The main point is that Bisping wants the rematch because he knows literally millions of people will NEVER LET HIM LIVE IT DOWN. I expect this to be one of most closely watched fights ever with TONS OF PRIDE riding on it.
Matt Hamill: UFC 75 Judges Need to “Re-evaluate” Scoring Criteria
Just hours after Michael Bisping released an official statement regarding his controversial split-decision victory at UFC 75, opponent Matt Hamill has released one of his own.
UFC took place this past Saturday at the 02 Arena in London, England. In one of the night’s televised fights, Bisping defeated Hamill with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 27-30 — despite the fact that he appeared to have clearly one the first and second rounds of the three-round fight.
In it a message posted at matthamill.com, Hamill says that the two judges who scored the fight in Bisping’s favor (Cecil Peoples and Jeff Mullen) need to re-evaluate their scoring criteria.
From the statement:
I think MMA is a great sport and I don’t believe in any kind of a fix. The two judges that scored the win for Bisping obviously need to re-evaluate the way they score a fight. You can’t win a fight when you run for three rounds. They need to study the criteria for scoring an MMA fight: effective striking, grappling, takedowns, aggression and control. Bisping did none of that in my opinion.
Because England has no athletic commission, the UFC was responsible for regulating the event. UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner was charged with the tasks of drug testing the fighters and choosing officials — including Mullen and Peoples — to judge the UFC 75 fights.
UFC President Dana White has already stated that the organization plans for Bisping and Hamill to fight again at a future event.
Michael Bisping Discusses Controversial UFC 75 Victory, Requests Rematch
Following his controversial split-decision win over Matt Hamill this past Saturday at UFC 75, Michael Bisping issued comments to Joe Rogan during his post-fight interview and additional comments during the post-fight press conference that angered both fans and critics.
Today, the beleaguered light heavyweight praised his opponent and requested a rematch.
In his fight-night comments, an agitated Bisping was none too complimentary toward Hamill’s performance, and the fighter has been faulted for not showing more respect to an opponent who many fans feel deserved to have his hand raised in victory.
But now that he’s had some time to cool off, Bisping has cleared the air through his personal web site, Bisping.TV.
His latest words are much more gracious toward Hamill’s performance:
“As most people will of seen the fight with me and Hamil was a close one. I have seen the controversy surrounding the decision so obviously have to reply. I personally feel he won round 1 and I took rounds 2 and 3. That said it was close and can I understand how some people would think differently. On the night I was given the decision and he wasn’t, on another occasion it could of been different.
Looking at message boards it appears that some (major understatement) people are pissed off about my comments afer the fight. Looking back I should of given Hamill more credit as he fought a great fight and has improved his all round game a hell of a lot. What you have to remember is though the adrenalin was running through my veins, I had fought a hard fight and was obviously happy to get the decision. I would like to take this opportunity to say well done to Matt for fighting great and bringing the fight to me big time, I should have commented on this on the night.
I have contacted the UFC and stated I would like to rematch Hamill at everyones earliest convenience as I’m sure most of you know, no fighter wants a win when the decision is debateable. I am happy for the fight to take place where ever, and look forward to settling the score once and for all. I personally feel we put on a great fight for the fans and perhaps people should focus on this more.
I apologise to all my fans who feel let down by anyhting at the weekend, hey Im a young man with alot of emotion and sometimes say things in the heat of the moment.
I’d like to say thanks to everyone who has sent me there messages. Theres been to many to reply to them all. I will say this though, if Matt Hammils gonna cut me next time he might need a carving knife as Ive definately got thicker skin over the last few days.“
Bisping has now gone on the record in welcoming a rematch with Hamill, though soon after the event, UFC President Dana White said he was already working on Bisping vs. Hamill II.
One possible idea is to have the two fight for free on Spike TV as the latest installment of the “Bad Blood” series that has featured grudge rematches between Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz, and Jens Pulver and B.J. Penn. If the organization wanted to get creative, rematches between Rob Emerson and Gray Maynard, and Nate Diaz and Manny Gamburyan could fill out the undercard.
(Touch of gloves: reader Richard Cartey)
Sam Caplan is a special contributor to CBSSports.com’s MMA section and also publishes his own blog at FiveOuncesOfPain.com. He is now a regular contributor to MMAJunkie.com.
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