I just watched it again.
It's funny when Bendo's attacks are dismissed as point fighting, yet Cowboy did it as much with all the baby leg kicks, and due to better defense Bendo landed like 4 of the top 5, and something like 8 of 10 of the most impactful strikes of the match. With that head kick in the 3rd, he was the only one to discernibly hurt his opponent. He was committing to and getting those knees and kicks to the body thru with semi regularity. He landed a few chopping leg kicks (aside from all the ellipticals). And he connected on a few solid over-hands.
I thought Bendo won all 3 rounds, and you at least should give him 2 of 3 unless you're really trying to find a way to give Cerrone the nod because of his activity or due to Bendo's past decision luck. Plenty of fans afterward all but admitted the latter was a factor in their scoring. But all fights should be scored independently, unless maybe it's a 50/50 like the one against Melendez was, but this one wasn't. I can hold the two thoughts in my mind that I don't feel bad for Bendo because luck evens out over time, but at the same time be annoyed by yet another bad judging decision, this time which adversely effected him.
Incidentally, Greg Jackson even said to Cerrone after the 2nd round Bendo was taking it to him, and according to many the 3rd was a round Bendo clearly won, but he still lost the fight?!?!