Fans who watched the UFC 247 fight between [autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag] and [autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag] tuned in to see who was better. Instead, they watched a robbery.
Just ask UFC color commentator Joe Rogan.
A fun fight was soured by its outcome. After Martinez (11-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) clearly edged two – if not all three – rounds, the post-fight scoring tally was delayed. Why? A cageside computer involved in the scoring process crashed. Maybe that was technology’s way of trying to warn us what was to come.
Following a moderate delay, the computer rebooted, and Bruce Buffer entered the octagon with the scorecards. The judges awarded the fight 28-29, 29-28, 30-27 in Ewell’s favor.
The decision left the UFC commentary team flabbergasted. How was it possible that Ewell (16-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) won all three rounds in the eyes of one judge?
“That’s ridiculous,” Rogan said on the broadcast. “Anybody saying that that is three rounds to Ewell, that is criminal. That’s criminal. That three rounds to nothing is criminal. Martinez put in an excellent performance. He had Ewell hurt on several occasions in two rounds, kicked him to the body, took his legs out, had Ewell fighting his game, showed excellent defense. I’m stunned.”
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UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik added, “I’m just not sure how, sober, you score that third round for Andre Ewell.”
Former UFC champ Dominick Cruz echoed the sentiment and called some specific attention to the makeup for the scoring table: “The way I see it, we have boxing judges, and Ewell boxed. And Martinez kickboxed.”
The disbelief extended beyond the trio of commentators. The MMA community (including yours truly) expressed disagreement with the decision on social media.
According to @MMADecisions.
Joe Soliz, who scored it 30-27 Ewell, has judged less than 10 UFC fights ever.
https://t.co/NmK9lMqs7LDanny DeAlejandro has judged one UFC fight in 8 years.
https://t.co/93SmqdHDae https://t.co/wnGTn5tVy8— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) February 9, 2020
Wait a fucking minute. 30-27 Ewell is atrocious. There's no way.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 9, 2020
I thought Martinez won that fight. He did more damage and had Ewell hurt a few times to the body. Just more effective striking #UFC247
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) February 9, 2020
Ridiculous decision. #UFC247
— Jairzinho 'BIGI BOY' Rozenstruik (@JairRozenstruik) February 9, 2020
Idk about that last decision 😳 #UFC247
— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) February 9, 2020
@joerogan is right. That one was criminal. 30-27 judge needs to be impeached #UFC247
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) February 9, 2020
@ufc we have to do something about these judges! @joerogan #UFC247
— Ian Heinisch (@ianheinischmma) February 9, 2020
WHAAAAAAT?!?!?! @ufc you better pay Jonathon Martinez the other half of his check!!!! That’s some whack ass shit!
— Dustin Jacoby (@dustinjacobyDJ) February 9, 2020
These judges suck #UFC247
— Ricky Simón (@RickySimonUFC) February 9, 2020
Media scores for Ewell vs. Martinez per @MMADecisions pic.twitter.com/5S3PueINr0
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 9, 2020
Ewell 30-27 WTF is going on with that….🤦🏼♂️ I thought Martinez won that fight #UFC247
— Damien Brown ダミアン・ブラウン (@beatdown155) February 9, 2020
If there was ever a time to use the "computer glitch" excuse, Jonathan Martinez has it #UFC247
— James Lynch (@LynchOnSports) February 9, 2020
The computer really screwed up those scores. Jeez. #UFC247
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) February 9, 2020
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