NSAC won't take action against referee Steve Mazzagatti for shady WSOF 22 main event

Is Steve Mazzagatti a bad referee, or the victim of the sport's longest running smear campaign?

Well, that depends on who you ask. But the longtime man in black has a checkered history when it comes to high-profile mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts. In fact, former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar once refused to compete unless he was assigned a different official.

Anthony Johnson feels your pain.

To date, Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) -- the governing body responsible for "Sin City" officiating -- hasn't seen anything egregious enough from Mazzagatti (even this) to warrant an intervention (sorry, Jugs), including the recent debacle between Rousimar Palhares and Jake Shields.

Their WSOF 22 main event earlier this month in Las Vegas featured eye gouges, shady submissions, and greasy assholes.

"I have discussed the challenges referee Mazzagatti encountered," NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told MMA Fighting, "and we will continue to move forward."

Someone better check on Dana White and his guns.

To his credit, Mazzagatti will admit when he blows a call, but seems to get lanced by the combat sports community each and every time he makes a questionable decision (he explains why here). Then again, at the rate Herb Dean is going, Mazz could soon have some company in the referee doghouse.