Anthony Johnson loses appeal to overturn Kevin Burns loss
by MMAmania.com on Sep 13, 2008 8:29 PM EDT
100 comments
Anthony Johnson and his management team were unsuccessful in their bid to have "Rumble's" technical knockout loss to Kevin Burns at UFC Fight Night 14 overturned and ruled a no contest.
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer today confirmed the ruling via email.
Here's the snip:
"Based on advice from the Nevada Attorney General's office, the appeal was rejected due to lack of remedy."
Video replays of the third round stoppage show that "Rumble" was felled by an unintentional eye poke and not an uppercut. The referee in charge of the action, Steve Mazzagatti, unfortunately did not have the benefit of watching instant replay and called a halt to the 170-pound bout.
Johnson eventually had to undergo eye surgery to repair a damaged retina.
It's important to note that Johnson and Mazzagatti crossed paths at a smaller show several weeks after the match and Mazzagatti apologized for the bad call.
There's no word yet on when Johnson will return to action and it's likely that this loss -- while official -- will forever have an imaginary asterisk beside it and not do much if anything to affect his current status with the promotion.
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how could he lose this appeal??? It was a huge mistake by Maz which he admitted to!! Ridiculous decision
by Jakizzle on Sep 13, 2008 8:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
athletic comissions are garbage, thats about all you can say about that
by brendan on Sep 13, 2008 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It seems like it’s a buncha’ smug stuffed shirts that don’t like to budge just because, Mazagatti at least apologized.
Rumble Johnson was kicking some ass that fight and he’s only 24 yrs of age, he’s got tons of talent looks like he will eventually grow out of 170 and fill out to 185… I think he’s future contender for the championship with the right training.
by THORAZINE on Sep 13, 2008 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the way the California commission handled Sean Sherks case was one of the most unprofessional ordeals ive seen in a while, there were like 3 postponements of his trial and appeal process
by brendan on Sep 13, 2008 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s ok because you know Johnson didin’t deserve the loss, I know it, and most importantly, the UFC knows it. I think this will be looked at by the powers-that-be as an unofficial victory for Johnson. Athletic Commissions tea-bag their moms.
by RedDog on Sep 14, 2008 3:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see the UFC looking at this very similar to the Marquardt/Leites fight. Marquardt lost the fight because of losing those 2 penalty points but dominated the fight. Nate still moved up the ladder and may be close to next to be beheaded by Anderson soon.
by halljam2 on Sep 14, 2008 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saya it all the time. athletic Commissions for the most part are a JOKE!!!!
by john on Sep 15, 2008 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come on man. You need more than a detached retina that needs to be surgically repaired to prove someone poked you in the eye.
by the_mexicutioner on Sep 13, 2008 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, this athletic commision is oficially a joke.
by jimmy_dean on Sep 14, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This site really amazes me so much shit is talked about the two people that built this sport Chuck -Forrest Chuck And randy’s fight brought mma to a house hold viewing still to this day chuck IS the most popular fighter EVER. He gets so much crap cause for the first time in his career he has lost a couple. what about most peoples top fighter exempt fedor- who is ducking yes i said it ducking the ufc. every one loses no one is God chuck ko’d a whos who of the best the times he loses every one on this sit including comentators throw him under the bus. If it was’nt for Chuck liddell most here wouldnt even know about this site. Ok now Forrest, People really think rampage won that fight on this site. Really ,and there serious,and say they don’t see y forrest had a shot -IF HE BEAT THE CHAMP ,CLEAR TO ME HE DESERVED IT………. People on this site not all but some (bloodymess)talk shit about a fighter that was the first real middleweight champ the ufc had-that just passed on have some fucking respect. The first time i found this site i was like cool other mma fans,now i seriously cant comming here cause the bs that most people post it is amazing . I told u all i was going back to Iraq a while ago and some were very respectful-others were trying to put there stupid ass spin on it. I’m all up for debate but come the f on.
by DBG on Sep 14, 2008 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe when you get back from Iraq, you might learn to stay on the topic.
P.S.
