UFC 313 had its fair share of action, but one decision stole the spotlight—and not in a good way. When the judges handed Mairon Santos a split-decision win over Francis Marshall, the reaction was immediate.
The crowd erupted in boos, stunned by what they had just witnessed. Even the live betting odds painted a different story, with Santos sitting at +700 by the end of the fight according to an update on X by Jed. I Goodman.
Jon Anik didn’t hold back, calling it a “trash decision.” Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier echoed his frustration, slamming the call as one of the worst of the night.
On Instagram, Verdict MMA pointed out that their fan-scorecard had the fight going in Marshall’s favor. But somehow, the official scorecards told a different tale.
Dereck Cleary saw the fight 30-27 for Marshall, yet Chris Lee and David Lethaby gave it to Santos with matching 29-28 scores. How did two judges watch the same fight and come to such a different conclusion?
Marshall had seemingly done everything right. He outstruck Santos, secured multiple takedowns, and controlled the fight’s pace. The final round saw him dominate the grappling exchanges, keeping Santos pinned to the mat. But despite what seemed like a clear victory, the decision went the other way.
This isn’t the first time UFC judges have come under fire, and it won’t be the last. But when even the commentators are calling out the decision in real-time, something feels off. Should the UFC push for more judging accountability?
More to follow…
The post “Trash Decision”- Jon Anik & Joe Rogan Destroy Judges as Mairon Santos Win Against Francis Marshall Puts UFC 313 in Controversy appeared first on EssentiallySports.
