Jorge Masvidal was obviously quite upset with the split decision loss vs. Al Iaquinta in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas. All 3 judges scored the opening round for Masvidal, who nearly finished Iaquinta late in the closing seconds and busted him up with a big cut on his right cheek. Judges Cardo Urso and Dave Tirelli gave the remaining rounds (and therefore the fight) to Iaquinta, while Doug Crosby scored 30-27 in favor of Masvidal. Check out the scorecards below, courtesy of Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting:
Here’s your Iaquinta-Masvidal scorecard. #UFCFairfax pic.twitter.com/6PO5c59j7Q
— Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) April 4, 2015
Yes, Doug Crosby is the same judge who scored Edgar vs. Penn I 50-45 for Edgar and earlier this year turned in 30-27 for Cathal Pendred over Sean Spencer at UFC Boston in what is frontrunner for worst decision of 2015. But there is another potential story that has emerged out of this regarding Crosby’s history with Ray Longo, who is Iaquinta’s trainer. Ariel Helwani says that Crosby has had a long-standing issue with Longo.
Judge Doug Crosby has long had an issue w/ Ray Longo. Many years. He should not have judged that fight. Oh yeah, he scored it 30-27 for JM.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 4, 2015
I’ve talked to Crosby few times but he won’t talk on record. I’m sure he’d admit to issue w/Longo at this pt. Hopefully won’t happen again.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 4, 2015
If this is indeed the case and the potential for biased scoring was always in the picture, then this is definitely a problem. At least for Iaquinta, it didn’t cost him the fight, although in Crosby’s defense, scoring the fight for Masvidal isn’t atrocious, but I personally didn’t see a solid case for 30-27.
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