User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 296: Natsu vs. the Two Dragons, Review./@comment-41.132.134.143-20120901223145

In 179, Rufus claimed that he had recorded all of Natsu & Gajeel's moves. So Sting and Rogue must have lost on purpose. Maybe they wanted FT to win, only to 'unofficially' defeat them once they have the title thus humiliating them. Don't ask me why they would...