Who the hell comes on an internet forum and looks for respect?
by NewGuyTheGunMan on Sep 14, 2008 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My friend Garry got on here after i passed out last guess he posted the last comment. wasnt me sorry.
by DBG on Sep 14, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Garry? does his name actually have 2 rs? lol thats like the name todd, what a worthless name
by brendan on Sep 15, 2008 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hahaha! Todd Scottley! You Americans sure have some funny names!
by TheNegation on Sep 15, 2008 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
DBG, my above comment wasn’t in response to you, it was to the decision made by the NSAC.
by chefdaddy on Sep 15, 2008 7:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When I used to drink, my drunk alter ego was named Mingus. Just put down the bottle my friend.
by the_mexicutioner on Sep 15, 2008 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
cro cop shoulda been disqualified for the eye poke on josh barnett in the pride grand prix final.
but that was japan and this is america jesus what the fuck is up rumble johnson deserved better
by the heat on Sep 14, 2008 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow this is bullshit is all I can say. The least they could have done was ruled it a no contest. Someone needs to be fired.
by c-war on Sep 14, 2008 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What exactly does “lack of remedy” mean? Can someone clue me in as to how that makes sense please?
by chefdaddy on Sep 15, 2008 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good. he was losing the fight anyway before it happened, get off his undeserved hype.
by Chase on Sep 13, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think you were actually watching the fight this happened in. He was clearly dominating Burns, whose most effective offense was the two eye pokes before that happened. I agree that Johnson is too full of himself, especially given how few fights he has had. But the fact remains that he was winning the fight before that happened and it was a bad call on Mazzagatti’s part. However, I do respect that Mazz was man enough to admit to Johnson that he made a bad call when he saw him later.
by GregC on Sep 13, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Umm the fight was on free TV, I’m pretty sure I watched it live from my TV while it was happening. To me he was losing the fight, mabey you thought he was winning becuase you were caught up in his hype at the time. He was lossing,
Then he got poker in the eye, and fell to the floor like A girl, and cryed with his legs kicking in the air. (sarcastism) It was a bad call though, and it should have been a no contest, but shit happens, he should stop whinning about it, and move on.
by Chase on Sep 13, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
really?? u think he was losing? i think u maybe mistaken
by keystone on Sep 13, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
who one the fight keystone? im not mistaken Get off the Hype.
by Chase on Sep 13, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please Chase, you are the one being biased. If you actually forgot about the hype (for or against) and watched it objectively you might see that he had the upper hand.
This is a bad ruling, regardless of everything else.
by chris on Sep 13, 2008 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well im agianst the hype, Im not into the next huston alexander, and I still say burns wins. Sorry chris, nothing will change my mind, unless I get money for change it or somthing.
by Chase on Sep 13, 2008 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What hype? There’s no hype. The guy doesn’t have any notable wins plus he lost to Rich Clementi, who can only dream of acheiving gatekeeper status. However, AJ was certainly winning that fight before the last eye poke. Even if Burns was winning the fight, that should’ve been a DQ or NC.
by Joe Smith on Sep 14, 2008 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joe Smith he’s all hype, all you here rogan talk about is how athletic him and GSP are. He knocks out some tuff noob, then everybody thinks he’s like he’s the next gid thing, you must not read many posts on here about people talking about him.
by Chase on Sep 14, 2008 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come on Chase, if you get hit in the eye so hard that you need surgery, the first thing that goes through your mind is you LOST your eye. That calls for crying like a baby.
by Gord on Sep 14, 2008 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
chase = wrong. for real dude? you had burns winning that fight?? really?? you must be a golfer. second, what hype? no one gives a damn about AJ at all! i haven’t heard any hype about rumble Johnson, maybe I’m out of touch but please tell me, where is this hype?
by medecine balls on Sep 14, 2008 4:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Despite the numerous pokes in the eye he was still winning the fight until the last poke. As far as the hype, everyone will have forgoten about this in about a month so where is the hype. I do think us a MMA fans have a right to be pissed about someone being cheated out of a win like this. At least Elite XC did call the Lawler fight a draw if I’m not mistaken. This is kind of like someone being kicked in the balls and the guy losing the fight because he got kicked in the balls. Chase, I bet you are a Patriots fan. A guy that likes cheaters to win!
by jimmy_dean on Sep 14, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s right, I haven’t read many posts about him. That’s probably because there aren’t very many. Or at least there weren’t very many before the whole eye poke thing. And even then, nobody’s going on about how awesome they think he is, they’re just saying that it’s not right to award someone a TKO victory from an eyepoke, and that if it weren’t for the eye poke, AJ was winning and probably would’ve won.
by Joe Smith on Sep 14, 2008 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
U have got to be trolling.
