champions, George Sullivan, Aljamain Sterling, Paul Felder, Jonavin Webb, Lyman Good, and Jimmie Rivera are currently on the UFC roster. Current UFC fighters Zach Makovsky, Nick Catone, Nah-Shon Burrell, John Howard, and Ron Stallings have also competed in CFFC prior to their entry to the UFC. Also, CFFC helped jumpstart the career of Internet fighting sensation Kimbo Slice, whose first foray into MMA came in the CFFC cage when he fought former boxing champion Ray “Merciless” Mercer. CFFC continues to thrive as one of the best regional promotions in the world while focusing on treating fighters with respect and giving the fans the ultimate MMA experience.
By no means is this a knock on the current judges licensed by the NJSACB. “This agency has been pleased with both the quality of judging and our judging roster in this State, but we recently have wondered about the effects of blocked views, limited angles, sight distance and to a small degree, crowd noise,” Lembo and Hazzard stated. “Technological advances and skilled camera technicians can now offer the viewing fan base a closer, clearer and more precise visual of the action at hand as compared to what the judge sees cage side. It is noteworthy that promotional executives and event broadcasters sitting cage side frequently view a table monitor as much or more than they view the live action itself.”
Advertisement
“This experiment, obviously in its first step of actual implementation, will provide data gathering by allowing the review and comparison of three experienced NJSACB judges' cage side scores, which will still be the official scores, with the scores of three experienced NJSACB judges in sound proof isolated rooms who will be viewing and scoring the fight on a large television monitor showing the actual broadcast without audio commentary,” continued in the statement released from the NJSACB exclusively to CFFC.
This isn’t the first time CFFC and the NJSACB worked collaboratively. Last year the NJSACB implemented instant replay on November 1, 2014 for the first time at CFFC 43. This was later used the night during the main event when Lyman Good inadvertently poked Jonavin Webb’s eye causing the
referee to stop the bout. Because of the instant replay showing the accidental foul, the bout was a ruled a no contest moments after the replay was viewed by the NJSACB that evening.
"We're fortunate in New Jersey to have such a proactive commission,” stated Haydak. “Nick and Larry have embraced this idea from the very beginning and are now spearheading the efforts to see it to fruition."
About Cage Fury Fighting Championships
Cage Fury Fighting Championships (www.cffc.tv) is a pioneer in bringing prominent and elite MMA talent to the East Coast. Since CFFC’s debut, past, and current champions have competed at the highest level. Before they were in the UFC, Jim and Dan Miller were both CFFC champions. That legacy remains the same today. Six recent CFFC champions, George Sullivan, Aljamain Sterling, Paul Felder, Jonavin Webb, Lyman Good, and Jimmie Rivera are currently on the UFC roster. Current UFC fighters Zach Makovsky, Nick Catone, Nah-Shon Burrell, John Howard, and Ron Stallings have also competed in CFFC prior to their entry to the UFC. Also, CFFC helped jumpstart the career of Internet fighting sensation Kimbo Slice, whose first foray into MMA came in the CFFC cage when he fought former boxing champion Ray “Merciless” Mercer. CFFC continues to thrive as one of the best regional promotions in the world while focusing on treating fighters with respect and giving the fans the ultimate MMA experience.
Related Articles
