Poirier Calls For Yellow Cards After UFC Ref Controversy
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Dustin Poirier wants UFC to revive an old Pride Fighting Championships tool to clean up recent referee controversies.
The former interim lightweight champion called for the return of yellow card penalties after a weekend of disputed officiating calls, per MMA Mania. Yellow cards, used in Pride FC from 1997 to 2007, allowed referees to dock fighter purses on the spot for stalling or passivity.
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What Yellow Card System Could Mean For Modern UFC
The Pride rule gave referees authority to issue warnings and financial penalties during the bout itself, targeting fighters who deliberately avoided engagement or activity. UFC abandoned the system when it absorbed Pride's roster but has faced growing criticism for inconsistent enforcement of timidity rules.
Poirier's suggestion comes as officials debate how to penalize fighters who stall in dominant positions without advancing toward a finish. The lightweight contender did not specify which weekend incident prompted his comments, though multiple UFC 334 and regional bouts drew social media heat for perceived inaction.
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UFC has not commented on whether it would consider reintroducing financial penalties during competition. The promotion currently relies on referee warnings and post-fight bonus discretion to discourage passive tactics.
Photo: photo taken by flickr user thiswholeworld / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Original reporting:
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