THought on why Ricco/Rizzo wasn't shown and more on Baroni..

[dogofwar]

these are Greg Savage report from the show:

Ricco Rodriguez vs Pedro Rizzo
In what must have been the most expensive preliminary match in UFC history, a snooze-fest ensued as Pedro Rizzo and Ricco Rodriguez danced around the ring for three rounds. Rodriguez inability to take the match to the ground was the defining factor in the match. It wasn’t as if Rizzo did much to win the fight as he continually refused to engage and put on his usual counter punching performance. The only effective offense from either fighter came in the form of a few pulverizing leg kicks from Rizzo and they most certainly were the difference in the unanimous decision handed down in his favor.

dogofwar: Actually sounded like all the prelims sucked. So the 10 seconds of fight clips they showed sounded like they were the only thing that happened in the fight.

Evan Tanner vs Phil Baroni
Evan Tanner survived an early outburst from Phil Baroni that saw him staggered and cut around the left eye. Baroni was punishing Tanner and nearly had him out on a couple of occasions. Tanner, with some help from a doctor stoppage (it was questionable because of the fact that Baroni had Tanner out on his feet at the time of the stoppage) to check his cut, recovered and took Baroni to the mat once the fight resumed. From there he got the mount position and proceeded to drop a number of elbows to the face of Baroni prompting referee Larry Landless to stop the fight.

Baroni was not thrilled with Landless to say the least and grabbed him by his shirt and tried to punch him. The extra-curicular activities didn’t stop there as Baroni took a couple more shots at Landless and had to be separated from him. When all the drama in the ring was over, Evan Tanner was announced the winner by referee stoppage at 4:42 of the first round.

When I asked referee Landless what happened with the stoppage he informed me he was asking Baroni if he wanted out. Phil responded yes and he moved into end the match. Baroni thought he was asking if he wanted to continue and was enraged that the fight was stopped. Landless also said he would have restarted the match if it weren’t for the outburst from Baroni.

At the post fight press conference Dana White described the event as “not a good ending for the sport.” Next up to the mike was a remorseful Phil Baroni who got choked up as he apologized to everyone involved except Larry Landless. He thanked Zuffa for all the chances they have given him and promised he would make up for his transgressions. We will have to wait and see what consequences Baroni will have to face before he has to worry about getting back in the cage. Phil probably should be thanking Larry Landless right now though because the Tribal Police asked him if he wanted to press charges and have him arrested. Larry declined.

dogofwar: So Larry knew he blew the call but because he was mad at Baroni he wouldn't do the restart, he ****ed up the call, and refused to correct it since he was mad the other guy that got screwed was pissed and wanted to kill him. That also is screwing over the fans who knew it was bull****. Also, I am glad Baroni DID NOT apologize to Larry the loser.

[grapplingengineer]

Maybe it was just a matter of Larry UNABLE to restart the fight due to all the chaos. I haven't seen the fight, but get the impression by the time Larry found out Baroni wasn't saying "Yes" to stop the fight, the place was freaked, so basically too late to restart. Or maybe Larry doesn't like Baroni.

What I wonder is if they already have 1 set way for a ref and fighter to verbally reconcile a fights end, by maybe 1 question asked by the ref as explained in the prefight meetings, and a fighter is supposed to listen for that 1 question and respond in 1 clear way, or tap. They certainly need to clarify and simplify.

[Ring Girl]

I don't think it was a matter of Larry being 'mad' at Baroni - he took those punches very calmly and wasn't running around all emotional. What Baroni did was inexcusable no matter what provoked it. The police on the reservation apparently offered to press charges against Baroni and Larry declined -- if he was acting out of being 'mad' at Baroni, seems like he would't have let him off the hook.

Baroni deserves to be punished -- if he wants to walk around and talk smack and be a bad ass, that's his gig -- but phsyically assaulting another person deserves punishment. Baroni made the sport look bad and himself like an immature punk.

[debacle]

I don't think it was a matter of Larry being 'mad' at Baroni - he took those punches very calmly and wasn't running around all emotional. What Baroni did was inexcusable no matter what provoked it. The police on the reservation apparently offered to press charges against Baroni and Larry declined -- if he was acting out of being 'mad' at Baroni, seems like he would't have let him off the hook.

Baroni deserves to be punished -- if he wants to walk around and talk smack and be a bad ass, that's his gig -- but phsyically assaulting another person deserves punishment. Baroni made the sport look bad and himself like an immature punk.

I completely agree. There is no excuse for ever hitting an official or harming him in anyway. If Baroni was that pissed, he should have waited until the fight was over and filed an official complaint instead of going nuts inside the octagon.

Then again, I guess it's kind of hard to control that roid rage.

[dogofwar]

It's not Roid rage..as Baroni has never pissed dirty, it's combat..

Your in a war and the ref blows the call, there was no excuse for Larry the loser's actions, and cost the fighter, the fans, a great fight..

Larry deserved his ass kicked, I wish Baroni would have beat him down. I am very glad Baroni did not aplogize to that scrub..

UFC 46 Baroni vs Landless!!!!!

[kai]

It's not Roid rage..as Baroni has never pissed dirty, it's combat..

Your in a war and the ref blows the call, there was no excuse for Larry the loser's actions, and cost the fighter, the fans, a great fight..

Larry deserved his ass kicked, I wish Baroni would have beat him down. I am very glad Baroni did not aplogize to that scrub..

UFC 46 Baroni vs Landless!!!!!

you're kidding me right? Baroni's pumping more roids than Roidleman.

[dogofwar]

You don't know that and since the UFC is testing, and Baroni's piss is clean..

