As I posted here, at the end of the Daley Koscheck fight at UFC 113, Daley sucker-punched Koscheck with a left hook.
In response, during the post-fight presser, Dana White stated that Daley was done in the UFC. In addition, the Régie des Alcools, des Courses et des Jeux (Regulators of Alcohol, Racing and Gaming) -- Quebec Athletic Commission -- will undoubtedly suspend Daley and that suspension will likely be upheld by other athletic commissions under other athletic commissions' regulations (for an example of how this works, see this post).
Some have taken issue and said that an outright ban from the UFC is too extreme. While this is not the focus of my post, I will go on the record and state that I don't necessarily agree. Daley's actions detract from the sport -- no matter how you slice it -- and while I enjoy a good train wreck as much as the next guy, it doesn't help MMA's cause and is just one more arrow in the quiver for those, like the politicians in New York, who oppose lifting the ban here. I realize that Daley's actions were a direct result of frustration and that everyone makes mistakes, but at this level (and on this stage) the fighters need to respect the sport and keep their emotions in check. Bottom line, I think the UFC could have gone either way with this one.
The more interesting question raised in response to Dana White's statement is whether the UFC is taking inconsistent positions by banning Daley while apparently taking no action with respect to Nate Diaz (for his involvement in the Strikeforce Melee that I posted about here) and attempting to bring over Jake Shields who also participated in the Strikeforce brawl. While I agree that in both instances, i.e. Strikeforce and Daley, a punch was thrown after a fight, I think the circumstances of each is sufficiently distinguishable so that the UFC's positions can be reconciled.
First, with respect to Nate Diaz, as I state in my post here, I don't think the UFC should involve itself with a fighter's actions during another promotion:
I am not buying it [that action should be taken by the UFC against Nate Diaz based on his Strikeforce actions] even if the UFC contract so provides, which of course would not surprise me, i.e., the UFC (or Zuffa) probably has the right to fine fighters or terminate the contract for good cause or no cause at all. The Tennessee Athletic Commission will investigate and levy whatever fines and suspensions it deems fit. It doesn't take a lawyer to realize this, but in my opinion the UFC shouldn't touch this with a ten-foot pole. No reason to tangle itself in this mess period. Stay above the fray. That's just my opinion.
Second, unlike the punch by Daley -- which was totally unprovoked and unexpected and occurred after the fight had ended, the Strikeforce situation was provoked (whether Mayhem threw the first punch or not) as Mayhem entered the cage after Shields won the fight and called him out on national, network television. Further, Mayhem was in a defensive mode after the first push (by I believe Melendez) and certainly once the punches started flying he shelled up and was protecting himself.
Koscheck, on the other hand, was simply walking away (although he does appear to have raised his hands just too late) and really had no reason to expect that Daley was going to punch him in the face (as opposed to say, doing the right thing by congratulating Koscheck and tell him that all the back-and-forth bantering was just to hype the fight) after the fight had ended.
Bottom line, I think the UFC's positions can be reconciled because in the Strikeforce situation Mayhem was also in the wrong for his actions and once the fists started flying everyone was to blame whereas with the UFC situation Koscheck did nothing to provoke Daley other than dominate him in the fight. Don't get me wrong, I believe Shields, Mayhem and others should, and will, be suspended by the Tennessee Athletic Commission and will have to wait for their next fights, but I just think that Daley was far more culpable for his classless actions.
Fight Lawyer
