ONE 166 went down from Qatar on Friday, March 1st, and it didn’t come without some hiccups. Some may not think so, but looking at it from an outside, semi-biased perspective, two disqualifications seem harsh.
One was an illegal slam in a title fight, the other was due to inactivity, and a red card was given.
Let’s dive into that system.
The MMA Red Card Makes Big Impact at ONE 166
Much like soccer or football for much of the world, the red card system means you are ejected from the game. The referee inside the ONE circle will call for action, and if a fighter does not engage, they will receive a yellow card. If it continues, they will receive a second yellow card. And finally, if the fighter does not change a thing, they will receive the treacherous red card and be disqualified.
The ONE Heavyweight Contest in Question
Arjan Bhullar was taking on Amir Aliakbari on the main card at ONE 166. In the second round, after evading some heavy punches from Aliakbari, Bhullar received two yellow cards for inactivity.
With 45 seconds to go in the fight, he was given a red card by referee Herb Dean.
Arjan Bhullar gets a red card for inactivity in the third round with 45 seconds to go.
He had already received two yellow cards in the second round.
Amir Aliakbari wins by DQ.@sportskeedaMMA #ONEChampionship #ONE166 pic.twitter.com/j6XwWW0HHM
— Nicolas Atkin (@nicatkinONE) March 1, 2024
Following the event, ONE CEO Chatri Sityadong was asked about Arjan Bhullar’s performance and it seemed that he agreed with the disqualification.
ONE Championship boss @yodchatri told me at the ONE 166 post event press conference he was “deeply let down” by Arjan Bhullar’s performance.
Says Arjan “embarrassed India” and that 1.3 billion Indians can’t look up to him any more.@sportskeedaMMA #ONEChampionship #ONE166
— Nicolas Atkin (@nicatkinONE) March 1, 2024
In another championship fight between Tang Kai and Thanh Le, double yellow cards were given on two occasions by the referee as well.
So over the course of three fights, there were six yellow cards given in total.
The Thought Process behind the Card System
If you are sitting in the stadium or at home, handing out yellow cards makes sense. They are meant to ensure action and force the fighters to push forward and engage.
However, from a coaching standpoint and specifically the fighters inside the cage, it would put them at risk of being knocked out. You must push the pace if you are not doing enough, and the referee warns you with a yellow card. The referee may yell and say, “let’s go” or “more action,” as we’ve heard, and this will also force the fighter to make themself more susceptible to being hit.
Again, this is great for the fans, but if you have a game plan and need to stick to it, or you see that your opponent is doing things a little differently and you need to evade something, you could put yourself in a precarious situation.
What are your thoughts on the yellow and red card system?
