That's how you get kyokushin style tournament. The problem is people want the head to be part of it, even the fighter themself. It's just a tough sport considering human only live once
This sounds a bit like a distancing attempt.
Surely those referees follow the rules of UFC. So ultimately UFC is responsible no matter which entity enforces the rules.
I may be wrong, but I think it's the other way around. The commission sets the rules and hires the referees to enforce them. Dana White has be openly critical of certain referees and made it clear he'd fire them if he could. The UFC must follow the rules of the commission. I believe that's why some past fights could only occur in certain jurisdictions, and with modified rules. The unified rules of MMA are set by commission voters, not the UFC [1].
[1] https://www.ufc.com/unified-rules-mixed-martial-arts?languag...
"Unified rules of MMA" were developed at the state athletic commission level (NJ maybe?), but not everywhere implements them: https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/4/16/18358920/abc-survey-at....
The ending of one fight in TX had betting implications because of their odd rules. https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/6/21/23177038/texas-commiss...
The UFC has historically been wildly aggressively opposed to any sort of fighter organization or rights. I was a UFC fan for years but eventually faded away largely due to how repulsive I found the company's behavior, so there might be some recent developments I'm unaware of. I completely agree with you, but can't see it ever happening while the UFC has a de facto monopoly on the sport.
- The judges just score the match and sit outside the ring. They do not have the power to stop a fight. The referee is supposed to intervene.
- It's a common misconception that fight referees belong to the UFC. For fights, an athletic commission is responsible for refereeing. In most fights, this is the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
- The UFC has been quite vocal and registered many formal complaints with NSAC when a referee allowed too many punches before stopping a fight. There was that referee that I'll only mention by first name, so I don't get sued: Steve.
- It is my opinion that professional MMA fighters need some sort of independent organization that oversees their well-being and assures they get proper medical care. It should be funded from fight profits. Things like what's happened to Spencer Fisher should not be happening.