Commission error hurts UFC bettors

Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White appeared irate during a postfight news conference late Friday when he said an athletic commission error resulted in Demetrious Johnson being announced as the winner over Ian McCall in their flyweight tournament bout in Sydney.

Imagine how those who wagered on McCall felt.

The fight was actually scored a draw, but Craig Waller of the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales did not properly transcribe judge Sal D'Amato's 10-8 third round for McCall onto the official card. So, instead of the fight going into a "sudden victory" round, which was in place just for the two flyweight tournament bouts on the card, Johnson was announced as the winner.

Because the correction was made official in the late hours Friday, after many sports books had closed up shop for the night, bettors who had wagered on Johnson, a minus-300 favorite, were able to collect as if he had indeed won the fight. Those who wagered on McCall were left with nothing but a worthless piece of paper and the ultimate "bad beat" story.

"We closed down posting Johnson as the winner, and it remains the same," LVH vice president Jay Kornegay said. "By the end of our business day Friday, there was no change to the result. Therefore, according to our house rules, that would be considered an overturn, and we don't recognize overturns.

"If it had happened the same night, we would have corrected the result."

Johnson and McCall are scheduled for a rematch. The winner will face Joseph Benavidez to determine the first 125-pound champion in UFC history.

■ PLEASE LIKE ME -- White long has been vocal about his desire for Roy Nelson to drop to light heavyweight.

He should have just tried to make him a bet.

Nelson is a loyal Twitter user, but was recently engaged in a debate with a friend who insisted Facebook is better. Nelson has more than 200,000 followers on Twitter, so he insisted that if Facebook was so much better, he should be able to add at least 100,000 "likes" to his Facebook fan page in the next two weeks.

"Bet is I will try to get to 205 (pounds) if I can add 100k to Facebook.com/RoyNelsonUFC in two weeks. I love to win bets," the Las Vegas native posted on both of his social media accounts.

Nelson said he is currently at 264 pounds after weighing a svelte 246 for his fight against Fabricio Werdum last month.

■ UNBREAKABLE -- Former champion Miesha Tate said her arm was not broken when she was submitted by a Ronda Rousey armbar during Saturday's Strikeforce women's bantamweight title fight in Columbus, Ohio.

Tate is awaiting results of an MRI to determine whether there is any structural damage to her elbow.

■ CONNECTICUT LOOKING TO SANCTION MMA -- A public hearing is planned for today in Connecticut as state legislators consider legalizing mixed martial arts.

Several major shows have been held in the state, including UFC events, at venues such as Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, which are run by sovereign Native American tribes.

Connecticut is one of five states where the sport is not sanctioned.

■ 'TUF' BEGINS FRIDAY -- Two coaching staffs and 32 competitors have arrived in Las Vegas to begin filming Season 15 of "The Ultimate Fighter," which will essentially air live for the first time.

The show moves to FX (Cable 24) from Spike TV, where the previous 14 seasons have aired. Footage will be captured throughout the week and then air each Friday leading up to a live fight.

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz leads one team of fighters against rival Urijah Faber, with the coaches scheduled to fight for the third time at the end of the season.

One of the contestants made headlines before the show even begins taping. Dakota Cochrane, an 11-2 prospect who owns a win over former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Jamie Varner, has publicly admitted to appearing in 16 homosexual pornography films while he was in college.

Cochrane, who is not gay, says he fully disclosed his past career to show producers during the casting process.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.