I think anybody getting pissed about this decision needs to calm down. No one really deserved to win that fight. And I'm tired of people saying the judging criteria needs to be changed for fighters like Machida who seem to strictly counter-punch. Although he's a master of his craft, his craft is boring and only works when someone plays into his game, and unfortunately for him, people have kinda figured it out.
Sorry for the ranting, but I've been quiet since the fights, and I've waited to see everyone's reaction before i gave my two cents. I didn't score this fight, because I honestly didn't expect it to go to decision, but as soon as the end bell rang, I had it in my mind that Rampage would win, solely because he's the only one who seemed to push the action for the majority of the fight. But that's not what i think should have happened, it's just what i expected the judges to pick.
As for the next fights, I say Rampage fights Griffin if he beats Franklin. That's a fight he probably wants bad, and I think it will motivate him to be the Rampage we all love, or love to hate. But I think Dana will throw him at the loser of Shogun and Evans.
Machida will probably get someone from the jones bader fight. most likely the loser as a tune up fight, if it can be called that. I think Bader and Jones both beat Machida. If they use their takedowns and keep them down they can grind him out.
And if there is a huge demand for a rematch then go for it. I just hope it's not as slow as the first one, and somebody steps up to finish it.
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