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Fighter suspended for 16 months
By Zach Arnold | June 10, 2007
Last night at the Asbury Park Convention Center in Asbury Park, New Jersey, agent and promoter Monte Cox (of Ultimate Productions) ran his Extreme Challenge 78 event. The biggest headline coming out of the show is Carlos Eduardo using illegal knees to the head on his opponent, Lewis Pascavage. The fight was stopped in under a minute and Pascavage was taken to the hospital. Eduardo has now received a 16-month suspension for his actions by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board.
An interesting angle to this incident is that Nick Lembo and the NJACB had recently asked for feedback from MMA fans, fighters, promoters, agents, and writers on whether or not knees to the head should be allowed on the ground.
NJACB Official Results, Suspensions and Attendance (results given to the media by the NJACB) for EC 78:
- 145 pounds: Blair Tugman defeated Glen Ortiz by unanimous decision after three rounds (30-27 three times).
- 175 pounds: Tom Gallechio defeated Scott Argott in R1 in 1’19 with a choke sleeper.
- 205 pounds: Lewis Pascavage defeated Carlos Eduardo by disqualification in 58 seconds of R1 due to illegal knees to the head. Pascavage is indefinitely suspended pending neurological testing results at the hospital. Eduardo has been suspended for 16 months.
- Heavyweights: Bret Kohan defeated Braden Bice in R2 in 1’25 with a guillotine choke.
- 135 pounds: Tinh Tupy defeated Joe Bentz in R1 in 4’00 by TKO (Bentz unable to answer the bell for R2).
- 155 pounds: Jim Bova defeated Steve DeAngelis in R2 in 36 seconds with a triangle choke.
- 185 pounds: Aaron Miesner defeated Pat Russo in R1 in 1’20 by TKO. Russo is medically suspended for 60 days and needs orthopedic clearance regarding his shoulder.
- 155 pounds: Joe Camacho defeated Steve McCabe in R1 in 1’36 by TKO (doctor stoppage for a cut).
- 170 pounds: Rob Russo defeated Rich Swawola in R3 in 1’49 with an arm-choke. Swawola has been medically suspended for 30 days and needs a CT head scan.
- 205 pounds: Tim Boetsch defeated Olega Savitsky in R1 in 3’27 by TKO.
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Timekeeper: Earl Curry
Judges: Ray Martin, Fred Fitzgerald and Romulo Bittencourt
Ringside Physicians: Dr. Michael Kelly, Dr. Eric Wurmser and Dr. Corey Smith
Inspectors: Lou Turco, Len Hedinger, Gary Gudzak, John Viggiano, Ernie Suarez, Tyrone Smith and Jon Bilyk
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 18 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Carlos Eduardo should be ashamed, he probably set back all the lobbying work for knees on the ground done by fans. Now the commissions have something fresh to point at as a reason for not to allowing them. If you don’t expect them and don’t defend against them they can be really bad, but then again that is true for any technique.
Stupid. Knees to a grounded opponent are safer than elbows. Pride proved that over the last ten years. Knees to a grounded opponent = no more GnP wrestlers. Example, Herring v O’Brien. By the second shoot, Heath would have had him timed and done a Fickett/Koscheck.
I think its the fighter thats a complete idiot. I think everyone in north America is aware of the rules here. If he wanted to use knees on the ground he should have went overseas. Hes own action are seriously going to put a damper on any attempt to modify the rules to allow knees.
Fighters have been taken to the hospital in the past due to strikes besides knees on the ground. This shouldn’t take away from the debate of allowing knees on the ground but Eduardo should be ashamed of himself for being a cheater.
On a lighter note, War Rob Russo! He’s a teammate and a talented young fighter. Good to see him get this win.
Did Daniel Gracie get suspended after he did the same thing to Wes Sims in their first fight? I think that fight wasn’t even ruled a DQ.
I think there’s a decent argument to be made that the injuries occurred primarily because the Pascavage was not defending or looking for them, as he shouldn’t need to expect knees in the first place.
But… there’s no hope for knees for rookie fighters now. I’m thinking there’ll be a two-tier rules system for rookie fighters and everyone else, with knees and a few other things banned for rookies.
Knees to the head on the ground, like any strike, are obviously much more opponent if your opponent isn’t expecting them. There’s a huge difference between going into a fight where you know that knees to the head on the ground are legal and can try to defend against them; and going into a fight in which they are illegal and then getting blindsided by your opponent.
Oh yeah, guys, dont get me wrong, I dont support what he did at all, I just hate that in the US we cant use knees on the ground.
Congrats to Aaron Miesner. The guy is a massive 185 lbs. who is one of the best strikers on the East Coast. His sprawl is looking pretty good.
It was actually a soccer kick to the head while I was clearly on the ground. The knee came after I was stunned. After being hit with both, it would not bug me to throw knees on the ground or kicks, as long as the fighter is aware of those rules beofre the fight. Carlos was explained those rules like we all where prior to the fight and he still did what he did with no shame or apology. I hold no grudge toward Carlos. It’s better to forgive and forget, till we meet again in the cage.
Thanks for the post Lou and showing true showmanship and class.
illegal kicks to the head and knees to the head of a grounded fighter are very dangerous when the opposing fighter is not expecting them because they are banned.
they were explained when carlos got licensed, came to the arena and at the rules meeting.
in this case, the fouls were blatant and repeated.
i personally have no problem with allowing them IF both fighters are aware that they are legal.
i do not want to see a fighter injured due to blatant, repeated fouls.
I’m not sure if the above commenter is really Lou Pascavage b/c seeing the event live, the real Lou got blasted in the face twice. I was standing about 5 feet from the ring, it was brutal and you just heard the crowd gasp and groan. Even the ref was shocked it happened. Lou lay motionless on the ground for a full 5+ minutes. Are you telling me you’re really cool with that Lou?
I agree that if fighters are aware of the rules they can intelligently defend themselves… this sport has enough trouble getting people to except it, we don’t need that a guy who will blatantly put his opponent in danger.
Yes, it is me. I watched the footage while I was hanging out in the ER waiting for my Cat Scan. My wife taped it. I had a huge double knot on the side of my head. Both shots caught me right next to each other. The Doc cleared me after two weeks and I will be fighting July 28 again. Knee and head strikes to the head are fine with me as long as I know about them before the fight. Don’t get me wrong it sucked what happened. It is not the way I wanted to win. I hope in 16 months Carlos is back fighting, because I like to welcome hime back in the cage for a rematch and punch him in the face some more. lol
Damn, thanks for the reply. That’s a great perspective, good attitude. Glad you’re doing well and cleared to fight. Let us know when and where and I’ll be sure to give you a shout.
[…] CLICK HERE to view the comments in full (scroll all the way to the bottom) I watched the footage while I was hanging out in the ER waiting for my Cat Scan. My wife taped it. I had a huge double knot on the side of my head. Both shots caught me right next to each other. The Doc cleared me after two weeks and I will be fighting July 28 again. Knee and head strikes to the head are fine with me as long as I know about them before the fight. Don’t get me wrong it sucked what happened. It is not the way I wanted to win. I hope in 16 months Carlos is back fighting, because I like to welcome him back in the cage for a rematch and punch him in the face some more. lol […]
lou,
this is nick from the njsacb.
glad you went to the hospital just to get checked out.
it’s great that you are ok.
you and your corner handled the situation well.
knees and kicks to the head of a downed opponent are definately not acceptable if you are not expecting them because they are clearly prohibited prior to the event.
see you back fighting in nj soon.
Thanks Nick.
I will see you again July 28 in West Orange.
“Pain without Fear” K.O.A./Miletich