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.
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.
Murphy's opponent for his MMA debut was anything but a novice. Ronaldo Jacare Souza began training in judo at age 14 and later changed his focus to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He's now a BJJ black belt and one of the most feared submission grapplers in the world. Jacare's original opponent--tough veteran Frank Trigg--would have found him a difficult matchup. After Trigg was forced to withdraw days before the fight, DREAM management approached Murphy who readily agreed to take the fight.
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 hadnt any real experience or knowledge competing or even training in a mixed martial arts environment. That training would have taken him to a point where he could at least sublimate the problematic emotional cocktail of fear, excitement, nervousness, uncertainty and confusion. Murphy's amateur wrestling pedigree aside, DREAM might as well have picked someone out of the audience as they would have had a greater familiarity with MMA.
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 is the one player in this story that can be held blameless. He did what a fighter is supposed to do, which is to try to defeat his opponent to the best of his ability. Virtually everyone else involved in the fight bears some measure of culpability. FEG should never have booked Murphy to fight, Murphys handlers should have never accepted knowing their fighters almost non-existent MMA training and the official in the ring for not stopping the fight much sooner. At least this tale of indifference and ineptitude has a somewhat happy ending as Murphy emerged unscathed, with the exception of having suffered a beating. Still, the potential for disaster and tragedy by involving a completely inexperienced fighter in the event is significant as is the collateral damage such an occurrence would have on MMA worldwide.
A legitimate regulatory body would have never allowed the Murphy/Jacare fight to take place, but unfortunately such oversight doesn't exist in Japanese fight sports. In the US, state athletic commissions regulate mixed martial arts using many of the same rules as boxing. In Japan, it's essentially unregulated and exists in a 'wild west' type environment where literally anything goes.
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.
Unfortunately, there's no real mandate for change within the Japanese political culture. Even should a death occur in Japan, its unlikely that would spur much demand for stricter oversight of mixed martial arts. Perhaps the best near term catalyst for change is the Japanese fight fans who should hold promoters accountable for the way they treat and protect their fighters.
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.
Murphy's opponent for his MMA debut was anything but a novice. Ronaldo Jacare Souza began training in judo at age 14 and later changed his focus to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He's now a BJJ black belt and one of the most feared submission grapplers in the world. Jacare's original opponent--tough veteran Frank Trigg--would have found him a difficult matchup. After Trigg was forced to withdraw days before the fight, DREAM management approached Murphy who readily agreed to take the fight.
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 hadnt any real experience or knowledge competing or even training in a mixed martial arts environment. That training would have taken him to a point where he could at least sublimate the problematic emotional cocktail of fear, excitement, nervousness, uncertainty and confusion. Murphy's amateur wrestling pedigree aside, DREAM might as well have picked someone out of the audience as they would have had a greater familiarity with MMA.
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 is the one player in this story that can be held blameless. He did what a fighter is supposed to do, which is to try to defeat his opponent to the best of his ability. Virtually everyone else involved in the fight bears some measure of culpability. FEG should never have booked Murphy to fight, Murphys handlers should have never accepted knowing their fighters almost non-existent MMA training and the official in the ring for not stopping the fight much sooner. At least this tale of indifference and ineptitude has a somewhat happy ending as Murphy emerged unscathed, with the exception of having suffered a beating. Still, the potential for disaster and tragedy by involving a completely inexperienced fighter in the event is significant as is the collateral damage such an occurrence would have on MMA worldwide.
A legitimate regulatory body would have never allowed the Murphy/Jacare fight to take place, but unfortunately such oversight doesn't exist in Japanese fight sports. In the US, state athletic commissions regulate mixed martial arts using many of the same rules as boxing. In Japan, it's essentially unregulated and exists in a 'wild west' type environment where literally anything goes.
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.
Unfortunately, there's no real mandate for change within the Japanese political culture. Even should a death occur in Japan, its unlikely that would spur much demand for stricter oversight of mixed martial arts. Perhaps the best near term catalyst for change is the Japanese fight fans who should hold promoters accountable for the way they treat and protect their fighters.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a staff handicapper for a number of offshore sports books 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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