Ian Murphy was most definitely in too deep and the fact he was allowed to fight at DREAM.2 in April 2009 against Ronaldo Jacare underscores the profound lack of regulation and oversight of Japanese mixed martial arts. There really is no regulatory oversight of the sport or the actions of individual promoters. The fight culture rooted in sumo and continued in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts is extremely backwards. Fight promoters first, second and third priorities are making money. With the exception of the top stars, fighters are largely viewed as interchangeable and expendable. Mandatory drug testing is completely nonexistent and theres little elective testing by the individual promotions. Even the simplest steps to protect the fighters well being are unenforced or non-existent.
A matchup between Ian Murphy and Ronaldo Jacare would have almost certainly been refused sanctioning in the United States. Murphy, a very young 22, was a standout collegiate wrestler who as of a couple of months ago was completing his senior season at Cal State Fullerton. Despite this impressive background, hed been training seriously in mixed martial arts for just over a month. He'd never had an amateur MMA fight, and the fight against Jacare was his professional debut. Murphy certainly has an athletic background that would suggest potential as a mixed martial artist but at this time hes almost a complete 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 fight itself was essentially over before it began. Murphy was visibly nervous to the point of near panic as he made his ring walk. He could be seen taking a few deep breaths to steady his nerves. While any fighter would have felt a few butterflies walking into Saitama Super Arena for the first time, Murphys obvious apprehension transcended this. This underscored the reality that he hadn't any real experience or knowledge competing or even training in a mixed martial arts environment. While his collegiate background is impressive, DREAM could have likely found an equally competitive opponent for Jacare on the street in front of the arena.
Jacare dominated the fight from start to finish, with Murphy's strength and physical conditioning the only things that kept the fight going as long as it did. Murphy's cornermen were clearly clueless about how to help their fighter. The end came when Jacare made Murphy 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.
There have been some incremental changes to the Japanese fight sport world, specifically the creation of a Japanese Mixed Martial Arts Commission to serve as an oversight body for the sport. At this point, however, it is an independent entity and without some government involvement to give their regulatory efforts some 'teeth' they can't have much of an impact.
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.
A matchup between Ian Murphy and Ronaldo Jacare would have almost certainly been refused sanctioning in the United States. Murphy, a very young 22, was a standout collegiate wrestler who as of a couple of months ago was completing his senior season at Cal State Fullerton. Despite this impressive background, hed been training seriously in mixed martial arts for just over a month. He'd never had an amateur MMA fight, and the fight against Jacare was his professional debut. Murphy certainly has an athletic background that would suggest potential as a mixed martial artist but at this time hes almost a complete 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 fight itself was essentially over before it began. Murphy was visibly nervous to the point of near panic as he made his ring walk. He could be seen taking a few deep breaths to steady his nerves. While any fighter would have felt a few butterflies walking into Saitama Super Arena for the first time, Murphys obvious apprehension transcended this. This underscored the reality that he hadn't any real experience or knowledge competing or even training in a mixed martial arts environment. While his collegiate background is impressive, DREAM could have likely found an equally competitive opponent for Jacare on the street in front of the arena.
Jacare dominated the fight from start to finish, with Murphy's strength and physical conditioning the only things that kept the fight going as long as it did. Murphy's cornermen were clearly clueless about how to help their fighter. The end came when Jacare made Murphy 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.
There have been some incremental changes to the Japanese fight sport world, specifically the creation of a Japanese Mixed Martial Arts Commission to serve as an oversight body for the sport. At this point, however, it is an independent entity and without some government involvement to give their regulatory efforts some 'teeth' they can't have much of an impact.
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 staff handicapper for Sports-1 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 websites providing insight on how to bet on CFL football, MMA and boxing.
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