After seeing UFC lightweight Jim Miller given time to recover from a phantom low blow in his main event bout with Donald Cerrone on Jul. 16 in Atlantic City we saw another instance of the blown call Saturday night in San Jose. During the main event between welterweights Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown at UFC on FOX 12, referee John McCarthy halted action during the third round after Lawler hurt Brown with a shot to the abdomen. McCarthy called the shot low, but replays indicated it to be clean above the waistline. A victim of the missed call, Lawler wasn’t given the opportunity to pounce on his opponent while Brown was given time to recover. Lawler would go on to claim the unanimous decision victory (49-46, 49-46, 48-47).
UFC president Dana White brought the kick up with Ariel Helwani during the event’s post show on FOX Sports 1 and was surprised by McCarthy’s call.
“That kick was legal that hurt Brown to the body,” said White. “I thought McCarthy would have seen it. McCarthy was staring right at it. I thought he was looking at it. That wasn’t a low blow. That was a legal kick that hurt Brown bad.”
Criticized over social media for the incident, Brown defended himself Sunday via his Facebook page.
“First off thanks to ?#?theimmortalarmy? for your constant support,” said Brown. “Second off I’ve read some things saying that said I faked the nut shot. I would never do that in my fucking life. That’s bullshit. Period. End of story.”
To further clarify the situation, McCarthy took to Twitter to insist that neither fighter was at fault.
For information, the kick thrown by Robbie was legal, his shin moved Matt Browns cup, you could hear it, that’s why Matt was given a moment
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) July 27, 2014
With his win, Lawler secured himself a title shot and rematch with UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks likely to be booked Jan. 3 at UFC 182, according to White.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Aftermath. Dave Doyle asks is Robbie Lawler is already the 2014 Fighter of the Year.
‘Frail.’ Luke Rockhold thinks Vitor Belfort’s body will fall apart before his title fight with Chris Weidman, allowing him to step in. ‘If he’s clean and healthy he’ll probably get injured.’
Re-booked. The rematch between UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes will now take place Oct. 25 at UFC 179 in Brazil.
‘Complicated.’ Dana White hints at problems getting a deal done to sign Gina Carano.
Wrap-up. Ariel Helwani and Dave Doyle recap and break down the action from Saturday night in San Jose.
MEDIA STEW
Robbie Lawler and Anthony Johnson speak post-fight with Joe Rogan.
Dana White reacts to UFC on FOX 12.
UFC on FOX 12 presser highlighters. Full presser here.
Highlights from RFA 16.
Another rough night for Melvin Manhoef.
I’ll take soccer kicks anyway I can.
Long watches.
The Jim Norton Show: Mike Tyson and Dana White (Part 2)
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EFC 32 Countdown: Fadipe vs Speechly, Allen vs Nienaber
TWEETS
Make sure to check out our Pros React piece for instant reaction from UFC on FOX 12.
Victory lap.
Congrats @IamTheImmortal on one heck of a fight.!! I have so much respect for you.
— robbie lawler (@Ruthless_RL) July 27, 2014
7 down …. #WhosNext ? #OperationMENACE http://t.co/XQpcxO3t6i
— Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) July 27, 2014
I’m sorry for my antics but I try to be an entertainer u guys pay to watch these fight well I’m going to do my best to entertain u
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) July 27, 2014
@GarrettThomps16 @UFCONFOX I will beat Cowboy A$ and make that easy Cash, I was attacking Daron the whole time he kept walking back
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) July 27, 2014
Thank you San Jose and @Kingsbu for a great fight tonight. Anybody with a mustache like that is a friend of mine. It was an honor
— Patrick Cummins (@OfficialDurkin) July 27, 2014
Thankyou San Jose Thankyou @ufc time to head home! Thankyou team @FITNHB
— tim means (@MeansTim) July 27, 2014
Yeah!!! We did it baby!!! UFC Debut is is out the way I’m finally welcomed in the UFC. I want to thank… http://t.co/OXjEv4xpIy
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) July 26, 2014
Bye bye Sao Jose always pleasure fight in California my main conquest was here Bjj world champion and 2 x world Nogi champion and Ufc debut
— Gilbert DurinhoBurns (@GilbertDurinho) July 27, 2014
Jem! #food #trophy #after #fight #ufc #sanjose #fightnight #arrachion #olsztyn #joannajedrzejczyk http://t.co/crMhLencSd
— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) July 26, 2014
With my boxing coach and my Muay Thai coach Jimmy & @speedeecarrasco thank you guys for all your help… http://t.co/pvjvF6oozP
— noad lahat (@Neo_MMA) July 27, 2014
Better luck next time.
