Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 06: Jan Blachowicz of Poland celebrates after his victory over Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in their UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 06: Jan Blachowicz of Poland celebrates after his victory over Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in their UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier, came out to refute assumptions that his and Joe Rogan’s commentary was biased towards Israel Adesanya at UFC 259.
The entire ruckus was created when fans tweeted about the commentary’s bias in the main event of UFC 259, which featured a champion vs champion bout.
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Fans were irked because the commentators, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, gave Adesanya the first two rounds. The judges’ scorecards aren’t revealed, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion about the way the fight is going, but the majority of the fans gave the rounds to Jan.
Subsequently, ‘DC’ tweeted, “I just rewatched. I don’t agree at all. I was actually speaking to Jan and the times he was successful. I had fight 2-2 going into 5, and after watching it again I feel same way.”
Cormier added that his views towards the fight didn’t change and said, “Nothing changed. And btw Jan did bite on a ton of fakes and feints. Izzy didn’t capitalize.”
I just rewatched. I don’t agree at all. I was actually speaking to Jan and the times he was successful. I had fight 2-2 going into 5 and after watching it again I feel same way. Nothing changed. And btw Jan did bite on a ton of fakes and feints. Izzy didn’t capitalize https://t.co/WTvZ8G0Y4o
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 11, 2021
At the end of the fight, the commentary team called the fight to be a close one. They gave the last two rounds to Blachowicz, but it wasn’t enough. The fans got more frustrated when the scorecards were announced, only to favor the Polish Powerhouse. The scorecards read 49-46,49-45, and 49-45.
The fans express their frustrations with Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan.
Cormier received some backlash to this tweet when the fans doubled down on their opinion of the fight. A post on r/MMA on Reddit that got almost 7000 uploads, detailed the several moments where the commentary team showed some bias.
Jan hits Israel with a hook.
Commentary team:
Israel touches Jan with a jab.
Commentary team: pic.twitter.com/yaEl3RjwzD
— Crack Hardly (@CrackHardly) March 11, 2021
The outcry wasn’t limited to Reddit, as fans had asked Cormier to address this problem on Twitter. Several memes were floating around, and people vehemently expressed their anger when ‘DC’ uploaded a Tweet saying that he was breaking down the fight again.
Make up for some of that bias on the commentary yo
You and Rogan got infatuated with Izzy and didn't give Jan any respect until the 4th— GSB (@Gsb_Esq) March 11, 2021
This is an uncomfortable situation for both Cormier and Rogan, as being neutral is the top priority of a commentator. They wouldn’t do it intentionally, and both of them have been known for their professionalism and exceptional work for the organization. Although they are going through this issue right now, expect them to come back from this stronger.
Do you think that Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier were biased?
Read More: WATCH: When Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones Went Rogue at a Press Conference
