Dione Barbosa earned a controversial majority decision over Melissa Gatto in a prelim fight at UFC Vegas 115. The fight turned headlines because of a soccer kick in the second round and a one-point deduction that did not end the fight.
Fight summary
The bout started with Melissa Gatto looking sharp. She used quick counterattacks and spent time in the top position to control parts of the early action. The second round saw a lot of grappling from both fighters, and Barbosa threatened submissions several times.
Barbosa picked up momentum in the third round. She pressed forward, staying active on the mat and working to keep the pace. In the end, the judges gave Barbosa the edge on two cards while one judge scored the bout even.
Controversial soccer kick
The key moment came in round two. Barbosa appeared to land a kick to the head of a grounded Gatto. Gatto went down after the strike in a delayed but serious way. Under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, soccer kicks to a grounded opponent are illegal.
The expected outcome by some observers was a disqualification. Instead, the referee allowed the fight to continue and took one point from Barbosa for the foul. Gatto was able to continue fighting after the stoppage and finished the bout on the scoreboard.
Score and possible appeal
When the judges’ scorecards were read, Barbosa won by majority decision. The scores were two judges at 29-27 for Barbosa and one judge at 28-28. That one-point deduction was crucial in the final numbers.
It is not yet known whether Gatto or her team will file an appeal over the decision. The incident is likely to draw attention from officials and fans given the nature of the foul and the close scoring.
What this means for both fighters
Barbosa has now won six of her last eight fights and is 2-2 over her most recent four. The win keeps her moving forward on the roster after a run of mixed results.
Gatto has suffered three losses in her last four fights. Despite the loss, she showed strong early control and will likely look to bounce back in her next outing.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Dione Barbosa | Win (majority decision) |
| Melissa Gatto | Loss (majority decision) |
The bout will be remembered for its competitive rounds and the controversial kick that shaped the outcome. Fans and officials will be watching closely for any further action on the result.
