Comments on: Dana White addresses Vaseline allegations made against Georges St. Pierre

By: JDamico23

JDamico23 — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:50:26 +0000

if they banned elbows, kenny florian might never win another big fight

By: Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:42:39 +0000

Agree Mah Mah. Bhyahhh

By: Grappo

Grappo — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:34:34 +0000

Yeah, most of the cuts seem to be caused by elbows. And you know what, oftentimes the fighter seems to be TRYING to cause a cut. For some, that’s the only reason to throw a bow. So ban elbows? Of course not. Cuts are a part of fighting. If one is bad enough to stop a fight, then so be it. I’m not going to cry about that if it happens. Just seems to me that vaseline’s effectiveness at stopping cuts is questionable, while the negative ramifications are cut and dry by comparison.

By: Dr.Stoppage

Dr.Stoppage — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:52:27 +0000

Based on the current rule,GSP’s corner did nothing wrong.
The NSAC wiped off what they considered excessive,and the fight continued.

This rule is in the same area as the 10 pt must system.
Made for boxing, not MMA.

The NSAC and UFC need to be more specific about what is considered “excessive”.

Change the rules a little.and help the sport grow so that situations like this don’t happen in the future.

By: king mah mah

king mah mah — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:48:01 +0000

Yeah Dana is a real flip flopper on this one. Either say it was a big deal or it wasn’t. Don’t say it had no affect on the outcome of “that fight”, then turn around and say that gsp’s corner should be banned or fined. If it had “no affect whatsoever” then nobody would be talking about it.

Isn’t it really convieniant for GSP that he ended up winning the only fight in the history of mma where vaseline rubbed on his body wouldn’t make “any difference”!?

By: Jmac

Jmac — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:14:43 +0000

Before every fight there is a meeting for every fighter and corner man to hear the rules. These rules are spelled out black and white for everyone to understand. GSP corner knew that this is illegal and has been for a long time. This is not a rule that just came into effect, and the corner should be reprimanded. If you have ever been in the cage or in a wrestling match you would know the effects that Vaseline can play on the contact of the fighters. If this did not make the fighter more slippery, then it would not be illegal. Not a bash on either fighter but the rules are in place for a reason, and GSP’s corner should be held reasonable for the actions on Saturday night.

By: Laloman

Laloman — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:39:44 +0000

Vaseline is not meant to stop the bleeding of cuts. The reason its used is because when a punch or elbow grazed someone’s face the friction between the strike itself and the face is what opens up cuts. If you hit someone square in the face they are going down, but if its a graze by the glove or the elbow chances are your going to open up a cut. Thats why they use vaseline. The face is very sensitive skin and cuts open easy. thats why vaseline IS necessary in fights. SO I am ok with it being used on fighters. You would see more fights being stopped over cuts and blood if it wasnt used. Not good for TV and not good if your trying to be sanctioned by every state in the US.

By: damon

damon — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:32:53 +0000

I keep hearing White talk out of both sides of his mouth. On one hand its no big deal, didn’t help the fighter, but it is a big enough offense to BAN someone for life. You can’t have it both ways, either it is a big deal or not. Either Fedor is great or not. Either you want to own fighters’ images or not. I like the dude and he has built this sport into what it is today, but seriously, take one position and stand up and stop flipping all over.

By: JJ Docker

JJ Docker — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:25:45 +0000

“Seems to have worked out OK in Japan. If there are more cuts and stoppages over there I haven’t really noticed. Not saying there haven’t been, but it hasn’t been enough of a factor for me to notice. There have been plenty of fights that have turned into bloodbaths over here and they weren’t stopped. If appearing to be too brutal because of some bloodletting were a legitimate reason for allowing vaseline and other lubricants, then shouldn’t those fights have been stopped for appearance’s sake?”

I have to agree that I haven’t noticed a difference between fights under US and Japanese rules it terms of bleeding/cuts. However elbows are allowed in the US and are illegal in Japan and I would offer this as a reason for the use of vaseline on fighters faces in the US. After all an elbow strike is by far and away the easiest way of cutting a fighter around the eyes or on the forehead. Obviously it is impossible to measure or determine the usefulness of vaseline in preventing cuts – it could stop a lot or it could be fairly ineffectual. But, either way, I still maintain my initial point that applying a small amount of vaseline to a fighters face is a small cost for a potentially bigger result; avoiding cuts and preventing unnecessary bleeding. But I, too, agree that it would be a good idea to only allow cutmen to apply the vaseline. This would ensure a fair and correct amount is applied to both fighters.

By: Laloman`

Laloman` — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:15:36 +0000

Vaseline should not be banned. Without it a lot of fights would be ending to doctor stoppages because of cuts. Thats being said, I am sure it was an honest mistake. Phil Nurse should be fined and maybe suspended. Nothing to the extreme though. If it was something severe the NSAC would have done something about it DURING the fight.

By: Annonymous

Annonymous — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:18:38 +0000

Just watched the fight over again, and I noticed that after the fight was over. GSP came over and talked to BJ, when GSP was crotched down to talk to BJ, Rudy Valentino had his hand on the back shoulder of GSP. If Rudy believes GSP cheated, why hasn’t he come out and said that I could feel the greese on GSP’s back at the end of the fight. A lot of people are saying that wiping off vaseline with a towel doesn’t get it off completely, well then Rudy should have felt it and I’m sure he would have mentioned this too. But he never did and it makes me suspicious that this is just an excuse coming from his camp, just so that they won’t get blamed for not preparing BJ for this fight. BJ didn’t look like he had any conditioning what so ever, because he looked very tired after the first round.

