Brooks vs. Chandler & Jackson vs. Lawal decision controveries

Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez III was expected to be main event at Bellator 120, live on PPV. However, Alvarez suffered a concussion shortly before the fight and had to withdraw, leaving Will Brooks to take the fight on very short notice. Oddsmakers favored Chandler by as high as 10-1.

As most expected, Brooks lost the first two rounds. However, in the third round he rallied magnificently, and then won the fourth as well.

In the eyes of most, Chandler appeared to rally and take the fifth and final round, and thus the fight. There was great surprise when the bout was announced as a split decision for Brooks.

Here is how it happened.

Larry Ingle scored it the way most people saw it.

1. Chandler 10-9

2. Chandler 10-9

3. Brooks 9-10

4. Brooks 9-10

5. Chandler 10-9

48-47 Chandler

Rob Hines scored the final round for Brooks. By the ‘who hurt who more’ standard, the case could be made for the final round going to Brooks. Chandler controlled the fight, but what did he do it with but control the fight?

1. Chandler 10-9

2. Chandler 10-9

3. Brooks 9-10

4. Brooks 9-10

5. Brooks 9-10

48-47 Brooks

Todd Anderson had it even more emphatically for Brooks, scoring the rounds the same way Hines did, but with the addition of a 10-8 round in the third.

1. Chandler 10-9

2. Chandler 10-9

3. Brooks 8-10

4. Brooks 9-10

5. Brooks 9-10

48-46 Brooks

Score card images courtesy of Luke Thomas.

What did you think of the decision?

While the scoring of Brooks vs. Chandler was close and technical issue, almost mathematical, the scoring of Quinton Jackson vs. Muhammad Lawal was even more controversial, and generated an outburst of heat.

In cage, an outraged King Mo took pointed issue with Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney, generating what could be the sport’s newest meme.

“Bjorn, you know what’s up man,” said Lawal. “Ya dick riding ass you know I won that fight, cut me if you don’t like it!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/oID-LLrkvi

Rebney of course does not score the fights, but did see it the way the judges did.

I scored it the way the judges scored it, he said at the post fight press conference as transcribed by MMAJunkie. I thought [Lawal] convincingly won the first and ‘Rampage’ convincingly won the second, and I thought, look, you had to watch the third real close. There were some takedowns. It’s a tough one to call, but I scored it the way the judges scored it.

Rebney said that he agreed too with Brooks vs. Chandler.

I thought the co-main event decision was good as well, he sad. Mike came out of the gates with all kinds of power and looked spectacular in one and two and Will evened the playing field in three, four and five.

One of the good things about having controversy in scoring is that you have very close fights, and I think that’s what these guys gave us. They gave us amazing fights, so that’s an advantage.

I’ve got to look again at the tape. Sometimes, I get rolling too much with the microphone in front of me, but from what I saw, and I went back to the truck watching it, I think both decisions were good decisions. But they were wickedly close fights, and that’s what world-class fighters will give you.

While in ring shoving was a planned piece of marketing for the fight, this one was entirely spontaneous, and should make for an emotional rematch.

For potential MMA meme generation, Lawal had competition from Tito Ortiz.

“God put me on Earth as a tool,” explained The People’s Champion.

But for a hint of real controversy, B/R lead writer Jeremy Botter tweeted rumors about Rebney.

Jeremy Botter @Jeremybotter

There are lots of rumors circulating about Bjorn’s immediate future with Viacom. One thing is for certain: he is not well liked. By anyone.

Retweeted by Jeremy Botter:

Brent Brookhouse @brentbrookhouse

It’s a good thing nobody around Bellator wants Bjorn to be around much longer…