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LAS VEGAS – Judging by the reaction of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in crowd in Las Vegas when the scores from the Antonio Rogerio Nogueira-Jason Brilz bout were announced at Saturday night's UFC 114 event, there were all of three people in the building who believed "Little Nog" had done enough to walk away with the victory.
Nogueira (19-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was one of them.
Unfortunately for Brilz (18-3-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC), the other two were Nevada State Athletic Commission judges, and Nogueira was awarded a split-decision victory. Following the evening's post-event press conference, UFC president Dana White admitted he didn't like the call, but he also said it's just the latest example of an increasingly important mantra: Never leave it the hands of the judges.
"I thought the decision was [expletive]," White said. "Listen, we're always in this position. I'm no [expletive] judge, but I thought Brilz won the fight.
"You can't leave it in the hands of these judges. You always hear me saying it, and guys keep doing it."
Brilz, a lightly regarded late replacement for Nogueira's original opponent, Forrest Griffin, appeared to most observers to have done enough to earn a closely contested opening period. The second frame was unquestionably his, while the third was clearly Nogueira's. But it was the closing seconds of the second frame, when a fatiguing Brilz failed to finish a wobbling Nogueira, that White ultimately believes cost the wrestler the fight – not the judges' observations of the opening round.
"I think Brilz could have knocked 'Little Nog' out at the end of the second round," White said. "He should have [expletive] went for it when 'Little Nog' was hurt."
While Brilz's failure to finish cost him a win, the Nebraskan will likely find some solace in the $65,000 bonus check that came along with the evening's "Fight of the Night" award. White said he also believes Brilz's performance should allow matchmaker Joe Silva – who was heavily criticized for arranging the matchup – a bit of peace as well.
"Jason Brilz and Joe Silva both caught a lot of [expletive] for making that fight," White said. "[Brilz] shut a lot of people up tonight.
"Joe Silva is the best matchmaker in the business and maybe the best matchmaker in any combat sport. Jason Brilz came out tonight, and he proved a lot of people wrong. Everybody knows how badass 'Little Nog' is. [Brilz] put on a great fight tonight."
source:
www.mmajunkie.com