Congrats @Ruthless_RL… Fighters like us are an endangered species. Iron sharpens iron so both our blades will cut deeper from now on.
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) July 27, 2014
@CodyBollinger @VancityManpurse @MMARoasted I’m still so good looking lol pic.twitter.com/0TqMxOrAPT
— Daron Cruickshank (@Cruickshank155) July 27, 2014
I’ve learned more about life in the small window I’ve fought than in any other venture. Life only continues to get better. I love you all 🙂
— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) July 27, 2014
In my run it felt like peaks and valleys but in the end I am completely grateful for it all- every beating I delt out & every beating I took
— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) July 27, 2014
At the hospital for some check up! It didnt go my way to night, but happy for all love and support. I’ll be back! pic.twitter.com/8C4cl6t1Wc
— Andreas Ståhl (@RealSteelUFC) July 27, 2014
Rematch is on.
Robbie it is. http://t.co/4ME8HrhRsv pic.twitter.com/mpGMsCgemq
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) July 27, 2014
Eat up.
This is @Ruthless_RL post victory meal. Congrats buddy! Well done! pic.twitter.com/aViGRoeuEW
— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) July 27, 2014
Time to eat!! Don’t be jealous @dc_mma and @matthughes9x .. @PopeyesChicken pic.twitter.com/2Y30TKSjZF
— robbie lawler (@Ruthless_RL) July 27, 2014
Strong words.
@JonnyBones make me shut up! Bet you can’t!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 27, 2014
I woulda whooped green and Thompson punk asses!!! U know it!!! Especially that night!!! I say what u want me to say #KillaSeason
— Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) July 27, 2014
MISSING: Have you seen this man? He is 5’9 and weighs in at 145 lbs… It’s been 2 weeks and no… http://t.co/UlaAXW4TKg
— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) July 27, 2014
Together again.
Just picked up my roommate at the airport. Not only is he great help around the house but he can teach… http://t.co/jfGqtmTvHE
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) July 28, 2014
Scary.
Here @ the airport just threatening @henrihooft that he has to stop teaching us this vicious standup. It’s not fair! pic.twitter.com/h3frqn96uN
— TyroneSpong (@Tyrone_spong) July 27, 2014
Werdum vs. some indeterminate amount of children.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Jul. 25-27 2014)
Johnny Bedford vs. Rani Yahya at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski 2
Niklas Backstrom vs. Mike Wilkinson at UFC Fight Night: Stockholm
Henry Cejudo vs. Scott Jorgensen at UFC 177
Ernest Chavez vs. Zubaira Tukhugov at UFC Fight Night: Stockholm
Ruslan Magomedov vs. Richard Odoms at UFC 177
Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes at UFC 179
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Bad to the Bone.
The UFC 178 Shuffle: Jones vs Cormier
The Light Heavyweight title picture just took a detour from its intended course, from Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson, to Daniel Cormier vs Jon Jones. Jones has said that he wanted this fight from the start, and as a fan, so did I. The big three at the top of the light heavyweight division, Jones, Cormier and Gustafsson, is likely going to be where fan interest is drawn to over the next year. I don’t imagine any other 205s will do enough to get their name into the number one contender equation anytime soon, until the dust settles between these three – I think Chris Weidman will be in the title talk sooner than anyone else. Let’s just imagine a few hypothetical scenario’s this shuffle can provide fans. In a perfect Jon Jones world, Jones beats Cormier, vacates his title, and moves up to heavyweight, dethrones Cormier’s training partner, and heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez – its possible, but likely not so straight forward.
Cormier adds elements to the light heavyweight division no one, including Jones, brings. Olympic gold medal experience, wisdom that comes with age (along with being in his physical prime), the mentality of an undefeated fighter (Jones is also undefeated, only loss is a DQ), but what sets Cormier apart, is a solid resume with dominant wins over Josh Barnett, Antonio Silva, Roy Nelson, and Frank Mir. Jones wins are over much smaller opponents, most who have competed at middleweight. I think Cormier’s wrestling, trumps the reach advantage both Jones and Gustafsson have on him. Cormier could potentially rule the division, don’t forget he exited Strikeforce as the Heavyweight champ.
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