News Summary
The Georgia State Athletic Commission has overturned the result of the lightweight bout between Mansur Abdul-Malik and Cody Brundage, declaring it a majority draw. The initial technical decision favoring Abdul-Malik was rescinded due to errors in the judges’ scoring, particularly regarding how incomplete rounds were handled. This rare ruling emphasizes the importance of strict adherence to scoring guidelines in mixed martial arts and ensures fairness in match outcomes. Abdul-Malik’s undefeated status remains intact while Brundage avoids another loss during a challenging phase in his career.
Georgia State Athletic Commission Overrules UFC Fight Result in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia — In a rare administrative move, the Georgia State Athletic Commission has officially overturned the result of the lightweight bout between Mansur Abdul-Malik and Cody Brundage that took place on June 14 during the UFC Atlanta card. The commission declared the fight a majority draw, reversing an earlier technical decision that had awarded Abdul-Malik his ninth professional victory.
Initial Outcome of the Fight
The fight was initially stopped in the third round after an accidental clash of heads, which left Cody Brundage unable to continue. Referees had awarded Mansur Abdul-Malik a technical decision in accordance with the rules, as the match was stopped prematurely. Abdul-Malik, who entered the fight as a significant favorite, had been awarded his third victory in the UFC following the initial ruling, bringing his professional record to 9-0.
Details of the Ruling Change
Team Iridium’s Lance Spaude publicly announced the commission’s decision to change the result to a majority draw. The move was rooted in a review by the commission regarding the scoring of the fight, which revealed errors in how the judges had recorded the rounds.
The primary issue identified involved the fact that, under Georgia law, incomplete rounds cannot be scored. Specifically, the third round in this fight was not supposed to be counted toward the judges’ decisions because the fight was stopped during it. The commission determined that only the first two rounds should have been scored, which had not been properly reflected in the initial decision.
Implications of the Ruling
Following the re-evaluation, the judges’ scorecards were found to be 28-28, 28-28, and 29-28 — leading to a majority draw. This meant that Abdul-Malik’s victory was nullified, as the fighters’ performances were re-assessed under the corrected scoring criteria.
Despite the overturning, Abdul-Malik remains undefeated in his professional career, maintaining his record despite the official change in the fight’s outcome. On the other hand, Cody Brundage avoids a loss that would have further hampered his record since the beginning of 2024, when he was on a two-fight losing streak.
Reactions and Context
Lance Spaude expressed appreciation for the commission’s professionalism in reviewing the appeal and making the necessary correction. This incident underscores a rare case in UFC and professional MMA where a fight result was overturned following an official appeal and review process by a regulatory body.
Background and Significance
The fight’s initial decision, a technical victory for Abdul-Malik, was subject to controversy due to scoring discrepancies attributable to the counting and recording of rounds. The procedural review by the Georgia commission highlights the importance of strict adherence to scoring guidelines, particularly regarding incomplete rounds.
This correction provides clarity within MMA regulation practices and emphasizes the need for meticulous scoring review processes in combat sports. It also demonstrates that fight outcomes can be revisited and amended if procedural or scoring errors are identified, ensuring fairness and adherence to legal standards.
Overall, the overturn of the fight result marks a notable event in MMA regulation, reflecting ongoing efforts to ensure fair competition and accurate record-keeping within the sport.
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Additional Resources
- SI.com: UFC Atlanta Fight Result Overturned
- Wikipedia: Mixed Martial Arts
- Sherdog: Georgia Commission Overturns Bout Result
- Google Search: UFC Atlanta June 14 2025
- MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Result Overturned
- Google Scholar: UFC Fight Regulation
- Yardbarker: Undefeated UFC Fighter Has Win Overturned
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mixed Martial Arts
- ESPN: UFC Fight Center
- Google News: UFC Atlanta 2025
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