NY State Athletic Commission releases statement about decision that changed in the octagon at UFC 281

Main card of UFC 281 overshadowed a one of a kind event that took place in the octagon during Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Silvana Gómez Juárez/

After the Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Silvana Gómez Juárez match, there was a lengthy delay between end of match and decision getting read.

One commissioner was seen in the cage writing on the scorecard.

 

Bruce Buffer saw one commissioner making notes on the scorecard. Daniel Cormier pointed out that the referees were “flipping the scorecards,” which led the UFC broadcast crew to criticize the unclear scenario.

 

NYSAC spokesman Mercedes Padilla emphasised that their choice was ultimately the right. According to Padilla, the delay was brought on by a tabulation mistake.

According to an official statement NYSAC released:

“The official result announced in the ring at the conclusion of the Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez bout during UFC 281 was correct; Karolina Kowalkiewicz won by Unanimous Decision.”

“The adjustment made just prior to Bruce Buffer’s announcement of the result corrected an initial transcription error made on the consolidated tally sheet. The New York State Athletic Commission staff quickly identified the error, and acted promptly to correct it before the final results were announced.”

Karolina Kowalkiewicz said that she was anxious about the scorecard mess that occurred after her bout. She said that she was certain she had done enough to earn the win.

In light of this, Kowalkiewicz said that she worried that things wouldn’t go her way. Kowalkiewicz spoke to the media at her UFC 281 news conference. She said,

“I didn’t 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.”