It’s not every day a UFC fighter wins an appeal to a commission, but Cody Brundage did just that Wednesday.
The Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (GEAC) ruled Wednesday during a monthly commission meeting that a protocol error was made. With that recognition came action as Brundage’s loss to Mansur Abdul Malik was overturned to a majority draw.
Controversy was sparked in the third round of their June 14 bout in Atlanta, when Malik () and Brundage clashed heads. Malik finished the fight, but a foul was ruled thereafter. Brundage was unable to continue and the fight went to the judges’ scorecards.
The commission error occurred, however, in the number of rounds that were factored into the judges’ scoring. Many states would score the third round, despite it being only 36 seconds into the round when the fight was stopped. However, Georgia statute 85-3-.16(h) says:
“There will be no scoring of an incomplete round. However, if the referee penalizes either contestant, then the appropriate points shall be deducted when the scorekeeper calculates the final score.”
That means only the first two rounds should’ve factored into the scoring. Since two judges had the bout tied at one round a piece entering the third, the commission deemed Wednesday the proper tabulation would’ve been a majority draw.
“I want to thank the Georgia commission for their professionalism and thorough review of Mr. Brundage’s appeal,” wrote Lance Spaude, of Iridium Sports Agency (which represents Brundage), on X.
