Veteran MMA referee Mark Smith defends Power Slap safety concerns

UFC CEO Dana White is bullish on the potential of Energy Slap within the fight sports activities area, and if security protocols are dealt with accurately, referee Mark Smith agrees.

Smith is a veteran MMA referee who has been within the octagon for greater than 100 UFC fights over the previous two years. As White launched his Energy Slap model in Nevada, Smith has been one of many referees most seen on the broadcasts for the controversial exercise, which sees opponents take turns slapping one another within the face whereas the recipient has arms behind their again.

The dearth of defensive performance and focus on knockouts and injury has led to critics questioning the diploma of security round Energy Slap, however by means of his expertise up to now, Smith stated the sanctioning physique of the Nevada Athletic Fee doesn’t take it evenly.

“From a security perspective, we do a variety of preparation for Slap,” Smith instructed MMA Junkie. “Very in depth guidelines, earlier than each occasion I take all of the fighters by means of a extremely in depth security and guidelines assembly. Along with that, we’ve got the best docs on the earth which might be cageside or matside, or nonetheless you wish to name it. And collectively we work with that workers. We don’t need anybody taking pointless injury, so if somebody will not be ready to proceed to slap, it’s our accountability to step in.”

There’s a pure and unavoidable connection between fight sports activities and head trauma, whether or not it’s boxing, kickboxing, MMA or something in between. It’s an understood a part of the danger for anybody who chooses to become involved, however Energy Slap solely has one aim: Slap your opponent unconscious for a knockout or extra violently than your opponent for a choice.

The format is uncooked, however Smith believes in its potential and is for certain it’s no worse than some other fight exercise.

“We care in regards to the athletes,” Smith stated. “We don’t wish to have any long-term injury or accidents. The game goes to proceed to climb. It simply obtained authorised in a pair different states. So we look ahead to being part of that.

“It’s protected. So, a three-round struggle, or perhaps a five-round struggle, versus an MMA struggle or a boxing match, the place they’re taking much more potential injury to the top. We’re going to restrict that. We’re going to remain near the fighters to guage potential accidents, and actually, to cease it earlier than it even will get to that time.”

Whatever the backlash, Smith thinks Energy Slap is right here to remain. He expects it to develop and evolve over time, and with that, the measures taken to guard the opponents, will flourish, too.

“We simply wished to verify we have been all ready, each the fee, all of the officers and in addition to our docs, to verify have been doing this appropriately and safely as doable for the fighters,” Smith stated. “We will nonetheless make enhancements. There’s some neck guards which might be doubtlessly popping out, some hand guards. Specializing in the place they hit. There’s rather a lot issues we are able to do to enhance the game to make it safer.