Danny Sabatello was forced to make a check at Bellator 282. because of his mouth.
Sabatello was fined $5,000 by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation for abusive language at this past Friday’s event, MMA Fighting has learned. He was not paid for the fight he had with Leandro higo (showtime-televised comain event) at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn .
MTDAR President Mike Mazzulli cited Rule 21 of the MMA Unified Rules, which prohibits “use of abusive language in the fighting area.” Sabatello may appeal the decision, Mike Mazzulli added.
Sabatello is a confident and brash fighter, who often drops f-bombs. He also indicated that he was warned against cursing during his post-fight interview. But he subsequently swore on the microphone, and in a faceoff with interim bantamweight champion Raufeon Stots, flipped the bird.
“I was told if I swore in my post-fight interview, I might get fined,” Sabatello said. It’s good that I don’t care ***!. You’re not going to beat me ***!. I beat an absolute beast. Do you want to do anything? Come in here right now and do something.”
Stots also dropped a F-bomb critiquing the heavy wrestling match, but he did not get a penalty.
Mazzulli stated that he had warned Sabatello, as well as other fighters, to behave respectfully inside and outside of the cage.
” I said that you should be respectful and not push the sport. “You heard him standing there saying, ‘I’m going to get fined, but I don’t care.’ So he got fined.”
The full language of the abusive language rule prohibits “use of abusive language in the fighting area. During MMA competition, abusive language is strictly forbidden.
“It is the sole responsibility of the referee to determine when language crosses over the line to abusive. It should be clear that fighters can talk during a match. The mere use of auditory language is not a violation of this rule. Examples of abusive language would be (racially motivated or derogatory language).”
Informed of the suspension during a Monday appearance on The MMA Hour, Sabatello didn’t appear surprised but mocked the decision.
“Yeah, that’s f****** bulls***,” he said. “That’s such f****** bulls***. You know what? I care not. If I fight there again, I’m telling you right now, I’m going to do the same s***. You can keep f****** fining me. Nothing is going to deter me from being myself, and also, it wouldn’t do justice to the fans. I want the fans to understand exactly who they’re dealing with. That’s who I am. This is my personality. You can forgive me. I don’t give a f***. It’s just money.”
Sabatello’s win over Higo earned him a semifinal berth in the Bellator bantamweight grand prix. He next faces interim champ Stots in a bid for the belt and a $1 million payout offered to the tournament’s winner.
Mazzulli said Sabatello wasn’t the only Bellator 282 fighter fined – Alexander Shabliy received a $1,000 penalty for jumping on the cage after his knockout win over ex-champ Brent Primus.
