Daniel Rodriguez is tired of hearing people say he lost against Li Jingliang.
Rodriguez (16-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) edged out Jingliang (19-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) by split decision on this past Saturday’s UFC 279 main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was a decision that even UFC president Dana White thought went the wrong way.
At the post-fight news conference, Rodriguez admitted it was a close fight, but was confident he did more than Jingliang. However, he’s willing to run things back to silence the doubters.
“Everyone talking sh*t saying I lost !!! Let’s rematch !!! @lijingliangmma @danawhite @ufc”
In a recent appearance on “The MMA Hour,” Jingliang wore a homemade t-shirt with “ROBBED” written across it and expressed his frustration with the outcome of the fight.
“Of course I think I won the fight,” Jingliang said. “I won the fight.
“When Bruce Buffer declared the result, I couldn’t believe that. I couldn’t believe that. It’s already an awful matchup, and the result was worse. And I think it’s just an injustice. I can accept a loss – that’s fine. But please tell me why – why I lost the fight. Please, the three judges, tell me why you think I lost the fight. Tell me. Explain to me, please.”
Rodriguez originally was scheduled to face Kevin Holland and Jingliang was set to fight Tony Ferguson in the co-main event. But after Khamzat Chimaev came in 7.5 pounds over the welterweight mark for his headliner against Nate Diaz, the card was shuffled and Rodriguez wound up against Jingliang in a 180-pound catchweight bout.
