Gatto Disputes Majority Draw With Kareckaite, Wants December Bout

Melissa Gatto left UFC Vegas 122 frustrated. Her bout with Ernesta Kareckaite in Las Vegas on Saturday was ruled a majority draw, and the Brazilian is convinced she did enough to have her hand raised. The two women produced a close, competitive fight, but Gatto felt she held the edge in the matchup and now wants to get back into the cage as quickly as possible.

In her view, the scoring was straightforward. She believes she won the first and third rounds while Kareckaite took the second. Gatto added that her opponent even congratulated her after the final bell, which made the announcement even harder to accept. Speaking to Ag Fight, she said she was in disbelief when the draw was read and that she considers the result a judging error.

A point deduction and a late armbar

In the opening round, Kareckaite was docked a point for repeatedly holding the cage. In the third round, Gatto scored a takedown, moved to Kareckaite's back and locked in a deep armbar, but the Lithuanian was saved by the bell.

Looking back, Gatto wishes she had gone for that submission sooner. She said the hold was tight even in the final second, when the referee already had his hand on it, and that starting it 15 to 20 seconds earlier might have changed the outcome.

I even regret not trying that armlock about 20 seconds earlier.

Ready to go again

Despite the disappointment, Gatto has no intention of sitting out. She said she will accept any opponent the UFC offers, including Kareckaite in a rematch, admitting she took this result personally. She asked the promotion to book her for a fight in December.