Jack Jenkins Refuses to Call Sean Woodson Loss a Robbery

Jack Jenkins has rejected claims that his split-decision loss to Sean Woodson at UFC Shanghai was a robbery, despite widespread discussion among fans about the closely contested result.

Woodson was awarded the featherweight bout by split decision, with two judges scoring the fight 29-28 in his favour and one giving the same score to Jenkins. The official result is listed in the UFC Shanghai results. MMA Fighting’s event report also recorded the decision.

Speaking on the Australian MMA podcast, Jenkins said he was devastated by the result but believed the fight was too close to justify blaming the judges.

“It was a close fight. I didn’t get the nod,” Jenkins said.

“Credit to Sean and his team, they had a great game plan. We had a great game plan and it was that close.”

Jack Jenkins identifies the key moments

Jenkins said he may have made different decisions during the final round, particularly after securing a takedown in the second.

He believed getting on top would secure the round, but suggested he could have continued striking in the third rather than looking for another takedown.

“If I had my time again, maybe I’d put the foot down in the third instead of shooting for a takedown,” Jenkins said.

The Australian also credited Woodson’s height, reach and tactical awareness. Jenkins said Woodson’s movement and stance made it difficult to land the leg kicks that are a key part of his game.

“He’s actually pretty smart,” Jenkins said. “His physical attributes were hard to prepare for, but he’s also a really smart fighter, which adds another layer of complexity.”

Jenkins described the third round as close, saying he may have landed the harder shots while Woodson was more accurate. He also dismissed suggestions that he lacked the desire to finish the fight.

“Like, I’m trying to get him,” Jenkins said. “That guy’s a top-15 guy in the world.”

Watch the [full Jack Jenkins interview]( [ADD VIDEO LINK] ) for his complete breakdown of the fight, his reaction to the result and his thoughts on what comes next.

Jenkins focused on the positives

The bout marked Jenkins’ return after an 11-month absence. He said he was able to leave the fight without a serious injury and returned to training soon afterwards.

“I’ve got a couple of bruises and bumps. I went back to training this morning,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said the result was painful, particularly because he felt his preparation had been the best of his career at featherweight. However, he also viewed the performance as evidence that he could compete with highly regarded opponents.

He pointed to the successful weight cut, his physical condition and his ability to complete the fight without significant damage as positives.

“I’ve got literally zero excuses,” Jenkins said. “I got beat on the night and I’m ready to go again.”

The 32-year-old also spoke about the emotional response immediately after the fight, revealing that he cried during the journey back to the hotel. He said accepting the result did not mean he was unaffected by it.

“I was devastated about the result,” Jenkins said. “But it’s like sitting here complaining or dissecting why it happened. What a waste of time.”

A difficult road back to the UFC top 15

Jenkins acknowledged that his UFC career has included setbacks and inconsistent results, but said he still believes he belongs among the division’s better fighters.

He described Woodson as a particularly difficult stylistic opponent because of his height, boxing and ability to fight at range.

“That was such a hard fight stylistically for me,” Jenkins said. “I acquitted myself really well against a top-15 guy.”

Jenkins also discussed the pressure that comes with competing in the UFC, saying each fight can feel like a test of job security. Despite that, he said he remains willing to accept whatever opportunity the promotion offers next.

He told Australian MMA that he would prefer to return before the UFC’s reported Sydney event in February, naming 28 November in Qatar or 8 December in Saudi Arabia as potential targets. Those dates and any future opponent remain unconfirmed.

For now, Jenkins said he planned to return to coaching at Absolute MMA before resuming his own training later in the week.

“I’m keen to help out those boys for a few days and then I’m back to training,” Jenkins said.

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