Dana White believes judges got it wrong in Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan rematch
UFC president Dana White believes that the judges got it wrong in the Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan bantamweight title rematch at UFC 273.
In the highly-anticipated rematch between the two bitter 135lbs rivals, Sterling walked away with a controversial split decision win at the end of five rounds. The second and third rounds were clearly Sterling’s, while the fourth and fifth rounds belonged to Yan. The fight came down to the first round, with two judges edging it for Sterling and one giving it to Yan, for finally scorecard tallies of 48-47 Sterling, 47-48 Yan, and 48-47 Sterling. There were no 10-8 rounds scored by the judges.
Social media and the media seemed split on how to score the fight, with most agreeing it ultimately came down to how you scored the first round. Speaking with the media at UFC 273 following the event, the company president White was asked who he thought deserved to get his hand raised. In White’s opinion, it was Yan.
“I thought the judges blew that one,” White said (via MMAjunkie.com). “I had it 3-2 (for Yan). I don’t know how you guys scored it. It’s all in however you score that first round.”
After losing via DQ last year at UFC 259 in a controversial ending to a championship fight, Yan has now gone 0-2 against Sterling. There is always the argument for booking a trilogy fight, but it looks like that will wait. Despite the controversial scorecards, White said that Yan will have to wait for the next title shot at 135lbs. Had Yan won the fight, he would likely be fighting former champion TJ Dillashaw next. Now, it appears that Sterling will take on Dillashaw next instead.
“That fight will be there,” White said of Sterling vs. Yan 3. “Petr Yan is one of the baddest dudes in that division, (but) you probably do the T.J. fight.”
Do you agree with Dana White that the judges blew the Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan decision in their rematch at UFC 273?
