Sportsmanship, or weirdness? Viral MMA video comes with confusion

Watching the full version of a recent amateur bout in Michigan, it’s a little harder to see the benevolence of a winning fighter’s tap-out.

Highlights of the bout, which took place May 17 at a Prison City Fight League in Jackson, show amateur Mike Pantangco thoroughly dominating Jeremy Rasner before tapping out in the waning seconds of the fight’s first round.

Pantangco, whose amateur record now stands at 1-1, was lauded for his restraint in the bout and said he submitted in order to save Rasner from undue punishment. The highlight video, which was shown on AXS TV’s weekly “Inside MMA” news program, had received 1.4 million views as of this afternoon and was reposted by dozens of news sites.

But a closer examination of the full-length video, which is shown below and was pointed out by BloodyElbow.com‘s Brent Brookhouse earlier today, may explain why Rasner reacted to Pantangco’s tap-out with confusion. While he sustained several heavy blows that left him wobbly, he also was able to land a takedown, achieve mount and land a leg kick during the bout.

When Pantangco bent down and tapped the mat, he was pursuing his opponent, presumably to engage once more.

Pantangco and PCFL promoter Joe Sharpe weren’t immediately available for comment when contacted by MMAjunkie.

Of course, as Pantangco noted in the “Inside MMA” video, further punishment might have seriously injured Rasner. And considering Michigan’s history with amateur MMA, it might have been the right choice. While the sport is regulated at the professional level, amateur promoters are left to to their own devices when it comes to the health and safety of athletes.

In April 2013, an amateur fighter died after collapsing backstage following an unregulated bout in Port Huron. Soon after, legislators drafted bills in both the state senate and house to regulate amateur contests, but one year after their introduction, they remain stuck in a regulatory reform committee.

Following the death, the Association of Boxing Commissions went so far as to advise its member commissions not to license fighters from the state and not recognize event results from events held there.

Undoubtedly, Pantangco’s intentions were positive when he tapped the mat against Rasner. But the surprise loss he sustained might not have been necessary.