Sports generally fall in one of two broad categories: those anyone can score and those only experts can score. It is easily discernible who wins in a freestyle relay, but it is harder to recognize the best platform dive. As such, in sports like diving, figure skating, or gymnastics, federations rely on experts to judge and score performance.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is another example of such a sport. The UFC is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company which hosts fights across twelve weight divisions. Contests abide by the Unified Rules of MMA, which set out requirements for competition aspects such as rounds, weight classes, attire, fouls, and most importantly, judging criteria.
Depending on whether the bout is a title fight, contenders of the same weight class compete in five minute rounds for three or five total rounds. A panel of three judges score the fight based on a “10-point must system” where they grant ten points to the winner and nine or fewer points to the lesser fighter. Judges are to score each round using four criteria: effective striking/grappling, effective aggressiveness, and Octagon control. A 10/9 score is considered a close fight, while a 10/8 score is considered extremely decisive. According to the Unified Rules, a 10/10 score should be extremely rare, reserved only for situations where a judge cannot pick a winner.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the complicated framework, there has been extensive controversy surrounding the judging and scoring of fights. In the most recent title bout on 11 February 2023, Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski fought for the Lightweight belt. Makhachev was the reigning champion, fighting under the tutelage of Khabib Nurmagomedov who was a previous Lightweight champion with a 29-0 record. Volkanovski was the Featherweight champion who moved up a weight class to potentially become a double champion. After twenty-five minutes, the judges scored the fight 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 for Makhachev.
Stats from the bout painted a contentious picture: Volkanovski had 164 strikes to Makhachev’s 95, and 70 significant strikes to Makhachev’s 57. Volkanovski also outstruck Makhachev when it came to head, body, and leg kicks. The only criteria in which Makhachev came out on top was on ground control, where he came in at 7:37 minutes and 4 takedowns compared to Volkanovski’s 2:55 minutes and 0 takedowns.
Following the decision, fans and fighters of the UFC took to the internet to voice their frustrations. “Robbery. 1 Knockdown and busier fighter (more strikes and significant)…” tweeted one fan. Ex-UFC star Nate Diaz responded, “Yeah right Islam got his a** whooped.” Another fan tweeted: “Felt like a clear Islam Makhachev win, he was able to outstrike Volkanovski in majority of the rounds…”.
The recent controversy follows a split draw in a title fight for the Light Heavyweight belt in December 2022. Fighters Jan Błachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev brawled for twenty-five minutes, only for one judge to score the fight a draw and the two other judges to select different winners. Confusion ensued immediately, from the fighters, the fans, and the commentators. Blachowicz himself pointed to Ankalaev as the winner while the scorecards were being read out. Even during the post-fight interview, Blachowicz stated “Give the belt to Ankalaev.”
While there are no clear solutions in these instances, such controversies point to underlying problems when it comes to judging and scoring UFC fights. If fighters themselves, who go through fifteen-plus minutes of complete and utter exertion, are confused by a panel’s decision, there are clearly some issues within the sport that require redress.