Ian Murphy was in over his head from the start, and the fact that he was even allowed to participate at the DREAM 2 MMA card against Ronaldo Jacare demonstrates the lack of significant regulatory oversight in Japanese fight sports. The Japanese fight culture, rooted in sumo and continued through pro wrestling and mixed martial arts is extremely backwards and particularly concerning the well being of the fighters. With the exception of top stars, most fighters are viewed as interchangeable commodities. Mandatory drug testing doesn't exist, and individual promoters do little elective testing. In some cases even the simplest steps to protect the fighters' safety are not taken.
There's not a state athletic commission in the US that would have sanctioned the DREAM 2 matchup between Ian Murphy and Ronaldo Jacare. Murphy had just turned 22, and as of a couple of months prior to his DREAM 2 appearance was completing his senior season of wrestling at Cal State Fullerton. While he was a standout collegiate wrestler, he'd been seriously training for mixed martial arts for little more than a month. He'd never even had an amateur fight. While his athletic background definitely suggests potential as a MMA fighter he was essentially a novice.
His opponent at DREAM.2, Ronaldo Jacare Souza most decidedly was not. Jacare began training in judo at age 14 and later changed his focus to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Now 27, Jacare is a BJJ black belt and has been called one of the most feared submission grapplers in the world. That was evidenced in 2006 when Jacare fought former UFC heavyweight champ Randy Couture to a draw in a submission wrestling event. Jacare would have been a tough matchup for even his original opponent, tough veteran Frank Trigg. When Trigg pulled out less than a week before the fight DREAM parent company FEG approached Murphy who readily agreed.
The actual fight was over before it began. Murphy was clearly nervous verging on panic as he walked to the ring. He could clearly be seen breathing deeply trying to steady his nerves. This transcended mere 'butterflies' that any fighter would have felt walking into a revered venue like Tokyo's Saitama Super Arena for the first time. It underscored the reality that he hadnt any real experience or knowledge competing or even training in a mixed martial arts environment. Murphy's collegiate wrestling background notwithstanding, DREAM could have picked an opponent for Jacare out of the audience at random and achieved a more competitive matchup.
From the start of the match it was all Jacare. Murphy tried to use the only real weapon at his disposal and shot in attempting to take down his opponent. He partially succeeded, but more likely Jacare allowed himself to be taken down. From this point on, Murphy was in Jacares world where he received an emphatic crash course in submission ground fighting. Jacare eventually forced Murphy to tap out to a rear naked choke, evidencing that he'd had no experience on how to defend a basic MMA submission.
Ronaldo Jacare may be the only person involved who is above reproach. He did what a fighter is supposed to do, which is show up in shape and try to defeat his opponent to the best of his ability. Everyone else involved shares some degree of blame. FEG should have never booked Murphy against such a dangerous opponent, and Murphy's management team should have never accepted. Even Murphy can't be held from responsibility--he should have known that he wasn't far enough along in his development as a fighter to take on one of the best submission specialists in the world. The good news is that Murphy made it through the fight unharmed, aside from suffering a decent beating. Still, the potential for tragedy by pitting a completely inexperienced fighter is apparent.
Any legitimate regulatory oversight body would have done what everyone else involved did not by refusing to sanction this fight. In Japan, however, there isn't any significant oversight of the sort and none focused on the well being of the fighters. In the United States, the sport is regulated by state athletic commissions in the same way as boxing. In Japan, the sport that grew out of professional wrestling is regulated in essentially the same way. That is to say like pro wrestling its largely anything goes in terms of rules, safety and other issues concerning fighter well being.
While change comes slowly in Japanese culture, there have been some signs of improvement in the oversight of mixed martial arts. The promotion behind World Victory Road has done what they can to rectify the situation with regard to MMA by creating a Japan Mixed Martial Arts Commission to serve as the oversight authority for the sport. Unfortunately, without some government involvement its unlikely they can have much of an impact just as the supposed current group in charge of rules in Japanese MMA, the International Shooto Commission, has been rendered largely impotent. Promoters simply have no compulsion to adhere to the standards of these groups.
The sad reality is that with the glacial pace of progressive reform within Japanese political culture any government involvement is unlikely. Even if a death were to occur the lack of progress in boxing regulation when faced with a similar scenario doesn't provide much hope for improved safety rules for MMA fighters. While WVR is trying with their MMA oversight commission the only hope for real change in the near term is for promoters to realize that protecting their fighters is in the best interest of the sport which, in turn, is good for the bottom line.
