UFC to review Silva vs. Prater, manager hopes for official result change
Manager Wallid Ismail would like his client Erick Silva's loss changed to a win, or at the very least, a no-contest.
As early as next week, he could get an answer. Ismail today told MMAjunkie.com that UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner has assured him a review of the Silva vs. Carlo Prater, which took place this past Saturday at UFC 142.
"Erick didn't lose the fight," Ismail said. "No way he lost the fight."
Silva was disqualified by Mario Yamasaki after 29 seconds in the cage with Prater on the main card of the Jan. 14 event, which took place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro and aired live on pay-per-view.
After the fight, Yamasaki told UFC commentator Joe Rogan that he made the ruling due to Silva landing strikes to the back of the head, which are illegal under the unified rules of MMA.
Replays of the stoppage appeared to show at least one strike landing illegally after Silva sent Prater to the canvas with a knee and followed with a flurry of hammerfists that prompted Yamasaki to wave off the bout.
At the post-event press conference, UFC president Dana White told MMAjunkie.com that despite the official result, Silva would be paid as if he won the fight. He also expressed openness to a review of the bout.
"I would appeal it if I was him," he said. "The thing is that when you do it, Ratner is the guy to talk to about this. We try to run things the way that they're supposed to be run, like the athletic commission would."
In countries without athletic commissions, the UFC acts as the de-facto regulator of its events, a job that Ratner oversees. For his part, Ratner confirmed today that he hasn't yet reviewed the tape, but will do so within the week.
"He clipped the guy with a knee, the guy fell, blacked out, and the [referee] don't understand about the business," Ismail said.
Multiple attempts to reach Yamasaki and Prater's representative were unsuccessful.
Ismail said he'll accept whatever decision the UFC makes, but he's hopeful that Silva won't have a black mark on his record.
"We need to [have] replays," he said. "We have the technology. Why not use it?"
Ratner indicated that instant replay was not available at UFC 142 but plans to implement it for future international events. Domestically, he hopes to expand its use, as well.
"We hope that more states will institute instant replay to help the sport," he said.
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