John "Prince" Albert talks about the Kim Winslow's early stoppage ...
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mmamania
John Albert: Okay well I'll break it down pretty simple. I went for a triangle and transitioned to an armbar and my armbar slipped. He did a fancy topside kind of triangle which pinned me down and as soon as I tried to turn out, he went for the armbar which is perfect for him. He transitioned perfectly into it, but the thing about me is, I train all the time in armbar reverses and there's multiple armbar reverses. I was already working my way around. When they say he's got his belly to the mat, well that's the worst for him because he can't extend it any more. My arm is as straight as it can go and he can't straighten it out any more. I had already rotated my shoulder, put my thumb on the mat so like he couldn't break it even if he tried. He would literally have to keep rolling over.
So knowing that, I was trying to step over his body and yeah, I grunted. I said "Ungh!" but there's no verbal submission from that. I didn't physically tap. I didn't verbally say, "I quit," "stop" or "I tap." Those are the only things you can say to end a match. Just because you grunt, are you gonna stop a guy in the middle of a fight because he grunts for a takedown? I don't know how else to explain it. I grunted because I was trying to get out of the position. I had a free hand to tap. I am a professional fighter. I've had over 20 fights. I understand that it's better to save my limb than to get it broken and not be able to fight again. Live to fight another day. That's what we always say but I've been training too long and I understand the position, where and how my body works. [Kim] Winslow doesn't know how my body works. There were two more inches to bend before my stuff started hurting. There was absolutely nothing wrong during that position. My arm didn't hurt after that position. It's just a sad story, unlucky call.
I understand as a fan or as a ref, you're concerned for the fighter. You don't want to ever see a fighter get hurt. but the ref and fan didn't spend 12 or more weeks putting their heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears in the mats, in the training room and then putting their life on the line in that cage, you know? This is my livelihood. This is what I want to do full-time, putting forth full effort and I just want to go out there, do my best and win. To have someone stop that, make the decision for you, I think it's uncalled for. They didn't put the 12 weeks of training in. It's not like we're doing it for fun like, "Oh good call ref. I don't want to break my arm." I'm fighting for my life in there and if I decide to break my arm, it's my choice, not hers or his.
It's depressing man, the TUF finale was great!