UFC Vegas 107 unfolded last night, and it was mostly forgettable, save for the canceled main event featuring top-5 flyweights Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber. Yet, it may leave a lasting mark with the debut of the referee cam.
And boy oh boy, there was an absolutely brutal ref cam to start it off.
Welterweight Ramiz Brahimaj strangled Billy Ray Goff in under four minutes, putting him unconscious, and the ref cam captured the finish in visceral, up-close detail.
The ref cam isnât new to mixed martial arts (MMA). Pride pioneered it over two decades ago, and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has employed it for the past five years.
So, of course, MMA fans let UFC know they are late to the party.
Pride had this back in 2001
Pride was over 20 years ahead of UFC.
25 years too late
Wow, so cool! The UFC learned about head cameras 20 years after they were used
UFC has got to be desperate to pull this off
Canât believe it took them nearly 2 decades to get those but boy am I glad they finaly did!
It reminds me of the PRIDE days. And it doesnât feel cheesy like many people claim.
I initially thought the referees might be using the new Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses, given the UFCâs âgame-changingâ partnership with Meta earlier this year. Instead, the refs are equipped with a chest-mounted camera device.
Even if the UFC is over 20 years late to the ref cam game, better late than never. If UFC Vegas 107 is a preview of whatâs ahead, brace for more heart-pounding, brutal POV finishes.
Anyone who says itâs âcheesyâ is lying. Ref cam gives a great angle that traditional camera angles never capture. One of my biggest observations in fight sports is people criticize refs for bad stoppages. They definitely happen, but I always argue that not only does the ref have to make life changing decisions in real time, but they can see things that may not be visible even on the ring apron.
This
So after Pride, Bellator and the PFL used ref cams⌠now ufc does and thinks theyâre innovators Lol
I doubt they think this. But that wonât stop them from claiming it. Regardless, Iâm excited to see some of the views.
The bugs been going around.
The regional promotion I do commentary for in WV and KY has been using them for the past 6 months or so.
Is the UFC claiming primacy on this? I just assumed they were joining in on what others have been doing.
They are
Petey, your heart!!!
Please just bring back Pride