The judging controversy this past weekend
There was a lot that happened in the combat sports world this past weekend, but judging in MMA was the biggest topic of conversation. It started with last Friday’s Bellator main event, which was headlined by a bantamweight bout between Raufeon Stots and Danny Sabatello. The fight resulted in a split decision win for Stots, where judge Douglas Crosby scored the fight 50-45 for Sabatello. This marked the first and only 50-45 scorecard in favor of a losing fighter ever recorded on MMADecisions.com‘s database.
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Less than 24 hours later, Crosby got on a plane and flew from Uncasville, Connecticut to Las Vegas, Nevada to judge fights at UFC 282. That’s when things got messy.
Paddy Pimblett defeated Jared Gordon in a controversial unanimous decision where one of the judges was Crosby. There was a huge uproar after the fight, as many referred to it as one of the biggest robberies in MMA history. Pimblett himself believed he won all three rounds and was shocked that people believed he lost the fight. A formal complaint has since been lodged to the Nevada State Athletic Commission regarding Crosby being able to judge two events on opposite ends of the United States in a 24-hour span. The Mohegan Tribe Athletic Department has also informed Crosby that they will review his scorecards for the Stots/Sabatello fight, and that this is a “very serious situation.”
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It remains to be seen what action either athletic commission takes.
Judging was such a hot topic of conversation that even Chechen dictator and warlord Ramzan Kadyrov sent Dana White a message on Telegram about the scoring of Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev that resulted in a draw. Kadyrov questioned White about his principles, which is ironic given Kadyrov is responsible for hundreds of murders in Chechnya.
Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill gets made out of nowhere
After Jiri Prochazka relinquished his light heavyweight title due to injury, the UFC announced that Blachowicz and Ankalaev would compete for the vacant title. The fight resulted in a split draw, where no champion was crowned. Before Ankalaev had even left the octagon, Jamahal Hill received a call from the UFC brass informing him that he would be fighting Glover Teixeira for the vacant title next month in Brazil at UFC 283.
Teixeira now gets his wish of fighting for the title in Brazil. UFC 283 marks the UFC’s first event in Brazil in nearly three years. This fight gives a huge boost to the card now that it has two two title fights. The UFC has been trying to stack this card up for a long time, even offering Charles Oliveira a rematch against Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title on the card. Oliveira turned down the fight citing emotional stress. The fight between Teixeira and Hill will now headline the card over the fourth fight between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo. Hill opened up as -130 betting favorite against Teixeira.
Hill was originally scheduled to fight Anthony Smith on March 11. Smith found out that his fight against Hill was canceled live on air while he was working the desk.
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‘Shogun’ Rua will retire after UFC 283
This past Monday, the legendary Mauricio “Shogun” Rua informed Combate that he’ll be retiring from the sport after his fight against Ihor Potieria at UFC 283 in front of his home country of Brazil. This will mark the end of a nearly 21-year professional career for “Shogun.” This is also the final fight of Rua’s UFC contract. Unlike fellow pioneers that have gone on to compete in other martial arts after fighting in the UFC, Shogun says that he won’t be competing in any form of combat after UFC 283.
“Shogun” rose to prominence during his time at PRIDE FC, where he was widely considered the best light heavyweight in the world, even though he didn’t hold the title. During the majority of his career at PRIDE, his teammate Wanderlei Silva was the reigning 205-pound champion. “Shogun” and Wanderlei refused to fight each other, given their bond. “Shogun” was a highlight reel machine in PRIDE, finishing 11 of his 12 wins with the promotion, including stoppage wins against Alistair Overeem, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Kevin Randleman, and more.
When 26-year-old “Shogun” made his UFC debut in 2007, many publications, including Sherdog, had Rua ranked as the No. 1 light heavyweight in the world. “Rampage” Jackson, who “Shogun” finished with soccer kicks two years prior, was the light heavyweight champion when “Shogun” made his UFC debut. Had “Shogun” defeated Forrest Griffin in his debut, he would have challenged “Rampage” for the light heavyweight title next. “Shogun” lost his UFC debut but eventually climbed the ranks to become the UFC light heavyweight champion. The MMA community will bid farewell to the legend next month.
Quick Hits
- James Krause and Darrick Minner have been suspended in Nevada.
- Conor McGregor falls out of the UFC’s rankings for the first time in eight-plus years.
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Julio Arce is set for UFC 285.
- Eugene Bareman believes Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t done enough to fight for a middleweight title.
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