Bruce Buffer incorrectly announced the result of the Padilla fight as a majority decision when the scorecards showed a draw. The fighters only learned the actual result backstage. Separately, Gable Steveson, a protégé of Jon Jones, has signed with the UFC, with Jones also hinting at a possible return. Paulo Costa's performance revived fan interest, with questions about why he spent so long at middleweight when he appears more effective at light heavyweight. The post suggests a potential Costa vs Prochazka matchup. The Reyes-Walker fight was noted as the most boring on the card, while Hokita's performance impressed Donald Trump, earning him a fight with Lewis at the White House lawn.
A chaotic night inside the octagon extended well beyond the final bell after legendary announcer Bruce Buffer incorrectly declared the Padilla bout a majority decision, when the official scorecards actually reflected a draw. Both fighters did not learn the true outcome until they had already made their way backstage, adding an unusual footnote to an already eventful card.
In separate news, Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson has officially signed with the UFC, with the promotion welcoming him under the wing of Jon Jones. Jones, the 38-year-old heavyweight champion standing six-foot-four with an extraordinary 84-inch reach and a 28-1-0 professional record, also hinted at a possible return to competition of his own, though no official booking has been confirmed.
Paulo Costa, known as "The Eraser," turned in a performance that reignited fan enthusiasm and sparked debate about his long-term divisional home. The Brazilian stands 16-4-0 and is currently ranked 13th at middleweight, where he has operated for the bulk of his career. At 35 years old, Costa lands an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, numbers that looked every bit as dangerous moving up in weight. Observers have questioned why he spent so many years at middleweight when his physical tools appear to translate powerfully to light heavyweight. That conversation has already pointed toward a potential matchup with Jiri Prochazka, the second-ranked light heavyweight contender from the Czech Republic. Prochazka carries a 32-6-1 record, stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, and produces 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making any stylistic collision between the two a genuinely compelling prospect.
Elsewhere on the card, the Reyes-Walker contest drew criticism as the evening's least engaging bout, while Sumudaerji Hokita's standout display caught the attention of Donald Trump, reportedly earning him a featured fight against Derrick Lewis on the White House lawn.
Why it matters
- Buffer's announcement error raises procedural questions about result confirmation protocols inside the octagon
- Steveson's signing, backed by Jones, adds a high-profile wrestling pedigree to the UFC roster
- A potential Costa vs. Prochazka pairing would pit two of the division's most aggressive strikers against each other
