Judge - UFC/MMA
In the UFC, the three judges are strategically placed around the cage to gain complementary perspectives of the fight. Each judge works independently, without communicating with the others during the bout. At the end of each round, they submit their scorecards with the scores. If the fight goes to decision, the three scorecards are compared to determine the winner: if all three agree, it's a unanimous decision; if two out of three agree, it's a split decision. Judges are selected and trained by state athletic commissions. The quality of judging in MMA is a highly debated topic: MMA is more complex than boxing and requires judges to simultaneously evaluate striking, grappling, clinch work, and transitions.
Judge
The judges' decision in Petr Yan vs Sean O'Malley at UFC 280 exemplifies how crucial and controversial the role of judges can be. Two judges awarded the victory to O'Malley while one favored Yan, sparking a debate that continues to this day among fans and experts.
Judge & 10-point must system
Judges use the 10-point must system to assign scores. This system mandates that the winner of the round receives 10 points and the loser gets 9 or fewer. Judges apply the official judging criteria to decide who won each round. 10-point must system.
FAQ - Judge
How many judges are there in an UFC fight?
Each UFC fight has three judges positioned around the cage. They independently evaluate each round, and their scores are compared at the end of the fight to determine the winner.
Can judges change their score after the round?
No, once the scorecard is submitted to the athletic commission at the end of the round, the score is final and cannot be altered. This is one of the reasons why judging errors cannot be corrected.
