wondermut
01-13-2003, 12:02 AM
From Graciefighter.com:http://graciefighter.com/index.php?page=corner
Mark Ratner
Nevada State Athletic Commission
Las Vegas, Nevada
Mr. Ratner;
I’m sure you know the reason I am writing this. Although we had a discussion on the phone about the outcome of my welterweight title fight in the U.F.C against Matt Hughes on November 22nd 2002, these similar acts in MMA fights that occurred in the U.F.C have been brought to my attention by several people involved in the industry who agree with my views on the decision. I will spare you the list of names.The following items below I am sure you will agree as you did on the phone with me that these give the referee stoppage of my fight absolutely no credibility.
The Foul
2 minutes into my title fight, Matt lunges forward and headbutts me directly in the eye. It pushes my eyeball back and causes serious bluring of my vision. On the tape replay you can see and hear me yell to McCarthy that he headbutted me. McCarthy responds, ”I know I saw it, it was unintentional keep going”. I said “I can’t see”. He said “keep going” so I push through it and continued almost helplessly.
Immediately after the round ended as I was walking back to my corner McCarthy walked me back and I was telling him that I couldn’t see from the headbutt and I needed some time to focus and recover.
During the break the doctors were asking me what’s wrong and I told them I couldn’t see out of that eye and I needed a minute and I also told my corner. Cesar Gracie was trying to call to John McCarthy for an injury time out. The doctors were checking if I could see their hand moving from one side to the other and I said, “I can’t see it, it’s blury”. The next thing I know I see McCarthy waving his hands in the air to motion that he was calling the fight. I became furious and very frustrated at the ruling.
Similar events;
Newton/Miletich; Miletich unintentionally gauged Newton in the eye and McCarthy immediately stops the fight to give Newton time to go to his corner and recover because the foul affected Newtons performance. It was unintentional so McCarthy did not take a point away.
Baroni/Suloev; Suloev unintentionally knees Baroni in the head as Baroni had a knee down on the ground. Baroni is given a time out to recover because he was fouled and it affected his performance.
These were both exact similar instances and were treated the way they should have been and mine was not.
The only difference here is that mine was a title fight and should have been given even more care yet was treated completely different.
The No contest ruling;
Berger/Radach; This U.F.C fight was clearly called too early in Radach’s favor and to my understanding was reviewed and Radach was even committing fouls by holding the fence before the referee stopped the fight and he got the win. This fight was overturned to a “No Contest”, you must agree that mine should also.
I know this is a fight and things like that happen. I have been in 19 MMA fights and am ready for anything and the headbutt would not have even been mentioned by me during the fight to McCarthy had it not blurred my vision.
My Protest;
McCarthy acknowledged the foul but didn’t give me the option of a time out when it happened like Newton or Baroni nor when we broke apart when Hughes was standing up. Nor did he give me the option of a time out at the end of the round which my corner was asking for.
McCarthy did not offer me the injury time out between rounds nor did he ask me if I could go on or he was going to stop he fight which he should have given the time out or ask if I needed one because it was caused by a foul.
This was a world title fight in the biggest MMA event in the world and the fight was hastily stopped much to the dissatisfaction of both participants and the fans. At no time was I asking for a point to be taken from Matt because I don’t believe it was intentional but I undoubtedly deserved a referee time out due to a foul. Many wrestlers that watched the fight noted to me that it was intentional. I argued in Matts favor because I don’t believe he is that type of fighter. He is a great champion and fighter but so am I and I deserve better than what happened.
When two fighters train for a title fight in this sport at the top level, they are both ready for an absolute war for 25 minutes and not to have it stopped in the first few minutes without cause. We are NOT Athletes, we are Gladiators. Athletes play tennis, play baseball and just play. We do not play anything. We fight.
I had no cuts, but a mere fingernail scratch and was physically perfect besides the vision in the left eye caused only by the foul.
I did not change my life and train for 3 months to be let down like that in the first 2 minutes of my opportunity for the welterweight world title because somebody made a mistake on the rules or wasn’t clear on them. Otherwise, why don’t I just start every fight by kicking my opponent in the groin (which can be easily masked by an inside leg kick which is done by a lot of fighters when they are in trouble) and then saying “I win”!
Why should my fight be treated differently than the ones above? Why should Berger get a No-Contest ruling for a referee bad call on a pre-mature stoppage and I don’t? Especially when mine was caused by a foul.
The fans, the MMA community and other competitors have all come to my side and agree with my protest.
This is not a bash on the referee John McCarthy. John knows I like him very much and think he is amongst the best in the business but I along with all who saw the fight (including you according to our phone conversation) feel that there was a severe injustice done.
You yourself agreed with me on the phone about this saying that I had a very legitimate gripe but you also stated that it was John McCarthy’s call. Well, as much as I like and respect John it was a bad call.
I know that this will not give me another chance at Matt Hughes title based on a No-Contest ruling but my team, the fans and the MMA community urge you to review this and treat it as it should be treated with a “No Contest” decision. I have given my all to this sport and should be given the same treatment as others (Berger/Baroni/Newton) when a similar instance happens.
I am one of the best welterweights in the world ranked in the top 5 and wanted to show that I was the best on that night. That poor decision cost me a lot and I don’t know if I will be given the chance to be able to prove myself again unfortunately but I want to at least be given the just satisfaction of a “No-Contest” ruling. We both know that it is the right thing to do. Please review this matter. I will come down to Nevada if necessary but I would like all parties involved (Doctor, McCarthy, Athletic Commission) to be questioned over this matter. I should not have a loss on my record for this.
We are hoping for a fair and impartial ruling on this matter with your experience in the field. The Casino betting on this fight should not be a factor on the ruling. To my understanding, the commission is there to protect the fairness and integrity of the sport.
