UFC President Dana White said he scored Saturday's UFC 195 main event in favour of Carlos Condit after an epic battle with Robbie Lawler, and also confirmed Stipe Miocic will be given a shot at the heavyweight title following his victory over Andrei Arlovski.
Lawler and Condit fought an incredibly close contest with the judges ultimately siding with Lawler on a split decision 48-47, 48-47, 47-48, per ESPN's Brett Okamoto:
Lawler, Condit scorecard pic.twitter.com/AthHqo9F5F
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 3, 2016
However, White admitted he disagreed with their decision:
Dana White says he scored the fight 3-2 for Carlos Condit.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 3, 2016
As Okamoto captured, the scores were close right the way through:
Third round almost impossible to call. Condit with volume, Lawler's seem to have more weight. I'll go Lawler, 29-28.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 3, 2016
This is WILD. Condit with his best round in the fourth. Lawler's offense shutting down but he's still dangerous. 39-39 headed to fifth.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 3, 2016
Per Okamoto, Condit landed more strikes than his opponent over the course of the bout, but Lawler tended to do more damage, even briefly knocking Condit down in the second round.
The third round in particular was tough to call, with Condit busy but Lawler more dangerous, while the fifth will go down as one of the best in history as Lawler launched a frenzied attack on his opponent, who to his credit stood firm.
Both fighters were visibly exhausted at the end of the epic encounter, per the UFC:
Literally nothing left these two warriors could have given us!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!! #UFC195 https://t.co/BtSy6ANAMw
— UFC (@ufc) January 3, 2016
Bleacher Report MMA agreed with White's assessment Condit should have won but conceded either result would be divisive in such a close contest:
Lots of opinions on this decision, in both directions. I say Condit won, but you've gotta beat the man don't you. #UFC185
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) January 3, 2016
Per Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog.com, White praised both fighters after the bout: "Both guys made it one of the greatest rounds you’ll ever see anywhere in any fight. He’s [Lawler] our Evander Holyfield. He’s never in a boring fight. When he gets hurt he continues to go toe to toe. I respect so much when you’re in a fight like this and you have to come out in that fifth round and do what Robbie did."
Meanwhile, Lawler himself praised Condit's performance:
His movement was awesome. He’s clever, he’s sharp and he can take a shot. Those guys put together a great game plan. He’s in shape. He’s a champion. He’s a guy who’s been doing this a long time. Carlos was everything they said he was, and I had to dig deep. Hat’s off to him.
White also spoke after Saturday's co-main event, in which Miocic took just 54 seconds to dispatch Arlovski and vocally called for a chance to fight for the heavyweight title. Per MMA Junkie's Steven Marrocco, White said:
"Who the hell was going to say no to him? He was like a psycho. I wasn’t going to say no. We are on the same page, Stipe."
Miocic himself believes he's earned his shot. Per Marrocco, he said: "I think so. I did it in good fashion, and I would like that."
Bleacher Report MMA and UFC commentator Jon Anik believes the decision is the correct one:
I can't think of any reason not to give Stipe Miocic the next heavyweight title shot. Just do that. #UFC195
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) January 3, 2016
On the strength of that win, gotta think Stipe Miocic has the stronger case than Alistair Overeem for Werdum-Velasquez winner. #UFC195
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) January 3, 2016
Miocic will now face whoever emerges triumphant from UFC 196 in February when current champion Fabricio Werdum has his rematch with Cain Velasquez.
The 33-year-old has been stopped just twice in his 16 fights and is looking in good shape following strong knockout wins over Arlovski and Mark Hunt before him, so his next opponent will need to be in top form to retain their title.
