UFC on FOX 27 results: Ji Yeon Kim takes split decision from stunned Justine Kish

The old adage is never leave it in the hands of the judges. Justin Kish learned that the hard way in front of her home fans.

Kish (6-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) dropped a split decision to Ji Yeon Kim (7-1-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in her move to flyweight, and perhaps improbably Kim had a 30-27 from one of the judges. A second gave her a 29-28 for the win, and a dissenting third had it 29-28 for Kish.

The women’s flyweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC on FOX 27 event at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. It aired on FS1 following additional prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of a main card on FOX.

When Kish got inside, Kim landed a right hand and smiled calmly. Kish kicked to the legs, then body. But Kim stayed right inside and landed an uppercut and left behind it. Kish kicked to the body again, then slipped when she tried to kick high, but Kim couldn’t take advantage.

Kish kept the pressure on Kim in the second, then a minute in briefly tied things up. She had to eat a punch to get inside for a leg kick, then tried to pull Kim’s head down for a knee, but it wasn’t there. With a minute left, after Kim tried to put something together, Kish was able to go body-head with a right hand that snapped Kim’s head back. She went back to the body shortly thereafter, and her left hand continued to be on point.

Kish’s left hook was on the mark again early in the third. But Kim landed seconds later, and Kish slipped to the canvas. Kim wanted a stoppage for a supposed eye poke right after that, and referee Dan Miragliotta granted it – though it may have been a punch that caused the discomfort rather than a poke. On the restart, Kim started swinging away with a little more urgency. She landed, but Kish fired back with punches and kicks. Kim likely needed a finish down the stretch, but couldn’t put enough together to threaten.

Still, Kim won the fight – and one that likely will be debated.

Kim got back on track after a decision loss to Lucie Pudilova in her promotional debut this past June. Kish lost for the second straight time after suffering the first loss of her pro career, which came to Felice Herrig this past June at UFC Fight Night 112.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on FOX 27 results include:

• Ji Yeon Kim def. Justine Kish via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Vinc Pichel def. Joaquim Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Niko Price def. George Sullivan via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:21
• Cory Sandhagen def. Austin Arnett via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:48

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 27, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s Ken Hathaway contributed to this report on site in Charlotte.)

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