Luis Gurule secured a massive upset victory over Bilal Hasan via split decision at UFC 334, proving that pre-fight predictions and artificial intelligence can be wrong. Prior to the bout, Hasan had consulted AI during a press conference to predict the winner, and the technology selected Hasan just as oddsmakers had done.
The Fight and Turning Point
Bookmakers and bettors heavily favored Hasan, making him a -1000 favorite heading into his main card appearance at Madison Square Garden during only his second UFC bout. The early stages of the fight went according to expectations as Hasan utilized his striking and elusive movement. However, Gurule shifted the momentum near the end of the opening round by landing a strong overhand right that knocked Hasan down, though the prospect quickly returned to his feet.
Recognized as an NCAA Division II All-American, Gurule relied on his wrestling background to secure crucial takedowns in both rounds. While Hasan managed to cut Gurule’s eyebrow open with a strike as Gurule shot for a takedown, he struggled to generate significant offense once the action moved to the canvas. The judges ultimately scored the bout as a split decision in favor of Gurule, delivering the biggest upset of the event.
Post-Fight Reactions
Following his victory, Gurule expressed his disbelief in pre-fight expectations and outside doubters. “ChatGPT don’t know shit!” Gurule stated as reported by CBS Sports Headlines, adding, “F— the odds! F— the haters!”
Gurule also highlighted the lack of outside faith in his chances against the heavily backed prospect. “There are only 10 people in here that f—ing believed in me. Just the people I trained with,” Gurule explained, as noted by CBS Sports Headlines. “It feels good. I knew I could drag him into deep waters. I knew he couldn’t swim.”
