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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Nam Phan will get a chance to make things right in the Octagon, as MMAJunkie.com reports that he will get a rematch with Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24 in March.
The two met at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale in December in a bout that led to widespread call for reform in MMA judging, most notably from UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who went on a rant about the bout during the next fight on the night's televised card.
It appeared to be a clear decision won by Phan, who out-struck Garcia and damaged him with punches to the body and the head throughout the fight. But somehow, Garcia's name was announced as the winner, with two judges giving him two rounds to the ire of the crowd in attendance and the fans watching everywhere else.
The outrage was widespread, but the UFC took care of Phan, giving him his win bonus for the fight, and now giving him this rematch. Garcia made a return to the UFC with that bout, while Phan made his organizational debut, dropping back to featherweight after competing in the lightweight division on the 12th season of The Ultimate Fighter.
UFC Fight Night 24 takes place from the KeyArena in Seattle, Wash., headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Tito Ortiz and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Penick's Analysis: The first fight was a lot of fun, and was a very entertaining fight before the inexplicable decision. Phan got horribly robbed, and now he'll get another chance to make things right. He might need to be out to finish Garcia, because the way Garcia fights - swinging looping punches and looking extremely busy throughout - seems to mesmerize judges at this point and earn him rounds he really hasn't won. Hopefully Phan, for his sake, can do what he needs to do this time to get the win back on his record.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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