At UFC 307, Jose Aldo lost a controversial split decision to Mario Bautista, leading to backlash from fans and fighters like Conor McGregor and Kenny Florian, who criticized the judges’ scoring.
Jose Aldo couldn’t believe his ears at UFC 307 on Saturday night. The UFC legend came up short via a split decision (29-28, 28-29 x2) to Mario Bautista during the third fight of the main card. Aldo was devastated after the scores were read, and Bautista was loudly booed during his post-fight interview.
Here’s how the judges scored the fight. Check out how Conor McGregor and other pros reacted to the judges’ scores after the fight below.
Conor McGregor took to Twitter, sharing his disbelief: “Rogan said the judges weren’t even looking. That was Jose’s story. Bullshit decision.” He emphasized that referees need to step in more decisively, reminding everyone that this sport is for the fans.
McGregor continued with another tweet suggesting a countdown clock to prevent stalling in fights. “30 second clock. 20 second clock… Separate, separate, separate,” he insisted, expressing his frustration with prolonged positions that don’t lead anywhere.
Kenny Florian chimed in too, stating, “Aldo could’ve certainly done more but c’mon, that’s a bad decision…again.” He criticized what he called an MMA hack: failing at takedowns repeatedly but still convincing judges it’s effective grappling.
Florian further explained that control is not the primary measurement for MMA scoring. “Effective” grappling and striking should come first, he argued, wondering why this conversation still persists in 2024.
Mairon “The Legend” Santos expressed his discontent simply: “King of Rio got robbed.” Meanwhile, Miesha Tate praised Aldo’s legacy, calling him “one of the best to ever EVER do it,” still as fast as lightning.
In a world where opinions are as varied as fight outcomes themselves, these reactions highlight the ongoing debate over judging criteria in MMA. Fans and fighters alike continue to seek clarity in this complex sport.