Sincerely,
Gil Castillo
Mark Ratner
Nevada State Athletic Commission
Las Vegas, Nevada
Mr. Ratner;
I’m sure you know the reason I am writing this. Although we had a discussion on the phone about the outcome of my welterweight title fight in the U.F.C against Matt Hughes on November 22nd 2002, these similar acts in MMA fights that occurred in the U.F.C have been brought to my attention by several people involved in the industry who agree with my views on the decision. I will spare you the list of names.The following items below I am sure you will agree as you did on the phone with me that these give the referee stoppage of my fight absolutely no credibility.
The Foul
2 minutes into my title fight, Matt lunges forward and headbutts me directly in the eye. It pushes my eyeball back and causes serious bluring of my vision. On the tape replay you can see and hear me yell to McCarthy that he headbutted me. McCarthy responds, ”I know I saw it, it was unintentional keep going”. I said “I can’t see”. He said “keep going” so I push through it and continued almost helplessly.
Immediately after the round ended as I was walking back to my corner McCarthy walked me back and I was telling him that I couldn’t see from the headbutt and I needed some time to focus and recover.
During the break the doctors were asking me what’s wrong and I told them I couldn’t see out of that eye and I needed a minute and I also told my corner. Cesar Gracie was trying to call to John McCarthy for an injury time out. The doctors were checking if I could see their hand moving from one side to the other and I said, “I can’t see it, it’s blury”. The next thing I know I see McCarthy waving his hands in the air to motion that he was calling the fight. I became furious and very frustrated at the ruling.
Similar events;
Newton/Miletich; Miletich unintentionally gauged Newton in the eye and McCarthy immediately stops the fight to give Newton time to go to his corner and recover because the foul affected Newtons performance. It was unintentional so McCarthy did not take a point away.
Baroni/Suloev; Suloev unintentionally knees Baroni in the head as Baroni had a knee down on the ground. Baroni is given a time out to recover because he was fouled and it affected his performance.
These were both exact similar instances and were treated the way they should have been and mine was not.
The only difference here is that mine was a title fight and should have been given even more care yet was treated completely different.
The No contest ruling;
Berger/Radach; This U.F.C fight was clearly called too early in Radach’s favor and to my understanding was reviewed and Radach was even committing fouls by holding the fence before the referee stopped the fight and he got the win. This fight was overturned to a “No Contest”, you must agree that mine should also.
I know this is a fight and things like that happen. I have been in 19 MMA fights and am ready for anything and the headbutt would not have even been mentioned by me during the fight to McCarthy had it not blurred my vision.
My Protest;
McCarthy acknowledged the foul but didn’t give me the option of a time out when it happened like Newton or Baroni nor when we broke apart when Hughes was standing up. Nor did he give me the option of a time out at the end of the round which my corner was asking for.
McCarthy did not offer me the injury time out between rounds nor did he ask me if I could go on or he was going to stop he fight which he should have given the time out or ask if I needed one because it was caused by a foul.
This was a world title fight in the biggest MMA event in the world and the fight was hastily stopped much to the dissatisfaction of both participants and the fans. At no time was I asking for a point to be taken from Matt because I don’t believe it was intentional but I undoubtedly deserved a referee time out due to a foul. Many wrestlers that watched the fight noted to me that it was intentional. I argued in Matts favor because I don’t believe he is that type of fighter. He is a great champion and fighter but so am I and I deserve better than what happened.
When two fighters train for a title fight in this sport at the top level, they are both ready for an absolute war for 25 minutes and not to have it stopped in the first few minutes without cause. We are NOT Athletes, we are Gladiators. Athletes play tennis, play baseball and just play. We do not play anything. We fight.
I had no cuts, but a mere fingernail scratch and was physically perfect besides the vision in the left eye caused only by the foul.
I did not change my life and train for 3 months to be let down like that in the first 2 minutes of my opportunity for the welterweight world title because somebody made a mistake on the rules or wasn’t clear on them. Otherwise, why don’t I just start every fight by kicking my opponent in the groin (which can be easily masked by an inside leg kick which is done by a lot of fighters when they are in trouble) and then saying “I win”!
Why should my fight be treated differently than the ones above? Why should Berger get a No-Contest ruling for a referee bad call on a pre-mature stoppage and I don’t? Especially when mine was caused by a foul.
The fans, the MMA community and other competitors have all come to my side and agree with my protest.
This is not a bash on the referee John McCarthy. John knows I like him very much and think he is amongst the best in the business but I along with all who saw the fight (including you according to our phone conversation) feel that there was a severe injustice done.
You yourself agreed with me on the phone about this saying that I had a very legitimate gripe but you also stated that it was John McCarthy’s call. Well, as much as I like and respect John it was a bad call.
I know that this will not give me another chance at Matt Hughes title based on a No-Contest ruling but my team, the fans and the MMA community urge you to review this and treat it as it should be treated with a “No Contest” decision. I have given my all to this sport and should be given the same treatment as others (Berger/Baroni/Newton) when a similar instance happens.
I am one of the best welterweights in the world ranked in the top 5 and wanted to show that I was the best on that night. That poor decision cost me a lot and I don’t know if I will be given the chance to be able to prove myself again unfortunately but I want to at least be given the just satisfaction of a “No-Contest” ruling. We both know that it is the right thing to do. Please review this matter. I will come down to Nevada if necessary but I would like all parties involved (Doctor, McCarthy, Athletic Commission) to be questioned over this matter. I should not have a loss on my record for this.
We are hoping for a fair and impartial ruling on this matter with your experience in the field. The Casino betting on this fight should not be a factor on the ruling. To my understanding, the commission is there to protect the fairness and integrity of the sport.
Sincerely,
Gil Castillo