This particular fight is reinforcing this opinion I'm forming that's controversial.
I think a lot of judging is fixed in favour of a hot young up and comer. It's not obvious fixing. It's subtle. If it's subtle, it's hard to outright prove.
If you've got one strong fighter who has become a gatekeeper Vs one new fresh exciting fighter who offers fun match ups and hype, the latter will win a close decision, even if the fight was clearly in favour of the former.
I've been keeping tabs of some: -
OSP Vs Volkan Oezdemir.
When these two fought, Oezdemir was a new prospect and OSP had just shown his ceiling after KOed by Jimi Manuwa.
I watched that fight and I had it for OSP. It was a close fight though.
Volkan Oezdemir Vs Dominick Reyes.
Similar thing happened ironically to Volkan after his loss to Anthony Smith revealed he is no longer considered a prospect while Dom is still unbeaten.
Again, I watched that fight and I really had Volkan winning.
Ray Borg Vs Casey Kenney. Same thing. I had Borg winning that one
Paul Felder Vs Edson Barboza. Felder offers inrigue as he's popular backstage and could be a challenge to Khabib. Edson going back up the ranks offers nothing new if he faces Tony or Khabib again. He's a kicking specialist.
Multiple fights against Arlovski. He's bee fucked over in some of his recent fights. It's obvious he'll never be a challenge to Stipe or Ngannou so the judging favours any new prospect put in front of him, like Augusto Sakai.
Jeremy Stephens Vs Zabit Magomedsharipov. I had Stephens winning that fight just barely. Of course, he too is a perennial gatekeeper. If he has a fought close contest with Yair, just watch he judging favour Yair, who is another interest prospect and contender to face Max Holloway.
I can probably remember more in time. It's becoming more obvious to spot them as I watch UFC regularly and you can tell who has favourable momentum.