Your innocent until proven guilty or that's how it is supposed to be.

[kai]

You don't know that and since the UFC is testing, and Baroni's piss is clean..

Your innocent until proven guilty or that's how it is supposed to be.

That's because the UFC only tests on title fights.

Sure in most cases you're innocent until proven guilty, but not in some that are so blatantly obvious. For example, OJ Simpson was guilty and we all know it even though the verdict was that he was innocent. Also, Michael Jackson is guilty, no matter what anyone says, because his actions are just plain wrong.

[dogofwar]

I didn't know that, only title fights..

I still think they should sign Baroni vs Landless to settle the score.

[kai]

I didn't know that, only title fights..

I still think they should sign Baroni vs Landless to settle the score.

LOL, I may not be on Baroni's side on this, but Landless was a dumbass with what he did. I wouldn't mind watching him having to fight Baroni!

[just Brian]

It is clearly Baroni's fault, is it not? Landless asked him "Do you want it stopped?" Baroni said "Yes."...and the fight was stopped.

So, Baroni heard wrong? That's Baroni's problem.

Baroni must have mental health issues, really. If he can't control himself enough to make a calm, cogent appeal then he is an idiot.

Who got it worse(?) Ricco's JD against Nog, or Baroni against Tanner? I didn't see Ricco blowing his lid and attacking people when PRIDE gave his fight away to Nog.

This is a sport with rules and a code of conduct. Baroni should be suspended from the UFC for a year imo.

[sars]

As I've heard many say already, it's the damn roids! I agree with the year long suspension. You just don't hit a referee. A ref is the guy with complete authority and what the ref says goes.

[Iron Maiden]

Ok...well I have just finished watching the Baroni fight again....and here are my thoughts.

Evan Tanner was rocked early..but he was ALWAYS defending himself..he was constantly going after Baronis legs...to try and tie him up. You could tell that Baroni was tired after his first whirl of punches...one of many signs that Baroni is roiding. Getting Evan's cut looked at.....well...thats a judgement call in these fights...they ARE fighters afterall....but then these aren't streetfights...they are organized fighting...so I think the check on the cut was a good thing.

After Evan had him down and was pounding him with the elbows...let me just say...Baroni got flat out screwed. I DON'T think Landless did it on purpose....but I think there was some MAJOR miscommunication. That being said....Landless needs to STOP ASKING Baroni a thousand times if he wants out. The guy was fighting and saying "No!!"

He was NOT rocked at any point and was defending until Landless kept asking him if he was done. I understand Phil letting go of his defense to try and tell Landless that he is okay. You might say..."well Phil just ignore him and worry about defending yourself." ...but you have to realize that if Phil doesn't say anything...Landless might have stopped the fight anyway...just because Phil wasn't responding. So Phil was really screwed either way.

So now...on to his actions at the end.

I have maintained this since I first posted, Phil should NEVER lay his hands on the ref...P-E-R-I-O-D. I don't care what mistake he made or how pissed off you are...you cannot lay your hands on the ref. If Phil Baroni does not have control over himself he is a danger to people all around him...when you step in that ring...the ref needs to be able to feel safe from the fighters....and with Baroni in there....a ref can't feel safe.

Should he be punished? Absolutley. THere is no question in my mind.

Should Landless be fired? Nope....but he should learn how to ref a fight better. He needs to go more on instinct rather than what the fighters opinion on the fight is...much like Big John does. He needs to be sat out for a few months and re-taught the way to be a good referee.

Anyways...I'm SURE we will see more of Baroni in the future....but I have to say..he did not impress me...yes he hits hard...but he gasses WAYYYY too quick. IF you can suruve his first hail of bullets....you can beat him. A Smart fighter could beat him easily. I think Matt Hughes would dominate him....but thats another topic. :D

Anyways...these are just my thoughts after watching the fight again.

[Iron Maiden]

PS-The fact that Baroni didn't apologize to Landless after the fight just proves he has no integrity and should not be respected by anyone.

[kai]

I think Yugi Shimata is the best ref in MMA.

[dogofwar]

I competely respect him for not apologizing to Larry...

Larry doesn't deserve an apology.

[Iron Maiden]

Well I guess you and Phil should be buddies then.

[kai]

Phil should apologize to Larry for sure. It doesn't matter that Larry blew the call because no matter what Phil had no right to put his hands on an official.

[sabre]

i never have liked baroni. my first time seeing him was in the toughman finals he drew a slender mexican from texas and lost a decision to him , after the fight he threw a temper tantrum and stormed out of the ring hitting everything in his path ( inanimate objects) . real crybaby!

sabre

[robbypark]

i never have liked baroni. my first time seeing him was in the toughman finals he drew a slender mexican from texas and lost a decision to him , after the fight he threw a temper tantrum and stormed out of the ring hitting everything in his path ( inanimate objects) . real crybaby!

sabre

I guess he was on roids then too....

[keita]

I think Yugi Shimata is the best ref in MMA.

Yuji Shimada is a PRIDE main referee but he is from RINGS and has a bad relationship with PANCRASE. It is true that when man from PANCRASE fight at PRIDE, Shimada is always banished from the ring.



Keita
P.S.
His office is located near my house. :(

[cyonbloodbane]

Sorry Dogofwar, you are of course entitled to your opinion, but as a former boxer and playing some high school sports, you NEVER, EVER touch an OFFICIAL!

Baroni heard him wrong, not the other way around. It was not a bad call to get the cut checked, they do that all the time, so I guess all other calls could be questionable. Evan came back because Phil did not prepare for a more than 45 second fight. He should be suspended a minimum of 1 year, fined.