Jason High apologizes for shoving ref post-loss, but UFC not happy with action

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –  There’s no word yet on whether UFC welterweight Jason High (18-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) will be punished for shoving a referee following his TKO loss to Rafael dos Anjos (21-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 42.

The UFC, however, made it clear that High’s action was unacceptable and could order another penalty for the fighter.

“Ultimately, that decision is going to be up to the commission, when you talk about fines or suspensions,” said UFC Senior Director of Public Relations Dave Sholler. “On behalf of the organization, completely unacceptable. You can’t put your hands on the official.

“In the heat of the moment, a lot of things can happen – you can’t put your hands on an official. So we’ll regroup on Monday with the executive team and we’ll figure out if there’s any other things that need to happen.”

The New Mexico Athletic Commission oversaw the event at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M., and could file a complaint against High, who apologized via Twitter not long after his fight, which aired on the FOX Sports 1-televised main card.

High took a punch in the second round that dropped him to the mat and prompted him to cover up as dos Anjos wailed away with punches. Veteran referee Kevin Mulhall stepped in when High appeared not to be moving and waved off the bout at the 3:36 mark of the frame. High immediately got up and shoved Mulhall before walking away.

High saw a two-fight streak snapped with his loss to dos Anjos, who previously was outpointed by Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“Incredibly sorry & embarrassed for the ref incident,” High wrote afterward on Twitter. “Will never happen again.”

High isn’t the only UFC fighter who’s lost his cool with an official’s call in the heat of the moment. Veteran Phil Baroni struck ref Larry Landless for waving off a bout at UFC 45 and was subsequently suspended four months by the overseeing Nevada State Athletic Commissions.

Fighters have also been suspended for holding a submission hold too long, striking another fighter after the bell, and throwing a mouthpiece into the crowd. The most serious of those was for the former action, in which the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board suspended Rousimar Palhares 90 days for holding a heel hook too long against Thomasz Drwal.

State athletic commissions do not have a set standard for punishment on High’s behavior, so it’s anyone’s guess how serious a situation he faces, or if the commission decides to act at all.

Going forward, High said he won’t ever put commissions in that position in the first place.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 42, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(Pictured: Jason High)