Iraqi’s Amir Albazi defeats Kai Kara-France as fans blow up over robbery

UFC champ Israel Adesanya led a chorus of severe backlash after a New Zealand star was cruelly denied a main event win on Sunday.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 03: Amir Albazi of Iraq reacts after his victory against Kai Kara-France of New Zealand in a flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 03, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Iraqi fighter Amir Albazi claimed a controversial split decision victory over New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Judges scored the flyweight bout 48-47, 47-48, 48-47 in Albazi’s favour despite Kara-France significantly outlanding his oppnent with 89 significant strikes to 51.

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The win makes it six-straight victories for Albazi while handing Kara-France his second straight defeat in the UFC.

Fans watching on couldn’t believe their ears as the judges scorecards were read out with the vast majority believing the Kiwi star had done more than enough to secure the victory.

Fellow New Zealander and current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was seething as the decision was announced.

In a video posted to social media the champ blew up before he took to Twitter to condemn the judges for the robbery.

“F*** off. F*** off,” an incredulous Adesanya said as the scores were being read out.

“Why is he still judging. They rob you of your moment.”

Robbed. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PXimages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Judges Chris Lee and Sal D’Amato scored the fight in favour of Albazi with Mike Bell the only judge to give the Kiwi the victory on the cards.

Kara-France delivered two brilliant responses in the wake of the fight in a tweet that quickly whipped around social media.

Who’s worse UFC judges or NRL Refs?😅

— Kai Kara France (@kaikarafrance) June 4, 2023

The whole world knows who won but regardless we keep our head high and we keep moving forward. Appreciate all the love and support from everyone. Time for family and then we get back to work. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/8eUi9u3L1u

— Kai Kara France (@kaikarafrance) June 4, 2023

Fight fans went into meltdown with many quick to call out the UFC and demand an inquiry into the judging.

“I tweeted that before even seeing the scorecards because I knew them two will f*** it up!!” wrote Adesanya.

“Hoooow many times will they rob athletes of their moments of glory, if their money, their livelihood for their family. F*** them c***s, they need to expire quickly and go. Mike Bell was the only judge to score this properly, the other two deff need to disappear.”

Australian featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski called it “insane” to award Ami round four.

Aw man. I don’t agree with that decision at all. Kara-France won that, imho.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 4, 2023

Look at how the NBA does it. At least they explain and review publicly. At the very least we get that. Is it perfect? No. But it’s way better than, welp, on to Vancouver … https://t.co/wPYnTaFZ1I

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 4, 2023

Earlier in the card there was concern for a fighter after he was left unconscious for around a minute after a brutal knockout.

American star Jim Miller pulled off the quickest win of his 43-fight career with a first round KO of Jesse Butler.

Miller sent Jesse Butler to sleep with a two-punch combination — however, it seems likely that Butler was out cold before Miller landed his second punch while Butler was collapsing to the floor.

Butler sank in scary fashion and was wedged between the Octagon fence and the ground when the referee rushed in to stop the contest.

UFC legend Michael Bisping said in TV commentary it was “hard to watch” the knockout replay after noticing that Butler was still out cold.