Cody Stamann hopeful UFC will 'make it right' after controversial draw
Cody Stamann (18-2-1) went into his fight last Saturday against Song Yadong (15-4-1-1) a big underdog but managed to control the fight despite absorbing an illegal blow which cost his opponent a point. What must have been elation after the final horn sounded for Stamann quickly turned to despair when the judges’ strange scores were announced and he was forced to settle for a majority draw with Song.
“I was pretty gutted. I don’t know what the judges saw. The chances of overturning a decision like that are pretty close to zero,” Stamann told Yahoo Sports.
Though Stamann feels secure in that he did enough to be recognized as the bout’s winner and that others agree with him, that satisfaction alone doesn’t help his bank account. UFC fighters like Stamann often fight with a purse structure that sees them make one amount should they win, and only half that if they do not come away with an official win.
“The financial component was the only real thing that was stressing me out,” he admitted.
“Everyone knows I won that fight. The fans who watched it, the UFC, everyone. It’s a hard situation when you lose out on half of the money you earned because of a bad decision but I believe the UFC will make the money right.”
The bantamweight doesn’t blame the promotion in the least for what occurred, and expresses confidence that they will decide to pay him as though he won the fight, as they have every ability to do should they desire.
“People are criticizing the UFC but it’s not their fault,” he said.
“Those judges don’t work for them. The decision had nothing to do with the UFC. The UFC has been nothing but great to me, and I believe they’re going to make it right. Me and my management are doing everything we can with them so that they do.”
Stamann understandably needs a bit of rest after fighting three rounds but insists that he’ll be ready to compete again, soon.
“I feel like I was just in a fight, which I was, but other than that I’m healthy,” he explained.
“I’m ready to get back into training, soon, and I’d like to fight early next year. I was and am upset about the decision but we’re moving forward with what we can control. At the end of the day, everyone who saw the fight knows who won, and so we’re treating it like a win, and a win I got over someone I was a 2-1 underdog against, going in.”
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