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Interview w/ Marc Ratner at UFC 44: Undisputed
Reported By: Boxing Insider - 10.06.2003 02:26 AM
BoxingInsider.com caught up with the Executive Director, Nevada State Athletic Commission Marc Ratner for a few moments in the press room at UFC 44: Undisputed on September 26, 2003, and had a chance to ask him about the regulation of Mixed Martial Arts as well as the fall out from the Oscar De La Hoya - Sugar Shane Mosley fight and the future of the UFC.
BoxingInsider.com: How do you compare regulating the Ultimate Fighting Championship to boxing like the Oscar De La Hoya - Shane Mosley Fight?
Marc Ratner: They are both huge-huge events. The Oscar – Shane [match] is what we call a mega-fight. Tito and Shamrock last year, Tito and Randy Couture are big-big events. I am really looking forward ... there are a lot of details to work out, but they are both equally important.
BoxingInsider.com: From a regulatory standpoint, what are the major differences between UFC and Boxing and what is the same?
Marc Ratner: From a regulatory standpoint, the differences are the rules . . . we are learning about the rules, we are evolving with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Mixed Martial Arts. It’s going to be a learning process for the next couple of years.
We are developing officials. We have to work on getting the talent level of the officials deeper.
BoxingInsider.com: What do you say to the states that haven't yet regulated Mixed Martial Arts?
Marc Ratner: I say, “Give it a chance.” [It’s already] in New Jersey and Nevada and Florida. California is looking at it, and certainly New York is too. They should look at it because they are drawing huge crowds. We are going to do close to a $2 million dollar gate, that's extra revenue for the states.
So far in the State of Nevada it’s been perfectly safe and were are very happy with it.
BoxingInsider.com: What do you think the biggest misconception is with the Ultimate Fighting Championship?
Marc Ratner: With the beginning -- going back to the beginning of Ultimate Fighting. They advertised No Holds Barred, anything goes, and they have to get beyond that image. They are. There were no rules, there were no time limits at one time, and now everything has changed. It is much easier to regulate.
BoxingInsider.com: I have to ask you because this is also a boxing site. Is Bob Arum going to be sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission?
Marc Ratner: Bob Arum was out of line in what he said - he has issued a written apology, which was on the front page of the sports page. The commissioners will decide if in fact he will be on the agenda October 15th. He certainly still can be.
BoxingInsider.com: We received so much hate mail concerning that fight - more than any other fight in history. What do you say to all the fans out there that think this sport is corrupt – with Bob Arum fueling that fire saying this [the Nevada State Athletic Commission] is a corrupt organization?
Marc Ratner: We, in the sense he has taken that back . . . he was in the heat of the moment of course. The unfortunate part of the sport is sometimes the announcers flavor the way you look at it. The announcers for HBO were . . . very-very much . . . said that Oscar was winning the fight. The punch stats that they were showing to the audience showed that Oscar was throwing more punches and landing more, which is not a relevant statistic all the time. So any one who watched it on TV came away with a feeling that Oscar was winning the fight or had won the fight and all of a sudden Shane wins the fight.
The matter of fact was the fight was a close fight. It could have been 7-5, 6-6 of 7-5 the other way. That's how close it was.
There are three or four rounds that were very tight. And if the judges would have changed one round it’s a draw. And to say its corrupt or anything like else is certainly untrue.
I really believe if you really want to judge a fight . . . you can't judge from TV as well as you can in person. Most of the people around the ring had Mosley winning - the majority of the big sports writers. If you turn the sound down and don't get influenced by what the announcers say, you can get a little more honest opinion.
BoxingInsider.com: What do you think the future is for Ultimate Fighting Championship?
Marc Ratner: The future is as bright as it can be. The sky is blue. I think, as I said, this is a major event, the winners of this event will go on to even bigger things. All that I can say, as I said, is blue skies.
BoxingInsider.com: What would you say to the boxing writers that still refuse to cover Ultimate Fighting Championship?
Marc Ratner: Give it a chance and to look at it. It is a sport and the athletes are talented to go as long as they do - if you have to go five - five minute rounds fighting as well as wrestling as on the ground and its unbelievable. These guys are really true athletes.
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