Being a mixed martial arts ref is thankless. No fighter who ever won, ever, thought to himself “the ref gave me that win.” But in a significant number of losses, fighters and camps point to ref incompetence as a factor. Fans too will offer criticism of decisions that must be made in far, far, far less than a second.

Further, there is a common misconception that promotions choose the ref. If a ref does not do well, it is not the promotion’s fault. Responsibility for choosing and licensing fight refs falls to the relevant Athletic Commission.

All that said, what happened in the main event at Legacy FC 56 on Friday night was a little scary.

Steven Peterson secured a back figure four on Manny Vazquez, and dug in a short choke. As anyone and everyone with a background in grappling knows, when someone goes out, sometimes their eyes close, sometimes they stay open. Sometimes their body goes limp, sometimes it stiffens, sometimes it goes into convulsions. Sometimes it goes limp, but due to continued movement by the winning athlete, it appears that the loser is conscious.

This was a favored technique of seven time World and Olympic medalist Dave Schultz, who would put the opponent out with a front headlock, and then keep shaking them as he went for a pin.

In sum, it can be challenging to tell when a fighter is actually out, and that is what happened Friday night.

Once again, the ever tremendous Zombie Prophet delivers the clip.

https://twitter.com/ZPGIFs/status/746562945866305536

Peterson got the win, and the Legacy bantamweight title.

Legacy owner Mick Maynard told Marc Raimondi forMMA Fighting that he felt it was a late stoppage. 

“It was scary in person also,” said Maynard. “I think he may have been out around eight seconds.”

“I know it can be a tough job, particularly with chokes. But it was still a scary situation and late.”

Texas Combative Sports director Greg Alvarez told Raimondi he would review the video with his head inspector, who was in attendance at the event.

Referee Steve Armstrong has been a referee for a decade in Texas, and has been in martial arts since the early 1970s. He has worked multiple UFCs and many Bellators. Take what happened not as a sign of incompetence, but rather, as a sign of how tremendously difficult it can be to ref a fight.

And a side note to promoters: If you would like ZP to gif your show, contact him at Booschie75@gmail.com.