UFC Fight Night 42 Results, Ross Pearson Robbed, Loses to Diego Sanchez
 

MMA: UFC Fight Night 42-Sanchez vs. Pearson

Jun 7, 2014; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Diego Sanchez (red) and Ross Pearson (blue) fight during their lightweight bout during UFC Fight Night 42 at Tingley Coliseum. Sanchez won via split decision. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports



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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The altitude here seemed to have a noticeable effect on the fighters, but maybe it also played some tricks on the judges. In one of the more egregious robberies in recent memory, Diego Sanchez (25-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) somehow took a split-decision victory (27-30, 30-27, 29-28) over Ross Pearson (15-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC), despite getting thoroughly manhandled from start to finish.

The lightweight bout co-headlined today’s UFC Fight Night 42 event at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M. It aired on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

From the opening seconds to the final horn, this seemed like a fight in which Pearson could do no wrong. He hammered Sanchez to the body in the first, dropped him in the second, and deftly avoided Sanchez’s best attempts at an effective offense in the third. He seemed to have clearly won each and every round of the fight, though that didn’t stop Sanchez from pumping his fist in triumph while awaiting the decision.

But just when it seemed like the judges’ jobs couldn’t be any easier, two of the three went and complicated things with some perplexing scores, with one judge even giving Sanchez all three rounds.

It might have been a popular decision in Sanchez’s hometown of Albuquerque, but to fans elsewhere watching on TV, it’s likely to remain a total head-scratcher.

With the win, Sanchez snaps a two-fight losing skid. Pearson loses his first bout since June 2012.


UFC Fight Night 42 Results:

Benson Henderson def. Rustam Khabilov via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 4, 1:16

Diego Sanchez def. Ross Pearson via split decision (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)

John Dodson def. John Moraga via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00

Rafael dos Anjos def. Jason High via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:36

Piotr Hallmann def. Yves Edwards via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:31

Bryan Caraway def. Erik Perez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:52

Sergio Pettis def. Yaotzin Meza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28

Lance Benoist def. Bobby Voelker via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Scott Jorgensen def. Danny Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Jon Tuck def. Jake Lindsey via submission (strikes) – Round 3, 2:47

Patrick Cummins def. Roger Narvaez via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:28

Re: UFC Fight Night 42 Results, Ross Pearson Robbed, Loses to Diego Sanchez
 

UFC Fight Night 42: Benson Henderson vs. Rustam Khabilov fight video highlights:



ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – For the first time in 11 fights and more than four years, former champion Benson Henderson picked up a stoppage win.

Henderson (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) submitted a resilient Rustam Khabilov (17-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) to remain in the thick of the title picture.

The lightweight bout headlined Saturday’s FOX Sports 1-televised UFC Fight Night 42 event, which took place at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M.