Georgia State Athletic Commission Overturns Fight Decision

A tense moment during a UFC match, reflecting the high stakes involved in competitive fighting.

News Summary

The Georgia State Athletic Commission has reversed the outcome of a controversial fight between Mansur Abdul-Malik and Cody Brundage, changing the result from a technical decision to a majority draw. The fight was halted due to an accidental head clash, leading to confusion in scoring. After reviewing the judges’ scores, the commission found inconsistencies, declaring the fight a draw. This decision highlights the complexities of fight scoring and the commission’s commitment to fairness in MMA.

Atlanta, Georgia – The Georgia State Athletic Commission has officially overturned the outcome of a highly debated fight from the UFC Atlanta event held on June 14. Mansur Abdul-Malik was initially awarded a technical decision following his bout against Cody Brundage, but the commission’s recent review has declared the result a majority draw.

The pivotal match between Abdul-Malik and Brundage was stopped early in the third round due to an accidental clash of heads. This unexpected incident left Brundage unable to continue, prompting the judges to render a decision in favor of Abdul-Malik, who entered the fight as a significant favorite.

However, upon evaluating the bout and the judges’ scoring methods, Team Iridium’s Lance Spaude announced that the commission determined an error in the round counts. According to Georgia state regulations, incomplete rounds cannot be factored into a fight’s scoring. As a result, only the first two rounds—where two judges scored the fight 1-1—were adjudicated valid, leading to an official score of 28-28 across the board.

The adjustment to a majority draw means that, while Abdul-Malik retains his undefeated record, he will not add another victory to his professional tally, which now stands at nine wins since joining the UFC. Conversely, this outcome spares Brundage from what would have been his second loss in a troubling 2024 run, in which he would have faced a temporary record of 1-2.

The majority draw also reflects how sensitive and complex fight scoring can be, with implications not just for the fighters involved but also for the sport’s reputation. The Georgia commission’s willingness to reconsider the fight’s outcome based on a valid appeal marks a notable instance in the UFC’s landscape, where fighter losses are often deemed final.

This event was part of a card that had other notable performances, including Kamaru Usman’s victory against Joaquin Buckley in the main event, which signaled Usman’s return to form following a three-fight losing streak. Additionally, Rose Namajunas marked her return to winning ways in a co-main event that highlighted her continued relevance in the sport.

Overall, the commission’s ruling underscores the importance of accurate and fair scoring in mixed martial arts, ensuring that the fighters receive just credit for their performances within the cage. The latest development reinforces the Georgia State Athletic Commission’s commitment to maintaining integrity, professionalism, and transparency in combat sports.

As the sport continues to evolve, outcomes like that of Abdul-Malik vs. Brundage will encourage discussions about the need for consistent and clear guidelines in fight scoring, ensuring such controversies can be minimized in the future.