There’s no arguement here.
by ShaiZ on Sep 14, 2008 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chase, all I want to say is I want what you had the night of that fight because you had to have been effed up to think Burns won…watch the fight again. Burns was being handled in every facet of the game. He was getting punched all over the cage.
by halljam2 on Sep 14, 2008 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chase is just a big Koscheck fan, all other fighters are overrated…lol!!
by TheNegation on Sep 15, 2008 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
While Chase, IMO, might be a touch off about Rumble losing the fight, it was FAR closer than everyone is making it out to be. Is that b/c of the eye pokes? who knows? But Burns was most certainly taking the fight to him.
by chefdaddy on Sep 15, 2008 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whether he is being over hyped or not is irrelevant to the fact that he was winning and that Burns illegally poked him in the eye more than once and should have been disqualified…
..oh wait! I forgot you’re just trolling.
by Tim on Oct 24, 2008 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I remember correctly, Johnson had been poked in the eye twice during his fight with Burns. I really don’t see how he was losing that fight (unless you want to count eye pokes).
It was definitely a bad call, but as far as I’m concerned, a no-contest looks worse on a record than a loss.
Johnson is still 5-2 and will be making his way up to the top. I can’t wait to see him return to the octagon.
by J on Sep 13, 2008 8:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They need to feed him to my favorite fighter Koscheck, so he can lay&pray all over him the whole fight, and give him another loss. and end the Hype. He’s all hype like how H.Alexander.
by Chase on Sep 13, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope you werent being sarcastic because I for one dont think Kos has the skills to EVER hold the belt. The way he talked about GSP in the pre-fight? I was so happy that he got worked that fight.
Diego vs Kos II, betting the house on Diego!!!
by WB on Sep 14, 2008 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Diego sanchez via brutal submission!
by TheNegation on Sep 15, 2008 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
where is everyone getting this idea that johnson had all this hype? he knocked out speer. who cares? speer is b level for the wec at best.
by JB on Sep 14, 2008 3:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I get the impression that you would’t mind Koscheck doing a little laying and praying on top of you Chase. Koscheck is an arrogant prick who had better not crash his car near your house. I am quite certain that being his No1 fan, that you would have him tied to a bed and his ankles smashed so he could not escape your house. (Watch the film Misery for those who don’t know where I am coming from).
by Ade on Sep 14, 2008 6:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How is koscheck all Hype? he’s has 2 pro losses, and was only dominated in 1? get off this dudes HYPE.
by Chase on Sep 14, 2008 6:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s what I’m saying. Get off the hype. Koscheck is all hype and you love him. Get off the hype. Who cares if he only has 2 pro loses? Kevin Ferguson has 0 pro loses and he’s all hype too.
by Joe Smith on Sep 14, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha.. this guy is pissed because AJ is hyped by Rogan as being athletic like GSP, and GSP is the guy that destroyed Koscheck, the fighter Chase loves to nuthug. Koscheck got outwrestled by a guy who didn’t wrestle for a living…must suck
by Tim on Oct 24, 2008 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I knew it. you’re gonna bring Koscheck up again in this thread. Very predictable Chase, hehe!!
by TheNegation on Sep 15, 2008 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if i kick someone square in the dick would they let me get away with it
by balls on Sep 13, 2008 9:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As long as the ref thought that the guy was screaming in pain and holding his nuts because of a clean inside leg kick and gave you the TKO, then I’m sure NSAC would let you get away with it.
by Joe Smith on Sep 14, 2008 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As a matter of fact, Kevin Burns said he had surgery in one of his hands (the one that poked Johnson) and explained after the fight that he was unable to make a fist and thus had to keep his hand open palmed.
by J on Sep 13, 2008 9:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Therefore he should never be allowed to fight in the UFC again. he needs to go jump off a cliff. enough said. and no I don’t care if I am being disrespectful or not I hate him and the good for nothing NSAC.
by Wanderlei Fan on Sep 13, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think anyone’s going to debate that, but I can’t see anyone with half a brain thinking that the TKO should be upheld because of it.
