Charles Jourdain delivered a two-part performance on Saturday night at the UFC Fight Island gala presented in the United Arab Emirates.
The Canadian (10-3-1) has to settle for a majority draw against Australian Josh Culibao (8-1-1) after three rounds of fight. The judges handed cards 30-27 in favor of Jourdain, 29-28 for Culibao and 28-28.
The third judge awarded Culibao the advantage in the first two assaults. However, in the third, he gave Jourdain a 10-8 to come up with a score of 28-28.
Several observers wondered what the trial judge has put in his coffee to give such a score. Jourdain clearly lost the first round. He was shaken from the first minutes of the fight after a failed kick, Culibao hit him with a solid right to the face. It took several seconds to regain his senses, but the damage was done. It is suspected that the pride of Beloeil suffered a broken nose with the blow of his opponent.
Jourdain managed to come to his senses for the second round. However, he showed several signs of hesitation between his attacks. The protege of Fabio Holanda did not take advantage of the openings offered by Culibao.
He ended the assault well by attempting a guillotine on his opponent. In fact, Jourdain showed good times as the fight took to the ground. He played a good five minutes, putting pressure on Culibao to the point of undermining him.
In the final moments of the fight, Jourdain came very close to securing an arm lock at Culibao. He just ran out of time.
If Jourdain has started the fight as he had finished it, he would have achieved the victory. He will surely have a bitter taste in the mouth after this performance when he was the favourite to win.
