Dana White reacts to Fury FC referee blunder, compares it to Steve Mazzagatti controversy
UFC president Dana White has reacted to Friday night's Fury FC referee controversy.
During the main event of Fury FC 76, Edgar Chairez locked Gianni Vazquez in a triangle submission in the fourth round. Vazquez briefly attempted to break free but passed out before he could tap.
While it became quite clear to the people watching that Vazquez was unconscious, the referee in charge, Frank Collazo, failed to notice it. The situation got worse as Chairez transitioned to an armbar before Vazquez somehow regained consciousness and managed to signal to the referee that he was done.
Ridiculous scene at Fury FC. Edgar Cháirez puts Gianni Vazquez to sleep with a triangle, and the ref simply doesn't stop it. Cháirez ends up armbarring an unconscious Vazquez who wakes up in the submission. #Furyfc76 https://t.co/AgcwI2i3ss
Reacting to the blunder during the post-event press conference at UFC San Antonio, Dana White compared the situation to the Steve Mazzagatti controversy in 2013:
"I mean if a guy gets choked unconscious and you don't know he's choked unconscious, everybody has a bad night. Everybody makes mistakes but if a guy gets choked unconscious and then they pull him into an armbar and I mean, it doesn't get any worse than that. It's the one that I went after [Steve] Mazzagatti so bad about when Josh Burkman choked out, what's the kid's name, the wrestler, choked him unconscious and Mazzagatti had no idea."
Watch Dana White's comments in the video below:
During the WSOF 3 welterweight bout between Josh Burkman and Jon Fitch, Burkman choked out Fitch. However, Steve Mazzagatti only realized that Fitch was out cold once Burkman released the hold on his opponent and celebrated his victory.
Fury FC referee: Did Dana White call Frank Collazo to officiate fights at UFC San Antonio?
Following a rather incompetent display of officiating at Fury FC 76, there were rumors of Frank Collazo officiating fights at UFC San Antonio. While the referee received a lot of backlash online, he found himself with a bigger opportunity just a day later.
Prior to UFC San Antonio, MMA reporter Alex Behunin tweeted that he had heard Frank Collazo would be judging fights at the event:
"I’ve heard that Frank Collazo, the horrible incompetent referee from last night is judging fights tonight for #UFCSanAntonio"
I’ve heard that Frank Collazo, the horrible incompetent referee from last night is judging fights tonight for #UFCSanAntonio
It is worth noting that Dana White does not have any say in this matter and that the judges for UFC events are called upon by the Athletic Commission of the respective states.