The main event of UFC Vegas 74 delivered an exhilarating spectacle as Amir Albazi narrowly emerged victorious over Kai Kara-France.
However, the judges' decision sparked a storm of controversy, leaving fans and fighters divided.
With Judge Sal D'Amato and Chris Lee siding with Albazi, and Michael Bell favoring Kara-France, the split opinions ignited a flurry of passionate reactions from the combat sports community.
Notably, the outspoken Israel Adesanya vented his frustrations on social media, unleashing a barrage of scathing tweets that reverberated throughout the fighting world.
“Nah bro…F*** yous!!! Fire Chris Lee & Sal Deez nuts. I tweeted that before even seeing the scorecards because I knew them two will f*** it up!!
“Hoooow many times will they rob athletes of their moments of glory, of their money, their livelihood for their family. F*** them c****, they need to expire quickly and go.
“Mike Bell was the only judge to score this properly, the other two deff need to disappear. Start interviewing the judges after fights. Hold them accountable for their work,”
Despite the disheartening loss, Kai Kara-France exhibited commendable sportsmanship, in stark contrast to the heated response of Israel Adesanya.
In the post-fight news conference, Kara-France gracefully expressed his belief that he should have been awarded the victory. However, he also acknowledged the inherent subjectivity of judges' decisions, demonstrating a mature understanding of the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Taking responsibility for his own performance, he acknowledged that he could have done more to solidify his claim for the win.
However, as the frustration settled in, Kara-France couldn’t resist joining in the chorus of dissent, using Twitter to respond to the judges’ decision.
Who’s worse UFC judges or NRL Refs?😅
— Kai Kara France (@kaikarafrance) June 4, 2023
Regrettably for Kai Kara-France, his recent loss at UFC Vegas 74 extends his current two-fight losing streak, with his previous defeat against Brandon Moreno in their UFC 277 clash for the interim flyweight championship.
This setback signifies the first consecutive losses in Kara-France's UFC career and momentarily removes him from the title picture in the flyweight division.
Amidst these developments, Amir Albazi, who has already amassed an impressive five-fight winning streak in the UFC, wasted no time in expressing his desire for a championship opportunity.
Driven by ambition, Albazi has set his sights on reaching the pinnacle of the flyweight division, determined to prove himself against the world's finest competitors.