Fabio Maldonado’s appeal to the World MMA Association has paid off!

After losing via majority decision to Fedor Emelianenko at EFN 50 last month, Maldonado began the appeal process to have the decision overturned due to a conflict of interest stemming from Emelianenko being the head of the Russian MMA Union.

3 judges for the WMMAA ruled that the fight should be scored a draw at 28-28. As a result, the WMMAA has advised the Russian MMA Union to change Emelianenko’s win to a draw.

That didn’t sit too well with Fedor Emelianenko’s friend, Russian MMA Union VP Radmir Gabdullin, who initially denied Maldonado’s appeal.

He spoke to Tass.ru to explain why the “result cannot be overturned.”

“The WMMAA can express their views, but do not have the right to influence the judge’s decision on the Russian professional promotion. This situation I regard as an unfounded attempt to take away a well-deserved victory from Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko.”