Ross Pearson’s week just picked up considerably. After dropping what could be charitably characterized as a controversial split decision to Diego Sanchez Saturday in Albuquerque, Pearson gains another sympathizer in the form of UFC president Dana White.
“Diego lost that fight,” White told UFC.com Tuesday. “The judge who judged that fight should never be judging fights again. He never should be judging fights of this caliber, he needs to go back down into the amateurs and really learn how to judge a fight.”
In a bout where Sanchez seemed to fail winning a single round, judge Jeff Collins awarded him all three for a 30-27 score. What’s worse, judge Chris Tellez gave Sanchez the nod by a score of 29-28. The bout’s third judge, Marcos Rosales, scored it 30-27 for Pearson.
“First of all, you gave every round to Diego, who got dropped in the second round,” said White. “It was a knockdown, how does Diego win that round? It’s not possible. I don’t know how you can vote against him, but it goes to show that you’re never safe. That’s as bad as it gets.”
White will also award Pearson a discretionary bonus of $30,000, the sum he would have earned with a win over Sanchez.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Chael responds. Chael Sonnen has been scratched from his UFC 175 bout with Vitor Belfort after failing his random drug test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Pros react.
‘Both are at fault.’ Dana White places the blame on the fighter and athletic commission for Sonnen’s failed test.
Signal to noise. Luke Thomas gives you the best and worst from UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov.
Cut. Jason High has been released by the UFC after shoving referee Kevin Mulhall at UFC Fight Night 42.
Fish-hookin’. Miesha Tate took to Facebook to defend Bryan Caraway. ‘All you idiots running your mouths about bryan FINISHING his fight via fishhook need to be slapped!’
MEDIA STEW
Dana White talks Sonnen’s failed test.
and Sonnen’s clarification.
Fight Motion: UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov.
Highlights from Cage Warriors 69.
UFC 174 Embedded episode 2.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
MMA Tete-A-Tete: UFC 175 Chael Sonnen fails drug test & he’s off the card
…
TWEETS
Eh?
Wand?Vitor ?
— Wanderlei Silva (@wandfc) June 11, 2014
Graphic.
I AM GOING TO FEAST ON HIS SOUL. Fight Night Dublin: McGregor vs Brandao Preview: http://t.co/l51WkzxyMH
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 10, 2014
Signing your life away.
So u wanna be a fighter huh? Punching and kicking is the easy part, all this paperwork from ufc is… http://t.co/fSEwWEIrdn
— Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) June 10, 2014
Wonder who initiated this.
Me and @ufc fighter @BigfootSilva ‘s feet pic.twitter.com/4JAawhmV8d
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) June 10, 2014
Maybe tomorrow.
For me a successful shave is one that doesn’t require stitches pic.twitter.com/Vq9pjjeMXi
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) June 11, 2014
You just bought yourself another Saturday.
Fun morning watching @lorenzofertitta‘s son @NFsoCrucial crack some heads on the field with @BishopGormanFB pic.twitter.com/iJdPOfuH5Z
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) June 10, 2014
Scary.
Never not fun.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (June 10 2014)
Jessamyn Duke vs. Leslie Smith at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller
Patrick Cummins vs. Kyle Kingsbury at UFC on FOX 12
cancelled Luiz Dutra vs. Sean Spencer at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens
cancelled Vitor Belfort vs. Chael Sonnen at UFC 175
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Justin Bouillon.
Did Conor McGregor Dodge the Bullet That is Niklas Backstrom?
When Niklas Backstrom was asked about where he thinks he is at in the featherweight division on this week’s MMA Hour, he answered hesitantly.
“Let’s say top three, so people think I’m humble,” said the 24 year old hailing from Sweden. We could all sense he was holding back, though.
When the topic of Backstrom’s supreme confidence was brought up, one could not ignore the similarities he shares with another European fighter, Conor McGregor. Though he did not quite agree with the comparison, he did have some words to say about his stablemate.
“I think he’s really fun to watch,” said Backstrom of the rising Irish star. The comparison gets even more interesting when you find out that these two were supposed to fight McGregor on September 8, 2011 at a Cage Warriors event.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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