With Jon Jones squeaking out a split-decision victory at UFC 239, how did our staff score the fight?
Michael Hiscoe MMATorch Contributor
My assessment of the Jon Jones-Thiago Santos fight is that Santos won on the cards but Jones won the fight. I had rounds 1, 2, and 5 for Santos with round 5 being the closest and could have gone the other way. If Santos doesn’t tweak his knee early in the second round we could have been looking at a new light heavyweight champ.
Sean Covington MMATorch Contributor
3-2 Santos. Thiago Santos won rounds 1,2, and 3. It’s certainly not the worst decision ever, certainly something both men can live with. Dana White’s comments afterward were disgusting and completely stupid. Dana will do anything to protect Jon Jones.
Frank Hyden MMATorch Columnist
As I watched it, I thought Jones probably did just barely enough to eek out the decision, but the more I think about it, the more I would lean towards Santos.
In close decisions I usually favor the champion but Jones was so frustrating to watch in this fight that it left a bad taste in my mouth. We all know he’s a magnificent fighter but he’s becoming more like how Anderson Silva was where he fights to the level of his competition, or just appears unmotivated. Others have fallen prey to this mentality as well but that’s probably the closest corollary because of their overall brilliance.
In this fight, I would want to reward the aggression of Santos so I think I would have given him the 3-2 decision.
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- MMA Talk for Pro Wrestling Fans – Vallejos and Monsey review UFC 239 and preview of UFC Sacramento
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