A tense moment during a UFC match, reflecting the high stakes involved in competitive fighting.
The Georgia State Athletic Commission has overturned the result of the UFC Fight Night event in Atlanta, changing a fight’s outcome amid controversy. Originally decided by judges, Mansur Abdul-Malik’s technical decision win over Cody Brundage has been declared a majority draw after a review found scoring errors. This incident highlights the importance of procedural correctness in fight scoring and the role of athletic commissions in ensuring fair outcomes in MMA competitions.
The Georgia State Athletic Commission has officially overturned the result of the June 14 UFC Fight Night event held in Atlanta, changing one of the fight’s outcomes amid controversy and a review process.
The main event of the evening featured Kamaru Usman returning to competition after a three-fight losing streak, successfully defeating Joaquin Buckley. In the co-main event, Rose Namajunas scored a victory, adding to her successful UFC record. However, a notable fight on the card involved Mansur Abdul-Malik and Cody Brundage.
Originally, Abdul-Malik was declared the winner via technical decision after the bout was stopped early in the third round because of an accidental clash of heads. Brundage was unable to continue after the incident, leading judges to award Abdul-Malik his ninth professional win and his third since entering the UFC. Abdul-Malik was seen as a significant favorite heading into the fight and believed he had secured the victory.
Following the initial decision, Team Iridium’s Lance Spaude announced that the result would be reviewed and potentially adjusted. The commission conducted a thorough review of the fight, focusing on the scoring process and the procedural adherence during the judges’ assessment.
The crucial factor prompting the overturn was an error related to the rounds counted by the judges. According to Georgia statute, if a fight is stopped before completing three rounds, only the first two rounds can be scored. In this case, the judges had scored the fight as if all three rounds had been completed, which was inconsistent with regulation.
By applying the proper ruling standards, the commission concluded that only two rounds should have been scored. The review revealed that two judges had the fight tied at one round each, leading to a majority draw instead of Abdul-Malik’s win. Consequently, the judges’ scorecards were adjusted to reflect scores of 28-28, 28-28, and 29-28 in favor of Abdul-Malik, resulting in a majority draw.
The decision overturns Abdul-Malik’s victory, effectively nullifying his technical decision win. Despite the change, Abdul-Malik’s record remains unblemished due to the draw status. Brundage also avoids a potential loss, which could have impacted his recent win-loss record, maintaining his current standing in the UFC.
Team Iridium’s Lance Spaude expressed appreciation for the commission’s professionalism during the review process, highlighting the importance of procedural correctness and fairness in the sport.
This case marks a rare instance within the UFC landscape where a fight’s result was overturned upon a formal appeal and review by the athletic commission. It underscores the importance of strict adherence to scoring regulations and demonstrates the potential for fight results to be reassessed long after the initial outcome.
While Abdul-Malik maintains his undefeated record on paper, the official result now reflects a majority draw. Brundage’s career trajectory benefits from the ruling, avoiding added setbacks, and the fighters’ records are now updated accordingly following the commission’s decision.
This incident emphasizes the ongoing importance of rigour in fight scoring and the role of athletic commissions in ensuring fairness and adherence to established rules within mixed martial arts competitions.
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