On a related note, Daiju Takase is appealing his DQ loss to Terry Martin because he had surgery on his leg and now every time he tries an inside leg kick, can’t get his leg to move side-to-side at all. It’s just a straight up-and-down motion, but he can’t help it: It’s the surgery’s fault.
by Joe Smith on Sep 13, 2008 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
F**k the NSAC, lazy bastards… lack of remedy or lack of professionalism??
by medecine balls on Sep 13, 2008 9:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The NSAC is showing a lack of common sense.
by the_mexicutioner on Sep 13, 2008 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
next time johnson should employ the 3 stooges eye poke block
by day1er on Sep 13, 2008 9:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I can train fighters for this at my camp,for a lot less than Ibarras camp.
by CLETIS on Sep 14, 2008 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What BS. Why is there even an appeals court? The only time I’ve ever seen a fight outcome overturned (mma and boxing) is when a fighter fails a drug/steroid test. Its really pitiful and a shame when athletic commissions fail to recognize they’ve made the wrong call, which is why they have the appeals court, and clearly shows that any man with power can’t admit they are wrong (at least Maz admitted it though). If they was ever an outcome to be overturned, this was it (just watch the damn replay, clear cut case). I guess it just proves to every fighter that trying to appeal is just a waste of time.
by LouShine on Sep 13, 2008 10:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That is bull. If Burns can’t throw his jab with a closed fist he should not be allowed to fight in UFC. I don’t care what anyone else has to say about it. It is a unfair health Hazard to every one he fights. I mean look at my boys eye. Burns can poke an eye out or something. It’s a load of crap Anthony Johnson was on his way to winning that one before burns had to go and be a little fagot and mess things up. Burns is dead to me and I hope he never fights anyone I like again cause the next guy he fights might not come out with both eyes intact.
I Hate You Kevin Burns and I Hope You Never Fight In Any Big Show Again.
A.J. much love man there will be other ones.
by Wanderlei Fan on Sep 13, 2008 10:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
His hand got hurt so he couldn’t close it, it was one fight he was doing it in, it’s not like all his fights are won by eye poke. saying Anthony johsnson is your favorite fighter, is like saying kimbo is, he wasn’t done anything yet in the sport.
by Chase on Sep 13, 2008 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wandi sorry for the favorite fighter part, I misread the just like part.
by Chase on Sep 13, 2008 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is darn straight. I am a wandi fan obviously by my name, but it is perfectly fine to enjoy other fighters I mean last I heard that was what this site was about a bunch of people who enjoy fighting and fighters comming together and talking about the subject. A.J. happens to be one of my Fav up and comers along with Nate Diaz and if u look more closely at my comment you will see I don’t give a flying F**k if u agree with me or not, but if u do Holla.
by Wanderlei Fan on Sep 14, 2008 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like how you say “it’s not like all his fights are won by eye poke”. Whether it’s accidental or not, there shouldn’t be such a thing as a victory by eye poke. What’s next, victory by knee to the balls? Maybe Matt Hamill should smash a guy in the back of the head on his way to his corner and then say he didn’t hear the bell. Then I’d like to see your post defending him, saying that it’s not like he wins all of his fights be sucker punches after the bell. Saying that Burns is your favorite fighter is like saying Kimbo is.
by Joe Smith on Sep 14, 2008 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Koscheck hasn’t done anything to the sport either Chase…
by TheNegation on Sep 15, 2008 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This beggars belief. It cannot be denied that Burns was warned about figures in the eye throughout the fight. It is obvious that Burns did jam his finger in Johnson’s eye. It is clear that the decision should not stand. How could the appeal court make this ruling?
Does anyone know what they meant by ‘lack of remedy’?
by zulu9812 on Sep 13, 2008 10:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think it means they don’t think there’s any way to make it right. But, there are two obvious ways to make it right: either call it a NC or a DQ.
by Joe Smith on Sep 13, 2008 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I assume they mean there isn’t a viable way to remedy the situation. Which is BS. A very simple remedy would be to go back and change the record to reflect a Win via DQ in favor of Johnson. Or, at the very least a No Contest.
by Tyler on Sep 13, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rumble got screwed harder than a $2 hooker.
by nath on Sep 13, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
im normally nice to those ones, its the $.50 ones that i break the bed with
by brendan on Sep 13, 2008 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They should call it a no contest, if they say that marijuana is a performance enhancement and poking someone in the eye and detaching their retina is not?
