UFC 282: Paddy Pimblett earns controversial decision win over Jared Gordon

LAS VEGAS — The first 10 fights at UFC 282 all were finishes, either knockouts or submission. The first one that wasn’t was the co-main event between Jared Gordon and Paddy Pimblett and wouldn’t you know it, the judges got it wrong.

Gordon appeared to control the fight, landing the harder shots, cracking Pimblett with several left hooks, and never really getting into trouble himself.

Yahoo Sports scored it 30-27 for Gordon, but all three judges (Doug Crosby, Chris Lee and Ron McCarthy) had it 29-28 for Pimblett.

“Who’s a hype train?” Pimblett shouted. “Who’s a f***ing hype train?”

It was a disappointing ending to a brisk, entertaining fight. Pimblett is the bigger name and had the hype behind him. The crowd at T-Mobile Arena was loudly in his corner and cheered him lustily throughout.

After the planned main event between Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira fell out when Prochazka was injured, the bout between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev was made the main event and Pimblett-Gordon was put into the co-main.

Pimblett was nearly a 3-1 favorite, but Gordon seemed to control the action most of the way.

Pimblett landed five more significant strikes, 63-58, but Gordon landed the harder shots. Gordon was 3-for-6 on takedowns and Pimblett was 0-for-3. Gordon had 6:28 of control time compared to 35 seconds for Pimblett.

Somehow, though, the judges found a way to give it to Pimblett, who clearly thought he won. Crosby and McCarthy each gave the first two rounds to Pimblett and the last to Gordon. Lee scored the first for Gordon and the last two for Pimblett.

The crowd cheered when the verdict was read but there didn’t appear to be a belief he’d done enough to win it. He got it anyway, an early Christmas gift.