Mixed martial arts is the world's fastest-growing sport. It is full of exciting and controversial moments. Some of these controversies were intentional, while others happened due to unavoidable clashes of ego. Despite these problems, the sport continues to grow rapidly, attracting more fans every day.
MMA is full of ups and downs for every fighter. All avid fans feel those highs and lows too. This sport can be really stressful and nerve-wracking. That's why many MMA fans like to place online bets on it. Let's look back at some controversial moments and rank the top 5 worst judging decisions in MMA history.
Ross Pearson vs Diego Sanchez
In 2014, Diego Sanchez won one of the most controversial fights in MMA history at UFC Fight Night. His opponent, Ross Pearson, landed more punches in every round and even knocked Sanchez down in the second round. Though Sanchez kept fighting, only 24% of his punches hit their target. He tried to make up for lost rounds by throwing lots of strong but inaccurate punches at the end of each round. Sanchez's tactics have confused the judges, especially since he was fighting in his hometown. Because of biased judging, Ross Pearson was unfairly denied an easy win over the UFC veteran.
Ricco Rodriguez vs Antonio Nogueira
In 2003, fighters from the two biggest MMA organizations, Pride and the UFC, faced off to settle a long-standing rivalry. Rodriguez represented the UFC, while Nogueira fought for Pride. Rodriguez controlled the fight, performing successful takedowns and defending against Nogueira's chokeholds. Both fighters landed an equal number of strikes without causing significant damage. However, Rodriguez outperformed Nogueira on the ground. Surprisingly, all three judges unanimously awarded the victory to Nogueira, the Pride fighter, who fought on his home territory.
Matt Hamill vs Michael Bisping
Even though Hamill landed more punches and executed several successful takedowns, Michael Bisping won by split decision at UFC 75. During the fight, Bisping seemed out of place. He looked confused and frustrated, often arguing with his coaches between rounds. It seemed that Bisping was struggling and not performing at his best. In contrast, Hamill appeared more in control, landing more strikes and dominating the takedowns.
Despite Hamill's strong performance, the judges ruled in favor of Bisping. This decision was met with shock and disbelief by the audience. The fans were certain that Hamill had won the fight, because of his superior performance throughout the fight.
This fight remains one of the most controversial victories in Michael Bisping's career. The audience's reaction underscored the general consensus that Hamill had been unfairly denied a well-deserved victory.
Kevin Randleman vs Bas Rutten
After Randy Couture left the UFC heavyweight title vacant, Kevin Randleman and Bas Rutten fought for the championship. During the fight, Randleman used his wrestling skills effectively. He took Rutten down to the mat repeatedly. Almost the entire fight, about 99% of it, took place on the ground where Randleman controlled from the top position. Being on top, Randleman landed strong punches. Rutten could only defend himself by throwing punches and elbows from below.
Rutten won by split decision despite Randleman dominating the fight and keeping him on the ground for almost the entire 20 minutes. This outcome confused many fans and observers, as Randleman's control and striking seemed to clearly give him the upper hand. Rutten spent most of the fight on his back, defending himself rather than launching effective attacks.
Fans expected Randleman to win because he controlled the fight and landed more effective strikes. Instead, Rutten was declared the winner, making this one of the most controversial decisions in UFC history.
Johny Hendricks vs Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre was on an impressive 11-fight winning streak when he defended his welterweight title against Johny Hendricks at UFC 167. Hendricks gave St-Pierre the toughest fight of his career. He successfully defended against 7 takedown attempts and landed heavy, accurate punches throughout five rounds. By the end of the fight, Hendricks didn't have a scratch on his face, while St-Pierre looked exhausted.
Despite this, the judges surprisingly awarded St-Pierre a split decision victory. The decision was controversial because Hendricks seemed to dominate the fight. He was landing powerful blows that clearly affected St-Pierre. Many fans and observers felt that Hendricks had done everything necessary to win, making the judges' decision seem controversial.
Hendricks was devastated by the outcome, as he believed he had won the fight. His frustration was shared by many who watched the bout, as they saw a challenger who had given his all and performed better than the champion. The controversy over this fight remains one of the most talked-about moments in UFC history.
