Modestas Bukauskas understands that the printed workforce calling fights have a job to do, and he’s not at all times going to agree with them. After watching his battle from UFC 315, he doesn’t perceive how a razor-close determination was by some means thought-about “trash” by Daniel Cormier.
The veteran mild heavyweight gutted out a cut up determination win over Ion Cutelaba this previous weekend in Montreal, and he by no means doubted the legitimacy of his victory. After watching the battle again at house, Bukauskas acknowledged areas the place he may undoubtedly enhance subsequent day out, however he doesn’t see the place there have been cries a few theft in what was in the end a back-and-forth battle throughout three rounds.
“That’s trash,” Cormier stated in the course of the broadcast after the scorecards for the battle had been revealed. “That’s really a really dangerous determination. A 30-27 for Bukauskas?”
For his half, Bukauskas doesn’t begrudge Cormier for having an opinion. He additionally is aware of how a lot commentators can shade the opinions of followers watching at house, which he believes performed a minimum of some half within the response to his battle.
“I really feel like that appeared to affect lots of people’s opinions as nicely, particularly on-line,” Bukauskas instructed MMA Combating. “Then everybody was simply form of [repeating] what was stated on the commentary versus taking an opinion for themselves. Clearly, I respect these fighters. They’re Corridor of Famers. They’re a number of the greatest within the sport. You possibly can’t knock them for what they’ve carried out within the sport ,however I simply didn’t perceive the place it was coming from. I didn’t perceive why their viewpoint was swayed a lot to at least one aspect. It actually made no sense to me.
“I suppose everybody’s bought their very own opinion. They’re clearly entitled to it. Lots of people misplaced their parlays as nicely on the betting so clearly lots of people weren’t blissful about that and it was a detailed battle. You possibly can’t please everybody on this sport. All I’ve bought to do is maintain successful. On the finish of the day what goes down on paper is a win so all I’ve bought to do is simply maintain persevering with to do this.”
As a part of his course of to higher perceive what went proper and what went incorrect, Bukauskas revealed he really watched the battle a number of occasions each with and with out the UFC commentary supplied in the course of the broadcast.
Whereas he concedes that there have been some dicey moments within the battle that might have ended with the choice going Cutelaba’s method, Bukauskas doesn’t agree with the narrative that his opponent was robbed by the judges.
“A number of my coaches and myself watched with quantity, and with out quantity, and certainly one of my coaches even stated once you watch it with out quantity — he watched it from a impartial standpoint and it was very, very shut, however he stated it was somewhat bit extra on my aspect with out the commentary,” Bukauskas stated. “Clearly, they’re doing their job. They’re there to investigate the battle and do their factor. What I’ve bought to do is exit and placed on a greater efficiency so their viewpoint is extra in the direction of my aspect and that’s completely advantageous.
“The way in which they made it sound, all of them thought it was going to be a 30-27 to Cutelaba, which once more is unnecessary. I wish to know the place [Daniel Cormier’s] thought course of was for that one. Once more, on my aspect, I’ll simply come out with a fair cleaner efficiency so there is no such thing as a query about something. It’s good.”
The suggestions after the battle has undoubtedly been blended, however Bukauskas admits even the adverse feedback are drawing consideration, which is what each fighter desires once they compete.
He additionally doesn’t thoughts stirring the pot, though his opinion on the consequence has stayed a lot the identical from the second he left the octagon to the a number of rewatches he’s had since returning house.
“I put up a submit on Instagram like ‘largest theft?’ however I got here from a really impartial view simply saying it wasn’t the most effective however in the end I felt like I landed the higher strikes,” Bukauskas stated. “I bought a lot response from that, which is nice. That’s what you need!”
Irrespective of the way it ended, Bukauskas walked away with the win, his third in a row, and now he’s eyeing prime 15 competitors with a reputation already in thoughts for his subsequent opponent.
“Zhang Mingyang simply bought himself into the highest 15,” Bukauskas stated. “A completely wonderful efficiency in his final battle [against Anthony Smith]. All the time comes out to battle. Banger, nice man, so why not have a battle between me and him?
“That can be a method for me to get into the highest 15 and an opportunity for him to solidify his spot. There’s different fights that’s already been booked so he simply received, I simply received, why not? That’s form of my thought course of.”
