[autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] is adamant [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] beat lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] at UFC 284.
Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC), the UFC featherweight champ, lost a close decision to Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) in their 155-pound title bout last month in Perth, Australia. Volkanovski took Makhachev to the brink and closed out the fifth round strong, but it wasn’t enough to win in the judges’ eyes. Mitchell is convinced Volkanovski won and even went as far as claiming foul play.
“That fight was rigged as f*ck, dude,” Mitchell said in an interview with Fanatics View. “(Makhachev) brings in all that money from the Middle East. When you’re bringing in that kind of oil money and all that Middle Eastern money, bro – all the richest people in the world are from the Middle East. I guess they just f*cking paid the judges.
“I know Alexander Volkanovski won a decision, I don’t think nothing; I know he won, and I know that sh*t was rigged. I’m not f*cking stupid. You can’t tell me that sh*t wasn’t rigged. I’m not buying it. You can pay them judges whatever the f*ck you want to pay them. I know Alexander Volkanovski won that fight.”
After suffering his first-career loss to Ilia Topuria this past December, Mitchell (15-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) will look to rebound when he faces rising contender Jonathan Pearce at UFC 288 on May 6.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.