There's not a state athletic commission in the US that would have sanctioned the DREAM 2 matchup between Ian Murphy and Ronaldo Jacare. Murphy had just turned 22, and as of a couple of months prior to his DREAM 2 appearance was completing his senior season of wrestling at Cal State Fullerton. While he was a standout collegiate wrestler, he'd been seriously training for mixed martial arts for little more than a month. He'd never even had an amateur fight. While his athletic background definitely suggests potential as a MMA fighter he was essentially a novice.
His opponent at DREAM.2, Ronaldo Jacare Souza most decidedly was not. Jacare began training in judo at age 14 and later changed his focus to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Now 27, Jacare is a BJJ black belt and has been called one of the most feared submission grapplers in the world. That was evidenced in 2006 when Jacare fought former UFC heavyweight champ Randy Couture to a draw in a submission wrestling event. Jacare would have been a tough matchup for even his original opponent, tough veteran Frank Trigg. When Trigg pulled out less than a week before the fight DREAM parent company FEG approached Murphy who readily agreed.
The actual fight was over before it began. Murphy was clearly nervous verging on panic as he walked to the ring. He could clearly be seen breathing deeply trying to steady his nerves. This transcended mere 'butterflies' that any fighter would have felt walking into a revered venue like Tokyo's Saitama Super Arena for the first time. It underscored the reality that he hadnt any real experience or knowledge competing or even training in a mixed martial arts environment. Murphy's collegiate wrestling background notwithstanding, DREAM could have picked an opponent for Jacare out of the audience at random and achieved a more competitive matchup.
From the start of the match it was all Jacare. Murphy tried to use the only real weapon at his disposal and shot in attempting to take down his opponent. He partially succeeded, but more likely Jacare allowed himself to be taken down. From this point on, Murphy was in Jacares world where he received an emphatic crash course in submission ground fighting. Jacare eventually forced Murphy to tap out to a rear naked choke, evidencing that he'd had no experience on how to defend a basic MMA submission.
Ronaldo Jacare may be the only person involved who is above reproach. He did what a fighter is supposed to do, which is show up in shape and try to defeat his opponent to the best of his ability. Everyone else involved shares some degree of blame. FEG should have never booked Murphy against such a dangerous opponent, and Murphy's management team should have never accepted. Even Murphy can't be held from responsibility--he should have known that he wasn't far enough along in his development as a fighter to take on one of the best submission specialists in the world. The good news is that Murphy made it through the fight unharmed, aside from suffering a decent beating. Still, the potential for tragedy by pitting a completely inexperienced fighter is apparent.
Any legitimate regulatory oversight body would have done what everyone else involved did not by refusing to sanction this fight. In Japan, however, there isn't any significant oversight of the sort and none focused on the well being of the fighters. In the United States, the sport is regulated by state athletic commissions in the same way as boxing. In Japan, the sport that grew out of professional wrestling is regulated in essentially the same way. That is to say like pro wrestling its largely anything goes in terms of rules, safety and other issues concerning fighter well being.
While change comes slowly in Japanese culture, there have been some signs of improvement in the oversight of mixed martial arts. The promotion behind World Victory Road has done what they can to rectify the situation with regard to MMA by creating a Japan Mixed Martial Arts Commission to serve as the oversight authority for the sport. Unfortunately, without some government involvement its unlikely they can have much of an impact just as the supposed current group in charge of rules in Japanese MMA, the International Shooto Commission, has been rendered largely impotent. Promoters simply have no compulsion to adhere to the standards of these groups.
The sad reality is that with the glacial pace of progressive reform within Japanese political culture any government involvement is unlikely. Even if a death were to occur the lack of progress in boxing regulation when faced with a similar scenario doesn't provide much hope for improved safety rules for MMA fighters. While WVR is trying with their MMA oversight commission the only hope for real change in the near term is for promoters to realize that protecting their fighters is in the best interest of the sport which, in turn, is good for the bottom line.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for a number of offshore sportsbooks and an authority on UFC betting. He's a noted expert on sports handicapping theory, as well as financial investment strategy. He contributes to a number of online media outlets providing insight on how to bet on CFL football, MMA and boxing.
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