The fight between Luis Saldana and Sean Woodson probably shouldn’t have gone three rounds. But after a bizarre sequence of events, the UFC 278 preliminary went the distance – and ended just as bizarrely as it started.
The fight started off strangely when Saldana knocked Woodson down with a quick left hook. Woodson was already in trouble and got even more when Saldana’s follow-up punch landed flush, sending him to the floor.
Saldana needed only to land a few follow-up shots from top position to seal the victory. Instead, he fired a blatantly illegal knee that briefly put Woodson out. Referee Mike Beltran called for a foul, and Aldana was given a point. Woodson got another chance to fight again.
Woodson completed the round by wrapping up a buggie choke to tie Aldana up for the final round. When the tap didn’t come, the two settled into a somewhat pedestrian rhythm that ended with a split draw, with one judge scoring it 29-27 for Aldana, another scoring it 29-27 for Woodson, and the third having it dead even at 28-28.
Here’s what the fighters have to say about the end and first round sequence.
This fight should be over as a no contest, Saldana is the dumbest fighter I’ve ever seen #ufc278
— Joe Joe Giannetti (@Giannettimma) August 21, 2022
Saldana thought he had the job figured out, but his ego took over. It was the exact same as what happened with Woodson in the contest series. I tried to show off and be flashy for Dana and it backfired
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) August 21, 2022
That man should be straight up DQd, he walked into that with time to make a calculated decision #UFC278
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) August 21, 2022
That whole sequence from knocking him down the first time to the point was like. Wtf is Saldana doing there ? I didn’t leap on him and then dropped him once more. Then, I threw an illegal knee. Weird decision making through the whole process #UFC278
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) August 21, 2022
Omg illegal knee! What the fuck, that wasn’t even close to being legal #UFC278
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) August 21, 2022
Illegal knee! Ref!
— Julia Avila (@RagingPandaMMA) August 21, 2022
let’s go Sean Woodson ps I didn’t get knocked out I just failed to break his knee with my head
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) August 21, 2022
Split drawing is acceptable. It’s not crazy. There’s been more split draws recently this year. Respect the judges who actually watch the fights.
Also, Saldana shouldn’t knee a grounded opponent.
— Julia Avila (@RagingPandaMMA) August 21, 2022
Draws are garbage it means neither fighter gets their win money and it doesn’t move their career forward so it’s a huge waste of time and expense
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) August 21, 2022
