"This has turned into a boxing match." - Joe Rogan

I suppose with the word "unification" as part of the major hype, this word usually associated with the many existing boxing organizations became a part of UFC 75 thanks to judges Cecil Peoples (the king of MMA judging controversy) and Jeff Mullen, who was so sure of his decision he felt the need to defend himself on an internet MMA publications such as ADCC News.  The fouled judging was not of the main event in which Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was able to recruit gravity n weigh down and ground n pound Dan Henderson to a five round victory, although "Hollywood" was never in any "real danger."  Instead it would be the bizarre judgment against Matt Hamill, which would become news of the MMA world.

Out Stood
No matter how many jabs you want to count by the "Count", nothing about these judges perspectives add up to clear or rational decisions.  Hamill got all the takedowns in the fight, (takedown artist in wrestling lingo) was superior striking for two rounds, and simply toyed  (take down – let up) with a yo-yo like Michael Bisping who was not well grounded on his feet and hardly looked like a striker.  Hamill’s blows were more severe, his game more multifaceted, and he controlled the first two out of three rounds, almost finishing it in the first.  Hamill was better than Bisping in his own game, until Bisping started finding his rhythm at a point in the fight that didn’t matter anymore, the last round, unless he got the finish.  Even though in the end Hamill could have simply smothered him with a lil’ lay and prey till the bell, he chose instead to stand and trade till the end.  You have to give a fighter a lot of credit when they choose to fight outside of their first discipline.

Incredulity
It was that incredible moment of disbelief that comes after an obviously corrupt decision (usually in a Vegas boxing match) that was most intriguing for the world wide MMA viewers, but it was the local man being given the victory who must have been the most surprised. 

The greatest injustice without a doubt was committed by two judges at UFC 75, but an even greater insult was added by Michael Bisping, who tried to shake of the question about the initial head kick he swallowed with a smarmy "Oh well..I admit I felt it. Seems to happen alot in fights, you tend to get hit...Back to wrestling!" He uttered this while barely standing heaving and writhing.  Never once did Bisping acknowledge Matt Hamill, the gentleman and warrior who unbalanced him for the first two rounds, thus showing the "true" lack of class this Briton possesses. 

The math is simple even if Bisping won the last round (even this is questionable) it would have been impossible for him to win the fight without these judges who are counting small shots instead of seeing the objective whole of strikes, grappling and overall control.  How could it possibly be that one judge gave Matt Hamill every single round and the other two saw it in reverse. Perhaps the bloodied and beaten Bisping knew something the rest of us didn’t know, the meaning of local justice in an MMA world ruled by boxing judges and commissions.

Acceptance
At that moment Mat Hamill proved to be a bigger man than the entire arena and the backwaters of the British Empire surrounding it, accepting the decision like a full blown man while his face expressed the rest.  As fans, we always hope that at least in a sport we can find some example of fair play and fair judgement, but it wasn’t so on this particular evening.  What made it even more insulting and hurtful was the fact that Matt Hamill has overcome so many challenges in his life already only to be robbed in such a blatant yet subtle way.  At that point while still in the octagon watching Bisping interviewed as victor he must have started questioning himself, his performance, and all that had just occurred in that last quarter hour.

Unification
For a unification to truly exist there must also exist two operating organizations or entities.
If Zuffa had any real sense they would have brought back that PRIDE stage to Japan and take advantage of the super dynamic rules.  No ten point must system, no elbows to the face, roped ring instead of octagon, knees, kicks and stomps to grounded opponents head, ten minute first round and fight judged as a whole.

In the end Jeff Mullen's excuses in ADCC News (if sincere) gives further proof of why the ten point must system is a fraud in MMA, particularly due to the fact that there are only three rounds, instead of twelve.  At the end of his written public rationalization he says, "Under PRIDE style scoring Hamill would have won."

He then adds "BY THE WAY MARIO YAMASAKI THOUGHT BISPING WON ROUNDS 2 AND 3 ALSO."  Wasn't that the same referee who almost turned around the Yushin Okami vs. Mike Swick contest (with super quick stand ups) in Texas, Swick's hometown of all places?  Looks like hometown justice in the U.K. operates rather similarly to Texas.  Only difference is, this time they got away with it cause the dudes behind the scene, outside the ring did the real dirty work. 

Seeing Is Disbelieving
In the end, in the eyes and hearts of the fans with conviction, MATT HAMILL was undoubtedly the WINNER, and Cecil Peoples, Jeff Mullen, and Michael Bisping should go buy some tails to put between their legs.

The real rhythm of the fight was Hamill coming forward and Bisping fluttering in the perimeters countering with benign jabs and hooks trying to score some boxing points, from those judges I suppose.  If you notice Bisping's expression immediately after the final bell he had that gasping for air look that perhaps said, "Fuck, I’ve been beaten!"

I supposse the greatest irony was that the Brit entered to the awesome sounds of the only band that matters The Clash.  But as the real Clash fans know, Joe Strummer lived his entire life to seek truth, honesty and expose injustice.
Just as Strummer, we don’t all have to believe the big lie just cause the judges saw the law their way.

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