New York officially adopts instant replay
NYSAC spokesperson: “Providing clarity to the MMA community through adoption of a written process was the right thing to do.”
There was considerable controversy at UFC 210 over Gegard Mousasi’s defeat of Chris Weidman, hinging on whether or not New York allows instant replays to be used. If they don’t, then it should probably have been a No Contest. Several knowledgeable people said at the time that NY does not make use of instant replay. However, neither was it prohibited.
Now the excellent Mark LaMonica for Newsday reports that the New York State Athletic Commission has officially adopted an instant replay review policy for MMA. This is in keeping with the recommendations set by the Association of Boxing Commisssions at the 2017 annual convention in July.
The in-ring referee is permitted to view the sequence that ended a fight to determine the correct outcome. Such a review only can occur in the time between the fight being stopped and the final decision being announced. The in-ring referee may consult with the alternate referee, but authorization to make the final call rests solely with the in-ring referee.
This policy sets forth a process for the use of instant replay at ringside, adding clarity, transparency and predictability, a NYSAC spokesperson wrote Thursday in an email to Newsday. Providing clarity to the MMA community through adoption of a written process was the right thing to do, and we are glad to have the policy on the books.”
Erik Magraken in his Combat Sports Law blog provided the technical details.
Earlier this month Commission Bulletin 2017-3 was released by the NYSAC providing the following details of the policy.
All professional mixed martial arts contests and exhibitions in New York State shall be contested according to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts as adopted and amended by the ABC, unless otherwise authorized or directed by the Commission. The authority to render final determinations based on the application and interpretation of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts rests with the Commission. See generally, 19 NYCRR § 212.1.
Pursuant to the above-cited authority, the Commission has adopted the instant replay, as described below:
1. When adequate technology is available, instant replay may be used by the in-ring referee to examine the fight ending sequence to determine the correct outcome of a bout.
2. Instant replay may be used after the fight has officially concluded and before the final
official outcome of the fight is announced in the ring.
3. Only the in-ring referee is authorized to initiate instant replay review.
4. The in-ring referee him/herself must watch the instant replay footage of the fight ending sequence on a video monitor provided for such purpose.
5. The in-ring referee may consult with the alternate referee to determine the correct
outcome of a bout.
6. Only the in-ring referee is authorized to make the final official in-ring determination of the outcome of the bout following the instant replay review.
7. The fight cannot be resumed after the instant replay review.
8. Nothing in this policy shall restrict the Commission’s authority to review video evidence to determine the correct outcome after the final official outcome of a bout has been announced in the ring.
Implemented by vote of the Commissioners October 4, 2017
The new policy could be employed next weekend as UFC 217 is set for Nov. 4 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. Three titles will be on the line as welterweight G.O.A.T. Georges St-Pierre returns to fight middleweight champion Michael Bisping, T.J. Dilashaw fights bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, and Rose Namajunas challenges women’s strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