These people are RETARDS.
by DirtyML on Sep 13, 2008 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
this is totally stupid. burns clearly should be dq’d. one of the uf’c rules is no eye gouging. and burns’s excuse of just having surgery and not being able to close his hand makes this even worse. if a fighter cant make a fist and has to punch with open hand he shouldnt be allowed to fight. being able to poke ur opponents eyes out for whatever reason is an unfair advantage. with this retarted decision, what’s to stop other fighters from saying they have an injury to their hand so they can throw open handed jabs too. im a huge MMA fan. but i just lost a little repsect for the sport.
and it really doesnt matter who was ahead before the poke. burns should have been dq’d. dana step up.
by COR on Sep 14, 2008 1:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“if a fighter cant make a fist and has to punch with open hand he shouldnt be allowed to fight. "
I have to disagree with that just because open palm strikes are legal.
He should be reprimanded though for knowingly being unable to make a fist and then proceeding to throw an uppercut, in that context it seems almost intentional IMO and that is why it pisses me off that the NSAC does not turn this into a DQ/NC.
by DirtyML on Sep 14, 2008 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Palm strikes are legal, but he wasn’t thrusting his palm forward. He had his hand flat and parallel to the ground, fingers extended. A nickel’s worth of common sense would tell you that’s a bad idea, especially after receiving numerous warnings for it during the fight. Burns is a dirty son of a bitch, and if he can’t throw a legal punch he needs to go get a job.
by PW on Sep 14, 2008 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
right palms strikes are legal but if u have ever taken any kind of martial arts where they use palm strikes u would know they bend there fingers in to help expose the palm. not leave them out cause then u either poke the other guy in the eye or risk breaking a finger. leaving your fingers out like that in comp is stupid and irresponsible.
But I commend u for at least admitting that A.J. should have won, and respect your point of view.
Thank u for actually reading what I had to say and coming up with an intelligent response unlike Chase.
by Wanderlei Fan on Sep 14, 2008 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lack of remedy means the rules as they are currently written don’t allow a result to be overturned based on info gathered from instant replay. In short, the rule needs to be added allowing a ref or commission to change a call based on video.
by pancakehead on Sep 14, 2008 1:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
ok chase you’re being riduculously unreasonable …I’m not an Anthony Johnson nuthugger or anything but he definitely was winning the fight..he was more accurate and had Burns rocked a couple times. in your mind what was burns doing to be winning the fight? And I don’t think AJ is overhyped. it’s not like he’s being billed as a pound for pound contender or anything…he’s just being billed as an exciting fighter…which he 100%absolutley is
by bullshido on Sep 14, 2008 2:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Johnson might not even be able to fight like he did, maybe not even fight ever again. The loss alon is an upset but if loses his sight or cant focus thats a bigger upset. That shi*ty for him and i hope he’ll fight another day, and fight to get that record change thats B.S!!
by Sir_alan on Sep 14, 2008 2:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This guy needs to stop whining and shut up.
by RandomTask on Sep 14, 2008 7:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kevin Burns needs to watch some Pancrase if he wants to throw open-palm strikes. If he can’t throw a proper one, he should GTFO.
by Pat on Sep 14, 2008 8:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yes.. Pat you’re absolutely right, AJ lost because of a mongo that aims to put his fingers in ppls eyes.. Kevin Burns should not be in the UFC if he can’t punch
by RoB on Sep 14, 2008 8:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We should start a petition to get this loss taken off his record.
by Jon on Sep 14, 2008 8:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
everyone knows mazzagati is bs ref. lesnar fight, alexander fight, and now johnsons fight
by Willy on Sep 14, 2008 8:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If u cant remedy that. What good are you?
by Harry Triangle on Sep 14, 2008 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
what the hell is a lack of remedy? isn’t that what they are their for??
by Katch22 on Sep 14, 2008 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey, does anybody know alot about how the beting works? I bet on Johnson to win, and lost of course, but if they overturned this, do you think betus would have re-imbursed me as if I had won?
by The Anomaly on Sep 14, 2008 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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