MMA Judging Thought

Why don't the athletic commissions just pony up and pay a few more judges, why is the number 3? Applying basic statistical theories, the more judges that score the fight, the more accurate the outcome. Even upping it to 5 would be a huge help. I think 7 judges would do the trick to pretty much eliminate "bad" decisions. Do they just not want to pay more judges? Is there some sort of rule that says 3 judges score the fight? To me it seems like the most obvious answer to improving decision accuracy. Anyone else have thoughts or insight on this? Is there something I don't know?

That's a great idea, 5 seems like a good number :)

I think this is a good idea. But, what about increasing the odds of variability with how bad some of them are. instead of one bad judge, you might get 3. The root problem still needs addressed. Clearer judging rules, and more educated judges.

more judges plus more educated judges. I really hate how some matches outcomes have come about you would think after so many questionable incidents something would have been done about it by now

educated judges, better use of 10 must, including judging 10-10 rounds, and realizing you can't just throw 10-9 on every round because not all 10-9 are the same. I like the 5 judges idea.

Great point, adding more judges would definitely do that. I also heard a friend talking about a promotion having a .5 vote, anyone hear anything about this?

The 5 judge thing sounds like a great idea!

half point has been talked about and it has potential my issue is that as they are now judges rarely give out 10-8 or 10-7 rounds. 10, 9.5, 9, 8.5, 8. is really the same as 10, 9, 8, 7, 6. or you could just do it on a 20must which gives the same variability as a half point system., whatever the point system, its useless without educated judges.

I think the judges here is the obvious problem not so much the points basis or even the amount of judges, I do think that with the boxing ring having 3 judges was fine but we are talking an Octagon now and a considerable size difference not to mention time of the rounds and all manner of anomalies thrown in, which leaves me to agree with the 5 judges theory, it would also be good to see them utilise the stats from each round to maybe help the judges in some way, I know Dana says don't leave it in the hands of the judges but sometimes we just don't get that option wouldn't it be nice though to just be able to compete without the stress of worrying about that, knowing you have faith in the people who are JUDGING you.

The point system has always been kind of a mystery to me. I understand some of the different point schemes in grappling, but MMA points I just don't really get. There is effectively a three point scale: You lose the round, you win the round, you win the round a lot. It seems like maybe they could break up the way points are scored. Like score the grappling component of the fight like a grappling match (but then I suppose that could shift the balance even more towards wrestlers). I dunno. At the very least, I really like the five-judges idea. The athletic commission simply needs to recognize that MMA is not boxing and stop trying to jam MMA's octagon-shaped peg into boxing's square hole.

I say educate the judges.

my coworker and i have had many conversation about this since the Nam Phan Vs Leonard Garcia fight and he brought up and idea that i dont know if i agree with but what do you think.

Either You Finish the fight (via KO,TKO or submission) or both fighters get a draw.

your $.02?

i see were hes coming from but i dont agree with that the problem is i dont have a good argument against it idk but it just seems wrong

The problem IMHO isnt the number of judges, its quality, plain and simple. Most of the judges used in the bigger fights are the ones with a whole lot of "experience" ie, alot of boxing matches. They have zero actual practical grappling knowledge, and very little kickboxing. I think its a stretch to say most of them actually know something about boxing (most long time boxing judges have never set foot in a boxing gym).

The biggest problem with judging is largely software (the people who dont know wtf they are doing) and not hardware (10 point must isnt the best system, but proper use as mentioned, esp of 10-10 rounds goes a long way to fixing this).

I once trained with a judge (MMA judge) and the guy had been judging fights for 2 years, the guy actually told me after an hour of grappling training, he never realized how much worse it was to be mounted, than to have someone in your guard. To him, in the past he felt they were pretty much the same, this, is a problem IMHO, and I dont think it s a rare problem with MMA judges.

with more judges comes still more mess-ups, because if you think about it, if you have more judges there is more room for argument and bad calls

i know there arent many of them but they gotta use retired mma fighters

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jstdoit1112

I say educate the judges.

my coworker and i have had many conversation about this since the Nam Phan Vs Leonard Garcia fight and he brought up and idea that i dont know if i agree with but what do you think.

Either You Finish the fight (via KO,TKO or submission) or both fighters get a draw.

your $.02?

---

I have a good argument against it..

You want to have your stable of fighters.. getting tkoed.. and knocked out regularly will not help your fighting career. You'll be done in no time. And if a rule like that was to be made tkos and kos would go up imo because fighters want to get paid.. a draw isn't helping anybody :P

There is a rule that says 3. That is part of the problem but the bigger problem is that the judges, for the most part, are boxing judges. Because we have to go through the state athletic commission and because the UFC's home is Vegas, we get stuck with guys who can't score fights. The UFC is powerful enough to change this. In theory, they could hire some judges from Japan, where the scoring is much more accurate, relocate them to the USA, get the certified by the SAC, and have permanent MMA judging. 5 judges would be nice but the SAC will not change the rules for the UFC. It's up to Dana to bring in the proper judges.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luis Acherbo

i know there arent many of them but they gotta use retired mma fighters

---

This is a good idea but the problem is that many retired MMA fighters are coaches now. Finding a truly impartial retired MMA fighter is quite hard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JordanSilva

This is a good idea but the problem is that many retired MMA fighters are coaches now. Finding a truly impartial retired MMA fighter is quite hard.

---

yeah the impartial thing crossed my mind a lil after i posted it and i know that most of them love the sport enough to not let them be effected by that but i know its not enough lol

I would take a CHANCE at partiality being an issue over definite incompetence every day of the week.