As for the rubbing of vaseline on GSP, the trainer had a small bit on the top of his left hand, dabbed at it and rubbed GSP’s face, then he went and brushed GSP’s shoulder and then continued to the middle of the back. At that time, the NSAC people that were around the ring should have sprung into action, but they didn’t and let round 2 go on. Now if you watched round 2 closely, you will see that when BJ had 1 leg on GSP’s neck and 1 hand on that leg, GSP postured up and BJ let go of it. The rest of the attempts BJ had his legs on GSP’s back but his legs weren’t touching his shoulders or the middle of the back. They were touching side of his back and his legs slid down every time.

I’m a fan of both fighters, and I really thought BJ was going to take GSP down to a split decision where GSP would squek out a win. I didn’t expect BJ to be dominated like that.

The cornerman that applied the vaseline should be fired because that was a big time mistake that has tarnished GSP’s victory and he should probably never be allowed to corner someone ever again, because it was a big time mistake. But to call GSP a cheat, that is wrong and to use the vaseline as an excuses on why BJ lost is wrong as well. All these posts from fans of both fighters are so biased and pointless.

WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING IS CONTACTING NSAC AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RULE THAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE TO HANDLE THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. THE REAL ANSWER IS THAT THE CUTMAN SHOULD BE THE ONLY PEOPLE ALLOWED TO APPLY VASELINE TO THE FACE OF A FIGHTER AND IT SHOULD REALLY ONLY BE USED ON AN OPEN CUT.

Now if NSAC received this much feedback from everyone that has posted a comment, I’m pretty sure someone at NSAC will have a AH HAH moment and realize that the rule needs to be changed.

Just my 2 cents and I can’t wait for BJ to wipe the floor with KenFlo and GSP to destroy Alves so that everyone can see that BJ is the best LW of all time and GSP is the best WW of all time.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:07:57 +0000

according to Greg Jackson, it’s a superstitious thing they do and the vaseline thing was accidental……even though i’m biased, it had no bearing on the fight at all.

By: Cathedron

Cathedron — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:13:57 +0000

In Japan, they don’t allow elbows which are the biggest source for cuts. Plus, the rules variations and ring mean the ground game is more about submissions than wrestling. Cuts are just less likely. In the US, we’d see stoppages all the time from cuts if vaseline were not allowed.

By: Grappo

Grappo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:46:07 +0000

If they did that there would be a considerable increase in cuts. Firstly not good for the mainstream impression of MMA as a true sport (as opposed to “human cockfighting”) and, secondly, potentially increasing ‘timeout’ blood stoppages and having fights stopped completely.

Seems to have worked out OK in Japan. If there are more cuts and stoppages over there I haven’t really noticed. Not saying there haven’t been, but it hasn’t been enough of a factor for me to notice. There have been plenty of fights that have turned into bloodbaths over here and they weren’t stopped. If appearing to be too brutal because of some bloodletting were a legitimate reason for allowing vaseline and other lubricants, then shouldn’t those fights have been stopped for appearance’s sake?

I’d be all for a ban on it. In lieu of a ban, I’m on the side of only allowing the cutman to apply it, sparingly of course.

By: ACK!

ACK! — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:35:40 +0000

Honestly, it looked to me like a sly technique that had been practiced and done before. As a way to steal a slight advantage without blatantly cheating. This way they can claim that the cornerman didn’t know he had to wipe his hands, only had trace amounts, etc. and instead of being accused of cheating their cornerman takes the fall for appearing stupid.

Not to imply that GSP and his corner are criminals, but this is how the smart crooks operate. They just steal a little here and there, occasionally pushing the boundaries and upping the ante. Maybe I’m perceiving it wrong and it was just a dumb, honest mistake… But that’s kinda hard to believe because GSP and his camp are as smart as they come…

That said, I wouldn’t like to see the cornerman fined or anything like that. That’s not really necessary to me. Suspend him, or whatever, but taking money out of his pocket or completely banishing him from the sport is going overboard, if you ask me.

By: JJ Docker

JJ Docker — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:32:27 +0000

If they did that there would be a considerable increase in cuts. Firstly not good for the mainstream impression of MMA as a true sport (as opposed to “human cockfighting”) and, secondly, potentially increasing ‘timeout’ blood stoppages and having fights stopped completely.
Applying vaseline to fighters faces is a small precaution to take for effective results; so long as no idiot corner men apply it incorrectly or elsewhere.

By: Grappo

Grappo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:22:50 +0000

Ban vaseline period.

By: Broncos1998

Broncos1998 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:08:52 +0000

I doubt Penn files a complaint and I would guess that this ends up as nothing more than a warning to all cornermen. If the UFC wanted to clear this up, just place a UFC cutman in each corner (for all fights) who are the only people who can apply vaseline (just like outside the ring before the fight). That way there is no issue. If there were an intent to cheat here, Phil Nurse would have been much more discrete about it. The application to the back is the only real issue here. Transfer of vaseline from one fighters face to another (chest, face, arms, legs) is likely to account for much more than Nurse applied to GSP’s chest and shoulders. Heck, I have seen Rich Franklin come out with gobs of vaseline on various facial cuts that are more than Nurse had on the back of his hand.

By: triangleman

triangleman — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:52:58 +0000

I don’t hink it should be so severe that he cannot corner again but I do think he should have a 1 year ban from having any contact with the fighter while in the ring. He can be there just no contact w fighter for 1 year any additional infractions will result in lifetime ban from corner. Also I feel GSP should have to pay a fine. I know he didn’t do it himself but each fighter is responsible for who is in his corner and their actions!!!

By: john in rockwall tx

john in rockwall tx — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:22:24 +0000

i dont think he should be banished from being able to corner a fighter, but i do think he should be repremanded to an extent. it was a mistake.. if he tried to hide what he was doing i think he should not be able to corner again but if you watch the footage it did look like it was unintentional