Gumshield Antics!

[Dioufy]

If a fighter needs to spit out his gumsheild like Sexton did last night, I don't really have a problem with that. But what I do have a problem with is that there's not enough punishment for doing it.

It can change fights. Just off the back of my head - Corrales/Castillo, Mezaache/Thaxton and last night.

Furthermore, I think there should be a minimum of a 2-point deduction for purposely spitting it out, and the points should be taken off at the end of the round. Plus, I believe the referee should carry a spare and temporary shield till the end of the round too.

What do you think?

[slapbangwhallop]

i know fighters can use this as a tactic to buy time but sometimes it just falls out as the fighter has his mouth wide open and is gasping for air.

do you think it was purposeful last night?

[Dioufy]

But there are some obvious ones. Perhaps a mandatory 1-point deduction for it accidentally coming out and a 2-point deduction for purposely spitting it out. Of course, the decision would be at the referee's discretion.

[brian13]

I think the easiest option is if the opposing corner puts it in for the fighter

[Spud]

If a fighter needs to spit out his gumsheild like Sexton did last night, I don't really have a problem with that. But what I do have a problem with is that there's not enough punishment for doing it.

Yet another inconsistency coming from the BBBofC!!!

[Poncey]

But there are some obvious ones. Perhaps a mandatory 1-point deduction for it accidentally coming out and a 2-point deduction for purposely spitting it out. Of course, the decision would be at the referee's discretion.

It's too hard to implement that idea. Either blanket or not at all. Personally I'm in favour of the former.

[liamlion]

i know fighters can use this as a tactic to buy time but sometimes it just falls out as the fighter has his mouth wide open and is gasping for air.

do you think it was purposeful last night?

I think Sexton's reaction (i.e the way he stood there, withdrawn from the fight pointing to the gumshield on the floor, portraying that he wasnt interested in re-engaging with the contest until it was picked up) suggests that it was intentional. Sexton's reaction led to his desired outcome: the stopping of the contest in order for him to get valuable recovery time.

The context is quite important... e.g. Rogan was punching holes through Sexton at the point that the gumshield came out. This raises the possibility that Sexton spat the gumshield out to buy himself some much needed time or that Rogan actually punched the gumshield from Sexton's mouth. Though, like I said Sexton was quick on the uptake (as soon as the gumshield had gone) and was making it expressly clear that he couldnt fight on until his gumshield was picked up. Regardless of whether the gumshield came out intentionally or not, Sexton clearly maximised the situation for his own benefit.

I know there are other threads about this... but Dave Parris' performance was absolutely disgusting. He was on Rogan's back almost every time he started nailing Sexton. Not the first time ive seen Dave Parris get on a fighter's back, almost to the point he seems obsessed.

[Dioufy]

But there are some obvious ones. Perhaps a mandatory 1-point deduction for it accidentally coming out and a 2-point deduction for purposely spitting it out. Of course, the decision would be at the referee's discretion.

It's too hard to implement that idea. Either blanket or not at all. Personally I'm in favour of the former.

I think it would be fair. It's not often a gumsheild gets knocked from your mouth - it's usually because you open your mouth too much to breathe or you spit it out wanting more time. I think it would be easy to implement. Remember, it does unjustly change fights.