Bruce Buffer incorrectly announced a majority decision victory for Padilla when the scorecards actually showed a draw, with fighters only learning the true result backstage. Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson, who is mentored by Jon Jones, has signed a contract with the UFC, and Jones himself hinted at a possible return. The post also mentions that Paulo Costa has revitalized his career by moving to light heavyweight, looking impressive with better endurance at 205 pounds. Jiří Procházka issued an apology after his recent loss, stating he lost concentration and was caught, and that he needs to eliminate any sense of mercy from his fighting style.
A chaotic night of MMA news unfolded on April 12, 2026, spanning a major ring-announcing error, a high-profile signing, a divisional move generating buzz, and a candid apology from one of the sport's most exciting fighters.
The evening's most jarring moment came when legendary UFC announcer Bruce Buffer incorrectly declared a majority decision victory for Padilla, only for fighters and cornermen to discover backstage that the scorecards had actually produced a draw. The mix-up left the result in confusion until the correct outcome was sorted out after the fact.
On the roster news front, Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson has officially signed with the UFC. Steveson, who is mentored by Jon Jones, arrives with considerable hype attached to his name. Jones himself, 38 years old, carrying a 28-1-0 record and standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, hinted at a possible return to competition. The heavyweight champion has averaged 4.38 significant strikes per minute throughout his career, with a striking accuracy of 58 percent, and will be a natural point of comparison for his protege as Steveson begins his professional journey.
Paulo Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian known as The Eraser, has been generating positive attention after moving up from middleweight to light heavyweight. Holding a 16-4-0 record and standing six-foot-one, Costa has historically been one of the most aggressive strikers in the sport, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Reports indicate he has looked noticeably sharper in terms of endurance at 205 pounds, a development that could give his career fresh momentum.
Why it matters
- Steveson's signing adds a decorated combat sports background to the heavyweight division's future landscape
- Jones hinting at a return raises immediate questions about the UFC heavyweight picture
- Costa's move to light heavyweight at 205 pounds reshapes his divisional ranking trajectory
Jiří Procházka also addressed his most recent defeat publicly, acknowledging he lost concentration and was caught. The light heavyweight contender stated he must eliminate any sense of mercy from his approach going forward, a pointed self-assessment that signals he intends to return as a more ruthless competitor.
