Under natten mellan onsdagen och torsdagen lyckades Glover Teixeira ta hem en TKO-vinst över Anthony Smith. Vinsten har fått utstå en hel del kritik men inte mot någon av fighterna utan mot Smiths hörna, som av många anses bör ha stoppat matchen tidigare. Nu kritiserar även den tidigare fightern Chael Sonnen Smiths coacher.
Hörnan gjorde inte sitt jobb
Under “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show” kom situationen i galans huvudmatch på tal. Sonnen ansåg att Smiths hörna inte gjorde sitt jobb som inte skyddade Smith. Enligt Sonnen har Smith för mycket stolthet för att ge upp själv men samtidigt påstår Sonnen att han gav tecken på att han inte klarade av mer.
I’m infuriated. That is not who we are, that is not what we do on any level. I do not know what anybody’s watching. I cannot believe the corners allowed him to … what is the corner there for? If you’re not there to protect your guy – two 10-8 rounds in a row? Which, by the way, would have been three 10-8 rounds in a row, which has never been done in the history of the sport because it means you got to get your guy out of there. I cannot believe that nobody saved him. He gave every clue that he was done. He had too much pride to get himself out of there. I think we can appreciate that, but he’d given every clue. Get me home. You don’t stop the fight when your fighter can no longer move; you stop the fight when your fighter can no longer win. That was 12 minutes ago.
Hörnans ansvar
Även om Sonnen håller med dem som säger att domaren bör kritiseras så anser Sonnen att huvudansvaret ligger hos Smiths hörna att skydda honom.
I was confused with that, but I think I blame the corner a little bit more. Anthony was moving at times. I don’t know if I identify the idea that he was intelligently defending himself, which is what the rule calls for, but more important than anything you got the corner. I mean, not for nothing, but the referee is out there working. He’s looking at stuff, he’s talking to guys, he’s hearing some things that perhaps you and I don’t know about. But goodness what’s the corner doing there if they’re not there to protect their fighter?
Matchen mellan Teixeira och Smith stod som huvudmatch på UFC Fight Night 173 som ägde rum den 15:e maj i Jacksonville, USA.
