After no-contest, UFC exec hints at Johnny Bedford vs. Rani Yahya rematch

Following the result of UFC Fight Night 39's event opener, a UFC executive said the promotion could rebook a bantamweight bout between Johnny Bedford (19-10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and Rani Yahya (19-8 MMA, 4-2 UFC).

“We don’t see that very often, but I think the decision was the right decision,” UFC Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa Garry Cook told MMAjunkie after today’s event. “I think (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva jumped in there at the end to calm everybody down.

“As you know, the emotions are running pretty high; everybody just had to move on. It kind of got off to a bit of a weird start, but I think they’ll probably want to rematch those guys.”

Bedford and Yahya fought to a no-contest when a clash of heads dazed Yahya and forced the referee to intervene at the 39-second mark of the first round. Like the rest of the afternoon card, the preliminary-card bout streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.

Afterward, a heated Bedford said he won the fight and nearly instigated another one with Yahya, who said he would happily do a rematch. It took several minutes before cooler heads prevailed.

Cook later added: “I didn’t speak to [Silva] about that specifically (about a rematch), but I did say to Joe, ‘How’s it going,’ and even Joe said that was weird. It was one of those things that catches us off guard.”

Bedford, who lost his previous UFC fight to Bryan Caraway via submission, took a beating on Twitter for his unrepentant attitude toward the sequence of events.

Of course, head-butts are illegal in MMA, and the fight was required to be a no-contest because two of three rounds hadn’t been completed.

Yahya also was looking for redemption following a split-decision loss to Tom Niinimaki in his previous outing. After the fight was called off, he approached Bedford in a conciliatory manner but was rebuffed.

Bedford, a veteran of “The Ultimate Fighter 14,” later took to Facebook to explain his side of the story:

“First of all I want to thank the UFC, (UFC President) Dana White, (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby, and all of the staff in the best promotion in the world. Thank you to Abu Dhabi for the once in a life time opportunity. Your country is amazing.

“I hope all the fans can understand my actions and frustrations showed at the time of announcement. I had not looked at any replays, and in all honesty have still not seen a replay. The referee stopped the fight with me throwing punches, therefore I was celebrating a much needed win.

“I have no disrespect for Rani Yahya and meant none at the time. My frustrations have come from me being sidelined by injuries and finally feeling the best I could for this fight. With all of my misfortunes of injuries and a set back in my last fight, I put myself into a position where I needed this win and was crushed when I found out I would not be receiving my win bonus.

“I fight for my wife and 2 young kids, who rely on me for putting food on the table and paying the bills. I apologize to anyone who took offense to my reaction and hope that you all can put your self in my position and understand why I was upset. I wish the best for Rani and hope that he will accept my apology, but also a rematch.

“I was unable to fight in Texas a few weeks prior in Dallas: So why not San Antonio in June?

“Please understand that I am family man, that put everything on the line for this fight, and at that moment felt robbed. I now understand it was an accidental head butt, and wish it would of ended differently.

“So please UFC, Mr. White, Mr. Shelby and the entire Zuffa staff allow me to fight sooner rather than later, and prove to you and the world that I am a fighter who will bring it 100% everytime.

“I look forward to my next fight where I can end it without an controversy.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 39, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.