UFC 290: Fans hate title fight scorecard

The UFC 290 card is live right now from the T-Mobile Arena in Las, Vegas, NV and Brandon Moreno’s title defense against Alexandre Pantoja was a bust. Pantoja battered him early on, commanding more ground control and keeping his foe on his proverbial toes. The contest was, in the words of the great Jim Ross, a slobberknocker and Pantoja would win the belt via split-decision, and a controversial one at that.

After such a great fight, the judges had their work cut out for them. Their scores would leave many wondering whether they’d watched a different fight, especially the commentary team who went to the trouble of pulling up the score cards and discussing them with an air of bewilderment at some of the information they were viewing. If we’re to go by Twitter, people are pretty upset with Ben Cartlidge’s scores.

UFC 290

Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja official scorecards #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/DZviTLq9LB
— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) July 9, 2023

ALEXANDRE PANTOJA BY SPLIT DECISION!!

We have a new flyweight world champion in @PantojaMMA! #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/ocbKi9JFAm
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2023

I think Ben needs to book himself into specsavers tbh

— JC (@JCJC2019) July 9, 2023

Sucks that a bizzaro scorecard took focus away from Pantoja's performance. Both elevated their games from the last time they fought. He simply has Moreno's number, it seems. #UFC290
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) July 9, 2023

Live Look At Ben Cartlidge pic.twitter.com/UuZaOmGr2q
— Tanner Mertlich (@MuscleBusUtah) July 9, 2023

im starting to think Judges like Ben do this to create some sort of controversy on purpose. 2 Judges are usually correct and 1 is always high in the clouds
— Marlo Marlo (@gunnermarlo) July 9, 2023

UFC 290 quick results

Main card

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez: Featherweight Title Unification
Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Moreno by split decision (48-47 x2, 46-49,): Flyweight Title
Dricus Du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker by TKO at 2:23 of round 2: Middleweight
Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner by split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29): Lightweight
Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn by TKO at :38 of round 1: Middleweight

Prelims

Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price by KO at :38 of round 1: Welterweight
Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Cháirez by unanimous decision (29-27 x3): 130-pounds
Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui by KO at :20 of round 1: Strawweight
Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute by submission (guillotine) at 1:55 of round 2: Light Heavyweight

Early prelims

Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio by submission (arm triangle) at 3:42 of round 3: Lightweight
Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell by TKO at 3:10 of round 1: Bantamweight
Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross by KO at :17 of round 1: Flyweight
Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk by unanimous decision (29-28 x3): Lightweight

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About the author

Stephie Haynes

Stephie Haynes has been covering MMA since 2005. She has also worked for MMA promotion Proelite and apparel brand TapouT. She hosted TapouT’s official radio show for four years before joining Bloody Elbow in 2012. She has interviewed everyone there is to interview in the fight game from from Dana White to Conor McGregor to Kimbo Slice, as well as mainstream TV, film and music stars including Norman Reedus, RZA and Anthony Bourdain. She has been producing the BE podcast network since 2017 and hosts four of its current shows.