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Although 2022 proved to be another successful year for the UFC in terms of its growth and exciting fight cards, it wasn't without controversy.
On this list, we'll be taking a look back at some of the most controversial decisions from 2022 that highlight that there is still a lot of room for improvement, at least in the fans' eyes, in MMA judging.
#5. Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon - UFC 282
Paddy Pimblett is loud, brass and confident. Up until recently, he was able to back it up inside the octagon. The same could not be said for Pimblett at UFC 282, however, as he took on the experienced Jared Gordon in his pay-per-view debut in Las Vegas last month.
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Pimblett had promised fans a dominant performance and an early finish, but instead was taken to a lackluster decision by 'Flash'. Multiple times throughout the fight, the 27-year-old appeared far slower than his opponent in striking and was unable to gain any sort of advantage in either the standup or on the ground.
Despite that, Paddy Pimblett's hand was raised via unanimous decision, which shocked fans, fighters, and pundits alike, as well as Jared Gordon himself. Pimblett also did himself no favors in his post-fight speech, during which he admitted to "cruising" in the third.
Many felt that 'The Baddy', in the best case, had won only one round.
#4. Sean O'Malley vs. Petr Yan - UFC 280
Sean O'Malley vs. Petr Yan might have been a 'robbery' in the eyes of some fans, but the bout is certainly the most entertaining on this list.
The bantamweight bout pitted the No.1-ranked Yan vs. the No.11-ranked O'Malley in what was considered one of the biggest booking mistmatches in recent memory. Thankfully, the fight proved anything but as the pair went to war and were awarded the Fight of the Night bonus.
'Sugar' proved he could hang with the best in the division as he took 'No Mercy' the distance. Not many, though, expected that O'Malley would have his hand raised via decision.
Whilst Sean O'Malley certainly took Yan close to the deepest waters of his UFC career so far, many felt the Russian had done enough to secure the victory. Unfortunately for Yan, that wasn't the case as 'Sugar' was given the nod via split decision.
#3. Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev - UFC 282
The UFC had been hoping to round off 2022 with a bang. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for UFC 282's main event bout between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev.
The two light heavyweight fighters were thrust into the headline slot after now-former 205-pound champ Jiri Prochazka withdrew from his bout with Glover Teixeira due to injury and relinquished the title.
Blachowicz, vying for the chance to become a two-time light heavyweight champ, started the bout the better of the two men and utilized leg kicks throughout. The Polish fighter delivered massive shots in the first two rounds, with it appearing like Ankalaev was going to crumble after taking a beating to his legs.
The Russian fighter rallied in the third and dominated the rest of the fight with his wrestling and grappling. Ankalaev took Blachowicz down in the lattar rounds, successfully holding him there with his ground-and-pound until the final horn.
Many expected Magomed Ankalaev to be crowned the new champ, but the judges had one final surprise of the year, with one scorecard apiece and a level verdict resulting in a split-draw.
#2. Li Jingliang vs. Daniel Rodriguez - UFC 279
Li Jingliang was certainly one of the most hard-done-by fighters throughout the midst of UFC 279's controversial card.
The No.15-ranked welterweight lost both his original spot on the card and his opponent after Khamzat Chimaev's weight miss reshuffled the card. Instead of facing Tony Ferguson, Jingliang was instead matched against Daniel Rodriguez, who weighed in 10 pounds heavier than 'The Leech' for his own catchweight fight.
Fans were understandably rooting for the Chinese fighter and the 34-year-old was clinical as he continually landed heavy shots on 'D-Rod'.
Rodriguez, however, had his hand raised via a controversial split decision. The American fighter later admitted that he was rocked by almost every shot 'The Leech' landed.
#1. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Taila Santos - UFC 275
Valentina Shevchenko was given the toughest test of her women's flyweight title reign when she faced Taila Santos at UFC 275.
Both women landed over of 50% of their signigicant strikes in a bout that went back and forth in almost every round. Santos adapted quickly to the champ's speed throughout and instead opted to use her size advantage to dominate on the ground.
The 29-year-old landed all three of her takedowns and finished the bout with nearly two full rounds of control time versus the champion, but the bout went to the judges, resulting in a split decision victory for 'Bullet'.
Whilst many felt the Brazilian's work on the ground was enough, a late rally on the feet ensured the belt remained in Shevchenko's hands.
With the result, Santos became the first woman to take more than one round off of Shevchenko since she became the champion in 2018.
