Bruce Buffer mistakenly announced a majority decision victory for Padilla when the scorecards actually showed a draw, with fighters only learning the real result backstage. Gable Steveson, protégé of Jon Jones, has signed a contract with UFC, with Jones also hinting at a possible return. Paulo Costa impressed fans after moving up to light heavyweight, showing improved endurance while maintaining his size advantage. Jiří Procházka issued a statement apologizing for his performance, saying he lost concentration and was caught, and that he needs to eliminate the merciful part of himself. The post also notes that Reyes-Walker was surprisingly the most boring fight of the event.
One of the more chaotic nights in recent UFC memory unfolded on April 12, 2026, as a string of notable storylines emerged from a single event — including a ring announcer's error that left fighters in the dark, a marquee signing, and a champion's public apology.
The evening's most jarring moment came when legendary ring announcer Bruce Buffer called a majority decision victory for Padilla, only for the actual scorecards to reveal the bout had ended in a draw. Neither fighter learned the correct result until they had already made their way backstage.
On the roster news front, Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson has officially signed with the UFC. Steveson is widely known as a protégé of Jon Jones, the 38-year-old former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion who carries a 28-1-0 record and stands six-foot-four with an extraordinary 84-inch reach. Jones, who averages 4.38 significant strikes landed per minute and converts takedowns at a rate of 1.89 per 15 minutes, also hinted at a possible return to competition alongside the announcement.
Paulo Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight ranked 13th in his division with a 16-4-0 record, turned heads by competing at light heavyweight. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and averaging a punishing 6.26 significant strikes per minute, Costa reportedly showed improved endurance while benefiting from a natural size edge over his opponent.
Former light heavyweight title contender Jiří Procházka issued a public statement after his performance, taking personal responsibility for the loss. Procházka acknowledged losing concentration, admitted he was caught, and stated he must remove what he described as a merciful side of his fighting nature.
Why it matters
- The Buffer scoring error raises questions about officiating communication protocols at the highest level of the sport
- Steveson's signing, backed by Jones's influence, could accelerate his rise through the heavyweight division
- Costa's light heavyweight appearance opens a potential new chapter for a fighter who has long operated near the top of middleweight
- Procházka's self-critical statement signals he remains motivated to reclaim title contention
