Getty Image / Louis Grasse
For the first 10 fights of the day, UFC 282 looked like a card that would be looked back on very fondly by fans after plenty of action and a 100% finish rate.
Then the co-main event came along and things started to go off the rails a bit.
That fight featured a matchup between Jared Gordon and the UFC’s newest hype train, Paddy Pimblett. Gordon entered the fight as a sizable underdog, but certainly didn’t look the part in the first round.
He went right at Pimblett and had a lot of success in the striking battle and most of the MMA world believed he won round 1.
Round 2 was more of a tossup, likely leaving the fight hanging in the balance heading into round 3. It was a largely uneventful final round, but Gordon spent nearly all of it controlling the fight against the fence.
As the decision was about to be read, fans widely assumed Gordon would be announced as the winner. The 3 judges were just about the only people who disagreed, leaving fans furious about the outcome.
In the aftermath of the fight, Jared Gordon is now calling for a rematch.
With all the controversy with our Fight Id love to run it back with you in London @theufcbaddy I have no ill will towards you, as a matter of fact I really like you😂 @stoolpresidente maybe we can all work together and between Paddy and I there’s no way we can’t help others and https://t.co/vdWKiBZuR4
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) December 13, 2022
we can beat each other up again in the mean time for everyone’s entertainment! The people want it, and we can settle this on your turf⚡️ @graham_boylan @aliabdelaziz
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) December 13, 2022
The UFC doesn’t usually set up rematches for fights with controversial decision unless a belt is on the line, so it seems unlikely that they would put this rematch together. It also doesn’t help Gordon’s case that Paddy Pimblett misguidedly believes he got a clear win and Dana White was already coming up with excuses for why Gordon lost at the post-fight press conference.
However, it might actually make sense for the UFC this time around. There was enough fan outcry that there could be interest in a rematch and the fight could do well at UFC London.
The UFC has fed Paddy some favorable matchups in past fights in England, but if they treat this fight as a win, he’ll need to take a step up the ladder that might not work out well in front his home country fans.
Hopefully the UFC gives Gordon this opportunity even if he probably won’t get a fair shot from British judges either.