Following UFC Albuquerque Loss, Ross Pearson Feels He ‘Lost Half a Paycheck’

He thought he won his fight against Diego Sanchez, but Ross Pearson got a surprise when his hand wasn’t raised at the end of the night.

At UFC Fight Night 42, Pearson dropped a split decision to Sanchez when the collective MMA universe scored the fight the other way around. It was a moment of bewilderment when Pearson realized he wouldn’t be collecting a win bonus.

The judges, Pearson said, took money right out of his wallet.

“He put on a tough fight, but I think I won every round,” Pearson said of the bout with Sanchez. “It just sucks. I’m hurting right now. I believe I’ve lost half a paycheck. The judges here, they don’t lose half a paycheck. I feel that I’ve been robbed.”

Judges scored the bout 30-27, 27-30 and 29-28 in favor of Sanchez, much to the delight of his hometown crowd. The local fighter after the bout said he felt 100-percent certain that he won the fight.

“I definitely thought I won the first and third round,” said Sanchez. “I can’t really assess it, but definitely thought I won the fight.”

Even the UFC broadcast team thought the decision was a farce. Color commentator and former UFC standout Kenny Florian said he thought Pearson won the fight and that the judges should be ashamed of the decision they made.

Regardless, the result is official and no changes will come about. Another aspect of the fight that won’t change is Pearson’s view of how he performed on Saturday evening in New Mexico.

“I think I outclassed Diego,” he said. “I picked my shots well. I think I won every round.”