5. Robert Drysdale fails Max Rohskopf
Robert Drysdale is deserving of some heat for his utter failure to properly serve [autotag]Max Rohskopf[/autotag] in his role as chief cornerman. What happened in the moments leading up to Rohskopf’s loss to Austin Hubbard was pretty disgraceful, and it could have led to something far worse than what it was.
After taking the lightweight fight on five days’ notice, Rohskopf didn’t have much for Hubbard. The momentum was sternly in Hubbard’s favor after two rounds, and Rohskopf’s body language didn’t provide much confidence. He looked physically defeated, then he returned to the corner before the third round and made it clear he was mentally beaten, too.
Inside the corner of Max Rohskopf before the fight is called off at #UFCVegas3 pic.twitter.com/hZrfnaMObt
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 20, 2020
Rohskopf asked Drysdale multiple times to stop the fight. Drysdale attempted to motivate his athlete, which is a reasonable move to start, but then it became evident there was nothing he could say to change Rohskopf’s mind. Rohskopf told his coach to “call it” nine times. The fight should have instantly been waved off, but Drysdale still wouldn’t do it.
Thank goodness for referee Mark Smith, who realized Rohskopf was toast. It was called off the second Rohskopf said he couldn’t go, which is how it should’ve been. Drysdale seemed perfectly content with allowing Rohskopf to go back out and take more damage, and that’s seriously wrong. He didn’t appear to have any regrets after the fact, either, and that only makes the Nevada Athletic Commission’s plan to investigate the corner work even more appreciated.