Karolina Kowalkiewicz’s win over Silvana Gomez at UFC 281 ended controversially. They always riddled a UFC event at Madison square garden with controversies and UFC 281 was no different. This time, it was the preliminary fight between Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Silvana Gomez.
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The judge’s decision in the Women’s UFC Straw weight fight between ‘Polish Princess’ and ‘La Malvada’ quickly became a cause for controversy. The Polish Princess was dominating in the 1st round. However, as the fight reached its pinnacle, it became tough to differentiate who had the upper hand. The fight went all the way to the final bell of the 3rd round.
With the fight having gone to a decision, they provided Bruce buffer scores, and he got ready to announce the result. At that moment, an official from the state came to him and brought him to the side to make changes to the scores given to him. Bruce eventually ended up announcing Karolina victorious with a unanimous 29-28 score. This left the netizens in a state of frenzy and them questioning the integrity of the promotion.
Karolina said in the post fight interview, “No I did not know what was going on, I was sure that I won this fight but you know sometimes judges see these things different, and I was a little bit scared. But thank god! I won.”
Fans and celebrities react online to the controversy
I have never in my life seen this,” said Daniel Cormier.
After one of the oddest sequences you’ll ever see with the scorecards, Karolina Kowalkiewucz (@KarolinaMMA) walks away with a hard-fought decision win. #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/6y2NK5dzkm
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) November 13, 2022
Now Buffer is like fuck that decision, I’ll fix it back, scribbles in a 29-28 to Karolina #UFC281
— Fau1in (@fau1in) November 13, 2022
What just happened with the scorecards? What's the issue if all three judges gave it to Karolina 29-28? #UFC281
— Robbie Fox (@RobbieBarstool) November 13, 2022
#UFC281 only MMA 😂 correct decision IMO. Karolina reinventing again and again and again. What an impressive woman! pic.twitter.com/GkMlggWA3Q
— Paddy G. (@paddygituma) November 13, 2022
This fight is why I don’t bet women’s mma. I think I got it for Karolina. #UFC281
— VT2MI❄️ (@VT2MI802) November 13, 2022
That was some shady crap with the scorecards. WTF! Happy Karolina won though! #UFC281
— Vince B. (@IommiCuseFan) November 13, 2022
I swear to god judges at the end of a fight are like 'oh SHE is Karolina?!' 😬#UFC281
— Pillars Of Salt (@_PillarsOfSalt_) November 13, 2022
THIS SHIT IS RIGGED LMAOOOOO pic.twitter.com/Pi1dB4ySTX
— Λ𝔫𝔱𝔬🗿🦭 (@ImAntoMMA) November 13, 2022
Man, this is a disaster. Either way this will be scrutinized.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 13, 2022
Yeah that was sketchy
— Bryce Poirier-Whittaker (@partypooper369) November 13, 2022
UFC at New York: A recipe for controversy
This is not the only instance when controversy has surrounded an UFC event at MSG.
Back in UFC 244, Nate Diaz faced Jorge Masvidal. In the style of Nate and Jorge, the fight was full of excitement. Jorge landed an elbow followed by a kick which cut Nate Diaz’s face open. The fight went on for another 2 rounds, but in the 3rd round, the doctor examined Nate’s cut and asked him how he felt. Nate confirmed him being in shape, but the doctors still went on to call the bout off.
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Another infamous incident involved Conor ‘The Notorious’ McGregor and Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov. The atmosphere was intense after a Twitter engagement between the two, and Conor reached Barclays Center post-UFC 223 Media day. He confronted Khabib by throwing a steel dolly through the window of the bus consisting of Khabib, various fighters, and staff members of his team. This led to Dana classifying it as one of the most disgusting incidents in UFC history.
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What do you think changed the score? Do you agree with the decision? What are your thoughts?
Watch this story – ‘Holy Sh*t’ – UFC Fans Run Amok at Michael ‘Not Jackson’ Chandler’s Video Ahead of Dustin Poirier Bout at UFC 281