The recent controversy surrounding the Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan title fight at UFC 300 has raised questions about the use of smelling salts in combat sports. Former referee John McCarthy sheds light on the situation, dispelling any misconceptions and explaining the cutman’s technique that caused confusion.
During the first round of the Weili-Xiaonan fight, Yan Xiaonan found herself trapped in a deep rear-naked choke with only ten seconds remaining. Weili nearly put her opponent to sleep, but Xiaonan managed to survive the submission attempt. Between rounds, the cutman assigned to Xiaonan was heard asking her corner team if they wanted him to “wake her up” before the second round began.
John McCarthy untangle the Smelling Salt incident
The commentary team speculated whether the cutman was using smelling salts to re-awaken Xiaonan after the close call with the choke. Fans on social media debated whether this constituted illegal assistance during the fight. However, John McCarthy, a respected figure in MMA officiating, clarifies the situation.
According to John McCarthy, there were no smelling salts involved. Instead, the cutman, Rudy Hernandez, employed a technique commonly seen in boxing. Here’s how it works:
- Base of the Nose Pressure: Rudy pushed against the base of Xiaonan’s nose, causing pain. This technique aims to elicit a response from the fighter by applying pressure to sensitive areas.
- Brain’s Reaction: The brain responds to this pressure, creating a wake-up effect. It’s not about smelling salts; it’s about stimulating the fighter’s senses.
- Black Gloves: Rudy wore black gloves, which may have contributed to the confusion.
There were no smelling salts used in the Zhang vs Xiaonan fight. The Commentators thought they saw the Cutman who works for the UFC (not the fighter) putting something under the nose of Yan after saying “Do you want me to wake her up”?? The Cutman (Rudy Hernandez) used a… https://t.co/nOYw9d8R2p
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) April 18, 2024
The commentary team misunderstood the cutman’s verbal question (“Do you want me to wake her up?”) and associated it with smelling salts. In reality, Rudy Hernandez used a legitimate technique—one that doesn’t violate any rules.
Yan Xiaonan addressed the controversy, emphasizing that she didn’t notice what the cutman was doing between rounds. Her focus was on recovering from the choke. Ultimately, Weili won the fight via unanimous decision, but the cutman’s actions were within the bounds of fair play.
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