News Summary
The Georgia State Athletic Commission has overturned the result of the fight between Mansur Abdul-Malik and Cody Brundage from a technical decision to a majority draw. This decision comes after an appeal from Brundage’s team highlighted errors in the scoring process, emphasizing the need for accuracy in MMA officiating. Abdul-Malik’s record remains intact, and Brundage avoids a third consecutive defeat. This event stresses the importance of fair regulation in combat sports amidst growing scrutiny over fight results.
Atlanta, Georgia – The Georgia State Athletic Commission announced its decision to overturn a controversial fight result from the June 14 UFC Atlanta card, declaring that Mansur Abdul-Malik’s bout against Cody Brundage will now be recorded as a majority draw. This pivotal ruling comes amid scrutiny regarding the scoring process that led to an initial technical decision in favor of Abdul-Malik.
Initially, Abdul-Malik was awarded a technical decision after the fight was halted early in the third round due to an accidental head clash. At that point, Abdul-Malik was fighting as a favorite, and the result marked his ninth professional win and third victory since joining the UFC. However, the accident left Brundage unable to continue the match, leading to the controversial call.
After reviewing the appeal from Brundage’s team, the commission determined that an error had been made concerning the rounds counted by the judges. According to Georgia state law, only completed rounds can be scored; in this case, only the first two rounds should have been taken into account. The judges initially scored the fight as 28-28, 28-28, and 29-28 in favor of Abdul-Malik, indicative of the need for a reevaluation.
The commission’s review revealed that two judges had the contest tied at one round each. This finding facilitated the adjustment to the fight’s outcome to reflect a majority draw, meaning that Abdul-Malik likely lost a point due to the accidental foul. The new ruling effectively allows Abdul-Malik to maintain his undefeated record while also benefiting Brundage, who avoided a third loss in his past three outings.
This incident is notable as it underscores the complexities of officiating in high-stakes combat sports like MMA. In this case, the ruling serves as a rare example of a commission overturning a fight result after an appeal. The adjustments made highlight the commission’s dedication to fairness and accuracy in combat sports regulation.
The June 14 event in Atlanta featured other significant matches, including the main event where Kamaru Usman secured a victory over Joaquin Buckley, marking his return after a challenging three-fight skid. Additionally, Rose Namajunas made a successful return to the octagon in the co-main event, further drawing attention to the significance of the evening’s fights.
Team Iridium’s Lance Spaude, representing Brundage, expressed gratitude for the professionalism displayed by the Georgia commission in reviewing the appeal. The ruling has implications not only for the fighters involved but also for the UFC at large, emphasizing the importance of accurate fight scoring and the transparency of the commission’s processes.
As mixed martial arts continues to grow in popularity, the integrity of competition remains a central focus for both regulatory bodies and athletes. This incident serves as a reminder of the critical role that commissions play in ensuring that all outcomes are deserving and reflective of the fighters’ performances inside the cage.
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Additional Resources
- SI.com: UFC Atlanta Fight Result Overturned
- Wikipedia: Mixed Martial Arts
- Sherdog: Georgia Commission Overturns Bout Result
- Google Search: UFC Atlanta June 14 2025
- MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Result Overturned
- Google Scholar: UFC Fight Regulation
- Yardbarker: Undefeated UFC Fighter Has Win Overturned
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mixed Martial Arts
- ESPN: UFC Fight Center
- Google News: UFC Atlanta 2025
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