Quinton “Rampage” Jackson said he was stunned to find out that he won in a split decision against Brazilian opponent Lyoto Machida, on Saturday night during UFC 123.
Jackson conceded defeat and even raised Machida’s hand to signify the outcome of the bout, but the judges said he won two of three rounds. Machida won the third round.
The three judges scored the match 28-29 and gave it to Jackson.
Jackson said aggression was the “only thing that got me the decision” in the victory, according to UFC.com.
Machida’s sometimes-passive style seemed to be overpowered by Jackson’s aggression, but in the third he closed well against him and backed him into the cage, raining punches and knees on the former Light Heavyweight titleholder.
“The fight was so close that I must say, even though I don’t want to, I have to give him a rematch,” Jackson said, according to ESPN. “An immediate rematch would be the fair thing.”
Machida said via a translator that “if the judges thought that Quinton won, then that’s what they saw,” adding that he would like to do an “immediate rematch,” according to ESPN.
UFC head Dana White said that there is no need for a rematch.
“There won’t be a rematch. As far as I am concerned and as far as the judges are concerned, Rampage won that fight,“ White told ESPN. ”You guys know me; I don’t play favorites; I don’t pretend to judge fights that go my way; I call ‘em like I see ’em.”
Jackson said he almost had to cancel the fight due to illness, according to a Fox report.
“The fight was almost canceled a couple of days ago,” he said, adding that he fought because of the fans. “I caught a fever from my son, and I was throwing up and then I had to cut weight.”
Jackson conceded defeat and even raised Machida’s hand to signify the outcome of the bout, but the judges said he won two of three rounds. Machida won the third round.
The three judges scored the match 28-29 and gave it to Jackson.
Jackson said aggression was the “only thing that got me the decision” in the victory, according to UFC.com.
Machida’s sometimes-passive style seemed to be overpowered by Jackson’s aggression, but in the third he closed well against him and backed him into the cage, raining punches and knees on the former Light Heavyweight titleholder.
“The fight was so close that I must say, even though I don’t want to, I have to give him a rematch,” Jackson said, according to ESPN. “An immediate rematch would be the fair thing.”
Machida said via a translator that “if the judges thought that Quinton won, then that’s what they saw,” adding that he would like to do an “immediate rematch,” according to ESPN.
UFC head Dana White said that there is no need for a rematch.
“There won’t be a rematch. As far as I am concerned and as far as the judges are concerned, Rampage won that fight,“ White told ESPN. ”You guys know me; I don’t play favorites; I don’t pretend to judge fights that go my way; I call ‘em like I see ’em.”
Jackson said he almost had to cancel the fight due to illness, according to a Fox report.
“The fight was almost canceled a couple of days ago,” he said, adding that he fought because of the fans. “I caught a fever from my son, and I was throwing up and then I had to cut weight.”
