In 2016 New York became the last state or province in North America to allow mixed martial arts. By September of 2016 the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) was able to fully regulate events, and the next month the UFC held one of their greatest events ever, selling out Madison Square Garden for UFC 205. The event was well run, although a wrong result was announced for Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson. Unfortunately, the commission had several other gaffes since.

Multiple post bell strikes were landed on Holly Holm by Germaine de Randamie at UFC 208. At UFC 210, the main event, co-main, and third-from-final fight each suffered regulatory failures. Daniel Cormier used an ancient high school wrestling trick to make weight. Gegard Mousasi vs. Chris Weidman suffered a confused finish. And Pearl Gonzalez was removed and then reinstated from a fight with Cynthia Calvillo over breast implants.

Now Kim Sumbler has been appointed as the new NYSAC executive director, and things are looking up. There were two moments at UFC 217 on Saturday that could have gone very wrong, but the commission handled both impeccably.

On the Fight Pass prelims, heavyweight Curtis Blaydes was beating Aleksei Oleinik when he launched a soccer kick at his opponent, who was grounded. The kick made contact, flicking Oleinik’s ear. Referee Blake Grice stopped the action and called in the doctor; it was determined that Oleinik did not want to continue, and the fight was called off.

Grice stopped the fight because of an intentional foul that made a degree of contact. So who wins? Grice discussed the situation UFC VP Marc Ratner and world-class ref Dan Miragliotta, both of whom had the benefit of instant replay, and again, the right call was made, Blaydes was the winner due to doctor stoppage.

Then on the late prelims, heavyweight Walt Harris landed an illegal knee to Mark Godbeer who backed away and started to crumple. As referee Grice screamed “TIME!” repeatedly, Harris threw a high kick straight to Godbeer’s face. A doctor came in to check on Godbeer, and it was determined the heavyweight couldn’t continue. Harris was disqualified. It’s not a satisfying end – no one wants to see a fighter win because he got kicked in the face – but it is the right call.

UFC 217 was one of the greatest cards in memory, and part of that is excellent regulation. Post-fight Ariel Helwani asked Marc Raimondi to highlight a performance or two before they say goodnight. Raimondi didn’t point to the fact that three title belts changed hands for the first time, or two of the winners not trash talking but instead using martial arts as a vehicle for character developing. Instead, Raimondi discussed regulation, something mentioned generally only when it goes wrong.

So warmest congratulations to Kim Sumbler and Blake Grice for helping UFC 217 be one the great cards in the sport’s history. And thanks to Raimondi for being actually fair and balanced.