In a shocking judges’ decision last night, Phil Davis defeated the former lightweight champion Lyoto Machida unanimously. Even more surprising was that this fight took place in Brazil and Machida is Brazilian. Even with this being the case, everyone watching the fight believed Machida controlled the 3-round bout and should have won the fight.
Yahoo Sports is reporting that Dana White, founder of the UFC, was not pleased with the decision at all and he went to say:
“Machida definitely won that fight, definitely. But that’s his fault. He knows MMA judging sucks. It’s terrible, it’s [expletive], but he went out there and let him do it. I can’t remember whether it was the first or the second, but Machida had that combination where he threw all those punches and ran across the cage and ended with that knee. That’s when he’s really good. But he wants to stay back and be a counter puncher and wait and fight cautiously. He’s got the abilities, but he just doesn’t bring it. He loves the counter and he got taken down at the end of both rounds.”
White even tweeted to express his displeasure with the judges’ decision:
Wow!!! I had Machida winning all 3 rds but that's what happens when u leave it up to the judges!
— Dana White (@danawhite) August 4, 2013
Oddly enough, the UFC has been aching for a bout between Phil Davis and Jon ‘Bones’ Jones. This victory by Davis now perfectly sets up the opportunity for Davis to challenge Jones to a bout. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw the setup soon.