Manager Ed Soares Comments on Machida-Rampage Scoring Controversy

[Labyrinthic]

There were already some who questioned the outcome of the UFC 123 matchup between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto Machida in the seconds after the official decision was read in Jackson's favor. Jackson opened the door for controversy even further when he admitted Machida "whipped" him in his post-fight comments (which by the way, he later recanted).

 

Machida seemed to take the decision without much protest, but he and his manager Ed Soares clearly believe that at least two of the judges erred in scoring it a split decision for Jackson.

 

"Lyoto thinks he won," Soares said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "After the fight, he didn't have any doubt. He was convinced he won the fight. It was a big shocker to him, too."

 

Compustrike numbers showed a close fight, with Jackson out-landing Machida 59-38 over three rounds. Machida clearly won the third round with a powerful scoring combination that staggered Jackson and led to a takedown and ground control for much of the final frame, so the controversy stems from the first two rounds.

 

In the first, Jackson outlanded Machida 25-12, though several strikes came from knees to Machida's legs during a clinch. Judges Jeff Blatnick and Sal D'Amato scored the round for Jackson 10-9, while Doc Hamilton awarded it to Machida 10-9.

 

In the second, Jackson landed 21 strikes to Machida's nine, and Jackson also scored a takedown. All three judges scored that round for Jackson. Machida turned the tables sweeping the scorecards in round three, but the result was a 29-28, 29-28, 28-29 split decision.

 

Soares said he's watched the fight three times trying to see what the judges were seeing, and he still believes Machida won.

 

"I watched the fight wanting to see Quinton win," Soares said. "I don't want to sit here saying, 'Oh, it's bad judging.' I wanted to see what Quinton did to win that. In the first round, I think Lyoto did enough to win that first round. People will say, 'Oh, but he wasn't aggressive.' But that's Lyoto's style. And they'll say, 'octagon control.' That depends on how you look at it. At the end of the day, Lyoto was doing what he wanted to do to put Rampage where he wanted him. He had Rampage chasing him and that's what Lyoto likes, is to find those openings."

 

Soares took heat from some after he could be seen in the cage telling Jackson the decision was "bull----."

 

The noted MMA manager said he's had a longtime friendship with Jackson that supercedes MMA, and that the two often speak to each other with blunt honesty. Still, he said he regrets the timing of the comment.

 

"I had no idea the camera was on us, and I was just talking to him friend to friend," Soares said. "I thought it was bull----. After the fact, I thought about it and felt bad and I apologized to him at the hotel. I thought Lyoto won the fight. He said, 'You don't have to apologize to me, man.'

 

"I got mad love for Rampage, and I think he's got love for me," Soares continued. "We're friends, and I feel that's one thing about friends is that you can be honest with each other. By no means did I mean to disrespect him on national television. I had no idea the camera was on, to be honest with you."

 

http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/11/22/manager-ed-soares-comments-on-machida-rampage-scoring-controvers/

 

Sorry if posted.

[Coltrane]

ed soares is a phony.

[Turok]

what else do you think Soares will said?

he will always say that his fighter won the fight

[BarberBeefcake]

what else do you think Soares will said?

he will always say that his fighter won the fight

 

this............he's never thought any of his fighters has EVER lost

[TeamPunishmentMVP]

yeah Ed was really looking at that fight without bias

 

He was really trying to see Rampage win when he watched it

 

He is not absolutely full of crap

 

He did not mean to disrespect Rampage by telling him his win was BS

 

Wish Rampage would have knocked him out lol.

[MysticKJ]

said exactly what's expected...however, i wish Lyoto would speak to the media instead of Soares...i'm tired of him running his mouth, it would be nice for any of his Blackhouse buddies to speak for themselves...

[Eclipse76]

Ed Soares... what can I say... that hasn`t been posted above....

 

And I am a huge fan of Rampage, rewatched the fight 3 times and what I saw live on Saturday was confirmed, first 2 rounds was Rampage, and the numbers dont lie... he out struck Machida twice as much, controlled the ring and always forced the action.

[skullbone]

No sympathy for Machida or Soares from me. They got a taste of their own medicine in the decision. Lyoto's "style" as Soares puts it is going to put him into these split decision situations sometimes, and he's not going to win every time. He likes to win by outpointing oppents, picking at them like a hen. Well, in this fight he landed a significantly fewer amount of strikes than Rampage. If he wants to win with fewer strikes he'll have to be more aggressive and land more power shots. He came close in the third to making it a draw, but Rampage's defense and return fire kept him from doing enough damage to get a 10-8 across the board. Boo freakin' hoo, Eddy. Deal with it.