Randy Couture insists that the closing seconds of Saturday’s defeat to Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 were handled properly by referee Mario Yamasaki.

Some have been critical of Yamasaki for allowing Lesnar to land so many blows to Couture before the fight was stopped.

UFC President Dana White said after Lesnar became the new UFC Heavyweight champion that Yamasaki’s handling of the fight neared the “fine line,” adding he was worried Yamasaki had “crossed that line” when Couture tried to stand up after the TKO and sank briefly downward.

But while Couture has admitted he “felt a little dizzy and wanted to wait a minute” after being defeated by the former WWE star, the UFC legend has also defended Yamasaki and said the knockdown was handled appropriately.

He told the Los Angeles Times: “I’ve seen worse things. In my first fight with Pedro Rizzo, I hit him for over a minute, pretty solid, I punched myself out when I realized the ref wasn’t going to stop it. The ref [John McCarthy] was right, Rizzo won the next round.”

Couture said as he absorbed Lesnar’s blows in Las Vegas on Saturday, he was trying to position for a submission hold, but had no answer to overcome Lesnar’s 45-pound advantage.

“The rules of engagement allow you to punch your opponent when you’re on the ground, and nothing Brock did on the ground was that dramatic,” Couture added. “I don’t have a stitch on my face, all my bruises are gone, I wasn’t unconscious.

“I was doing my best to recover…Mario did exactly what he should have.”

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Officer Keith Kizer said he thought the bout was handled properly.

“When these guys are on the ground, they don’t have the leverage to really punch as hard as when they’re upright,” Kizer said. “It doesn’t mean those punches don’t cause damage, but I saw Mario was right there watching. He can hear any grunts or groans, or heavy breathing that would indicate a guy’s in real trouble, and he can watch the eyes.”

He added: “You have to give a guy like Randy more of the benefit of doubt. He’s been around long enough to know that if he was in real trouble he would’ve tapped.

“This sport is not anything goes anymore. Mario was observant, and he stopped it when he should have.”

Phil Lowe
phil@ifight365.com