UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan has joined the chorus claiming that Petr Yan was robbed of a decision at UFC 280. Although Rogan was not manning the UFC commentary table at the event in Abu Dhabi – he rarely leaves the US for UFC events any more – he weighed in on the controversial decision win in a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.
Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley powered through a three-round fight, which O’Malley won via split decision. O’Malley was ranked tenth in the division walking into the Octagon at UFC 280, while Yan was the no.1 bantamweight contender. Many expected Yan to dominate O’Malley easily, but the fight was a brutal grind for both competitors across all three rounds.
Rogan: Petr Yan Was Robbed Against O’Malley
“He was certainly in it against Petr Yan, who was a former champion, the best in the division, the No. 1 contender. It was a very close fight, and he definitely hurt Petr on multiple occasions. He caught him with that big knee, rocked him. But the question is: How much is the takedown worth? How much is control worth?”
Yan landed several takedowns against O’Malley throughout the fight, but was unable to progress his position or attempt any submissions. Under the new MMA scoring rules, simple top control does not score above damage. O’Malley clearly outstruck Yan over the course of the fight, delivering more damage, and although Yan landed several takedowns, he did not deliver any real threat or damage from the ground.
“Takedowns without damage, what is the [value]? I’m not denying that I thought Petr Yan won, because I did think he won at the end of it, but takedowns without damage versus standup with damage, because ‘Sugar’ landed more strikes standing and had big moments. Yan had some big moments, too, one big left hand that rocked him. The question is how valuable are those takedowns and how valuable is that top game, that control?
We’re limited by this 10-point must system. One guy can win a round 10-9 and it can be a very close round, and someone can win a round clearly and it can be 10-9. That doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Sean O’Malley, thanks to the controversial split decision, now occupies the no.1 contender spot in the bantamweight division. Yan is now riding a three-fight skid, including consecutive losses to the champ Aljamain Sterling and this most recent loss to Sean O’Malley.
Was Petr Yan robbed on Saturday night? Let us know in the comments.
