It happens in combat sports more often than fans of MMA or Boxing would like. A fight just starts getting good, just starts heating up, or in some cases...just gets started and BAM - we hear that phrase even the fighters don't like, "...the ref calls a halt to this bout"In the moment nothing could irritate you more - but it wouldn't be fair to go any further with this greivence before pointing out that (A) there are stoppages fans will boo until they pass out from loss of air...and they're wrong. Some fights are best stopped. And (B) despite the ugly rumors and statements you may read online and in print, promoters like Gary Shaw DO care about the well-being of the fighters and that influence may cause some officials to stop a fight before realizing that they shouldn't have at all yet.Could be many referees don't want to see fighters hurt as well as not wanting to be associated with the 'should've been stopped' fight that ended up in an untimely death.

In the past few weeks there have been at least three fights that could have been allowed to go on, yet the official in the cage saw it differently.  Each of the three instances saw the crowd on hand very much, dissatisfied by the end being declared. And what are the three fights?

Parisyan vs. Alves (UFC)
Malaipet vs. Denny (ShoXC)
Hamman vs. Suganuma (ShoXC)

Of these three it appeared Parisyan was the best candidate for being declared beaten against Thiago Alves, though he did seem ok to go on shortly after it was done. It just left you feeling incomplete because at the time, Karo had controlled the fight entirely until that moment, so suddenly it looked like this would be a nice back and forth match-up and it's done.

Thomas "the Wildman" Denny dominated the hell out of Malaipet, who was reminded Muay Thai isn't a ground fighting style, then threw in the towel due to strikes behind his head. Many thought it was BS, many agreed a hurt fighter should not fight on - but it may have been Denny's mixed message that did him the greatest disservice.

Just after the stoppage he told Stephen Quadros he was ready to go, wanted to fight but the lumps behind his head, he couldn't turn his head, etc - All people heard was his saying he was ready to go and wouldn't. Was Denny so hurt he couldn't fight on? Only he really knows but the stoppage sure did leave a near orgasmic audience with an unfulfilled feeling.
 

Lastly is Jared Hamman against Po'ai Suganuma. Clearly Po'ai saw Hamman's aggressive game plan and raised him one. Wow what a fast start! And Po'ai is very accurate, quick and attuned to his defensive needs when letting loose with such fury. He rocked Hamman with a right, then a flying knee that made Croching Tiger's special effects look weak. Jared Hamman hit the canvas, covered up...Po'ai pounced on top of him and before letting a single shot off, the referee waived him off - it was over.

What bothered many of us cage-side was the face that this ref, who has done a lot of boxing, didn't appear to look at Hamman at all. A stoppage is an assessment based on the opinion that a fighter cannot continue, defend himself, etc - so how do you make that call without looking at who it is you're considering unable to continue??

It also didn't hurt to see a clear minded Hamman on his feet and pissed off because the fight was over. Po'ai Suganuma should NOT be looked at unfavorably in any way because of this. The one thing he did to contribute to this stoppage was to beat down Hamman incredibly fast and extremely undaunted. But again, Jared Hamman never had a chance to show he couldn't protect himself from guard, lay and pray, rest...then scramble and fight on, possibly scoring his own KO to win.

To quote someone who says it the best, "You must protect yourselves at all times" - Oh wait...that's the ref who says that. I wonder if sometimes he isn't just talking to himself.