"We're very limited by this 10-point-must scoring system"– Joe Rogan discusses shortcomings in MMA scoring in light of very close fights at UFC 280, feat. Sean O'Malley & Petr Yan
Joe Rogan is one of the most respected voices in mixed martial arts. He has been with the UFC since 1997, way before UFC President Dana White, who joined the promotion four years later. Rogan recently shared that he believes changes must be made to the obsolete scoring system in mixed martial arts.
During the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the podcast host stated:
"I've said this ad nauseam, but I feel that we're very limited by this 10-9, this 10-point must-scoring system. Someone can win a round 10-9 and it can be a very close round and someone can win a round clearly and it could be 10-9, and that doesn't make any sense to me."
Rogan added:
"I feel like the system is designed for boxing and it's a good system for boxing. I don't think it's a good system for MMA. I think MMA needs a much more comprehensive system. If a guy can hold you down with no damage at all for three minutes versus a guy who holds you down and damages you for 30 seconds, what's worth more?"
Rogan also questioned how points are awarded and the value placed on different moves, such as leg kicks and submission attempts.
Mixed martial arts fights are currently scored on a 10 point must system, which was adapted from boxing. The system entails that the winner of the round receive ten points. While the loser of the round often receives nine points, he might sometimes receive only eight points from a round if they are on the wrong end of a beatdown.
Judges can score a round 10-8 based off impact, dominance, or duration.
Impact can pertain to both physical and mental changes in the opponent. If a fighter looks physically damaged or mentally broken by their foe, then the round should be scored 10-8.
Dominance pertains to either striking or grappling. In the striking aspect, dominance is viewed as one fighter continually on the attack, forcing their opponent to defend without counters. Dominance in grappling occurs when an opponent lands significant ground-and-pound and/or attempts submissions.
That said, it's quite unlikely for a round to be scored 10-8 if the fight mostly happens on the ground and there's no ground-and-pound involved, no matter the number of attempted submissions or ground control time.
A far less common result is the round's loser being awarded just seven points. To win a round with a score of 10-7, a fighter must overwhelm their opponent to the point where the judge feels that the fight should be stopped. While this score is very rare, one judge awarded Khamzat Chimaev a 10-7 score for the first round of his UFC debut against John Phillips in 2020. Chimaev didn't let the judges score the second round, finishing Phillips with a D'Arce choke.
Here's the scorecard for Chimaev vs. Phillips. You'll see the rare 10-7 round, which seems like a totally appropriate score to me.
#UFCFightIsland1 https://t.co/ezqUa009tE
Another very rare occurrence is a 10-10 round. For a round to be scored 10-10, a judge must believe that both fighters went toe-to-toe. A recent featherweight bout between William Gomis and Jarno Errens at UFC Fight Night 209 received the rare score.
A 10-10 round? In the UFC? In 2022? https://t.co/MU1GCIAVDz
Watch Joe Rogan discuss the need for a new mixed martial arts scoring system below (starting at the 1:55 mark):
Joe Rogan's questions Sean O'Malley's controversial UFC 280 victory over Petr Yan
Sean O'Malley defeated Petr Yan at UFC 280 via split decision in a fight whose outcome many have labeled a robbery. Joe Rogan also questioned the American's victory, as well as the value assigned to takedowns.
UFC280 Official Scorecard: Petr Yan vs Sean O’Malley (@SugaSeanMMA)
All Scorecards: ufc.ac/3CWSM8t
[@VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi] https://t.co/gW4o2BI7ua
The UFC commentator noted that O'Malley outclassed Yan in terms of significant strikes and Yan landed six takedowns to O'Malley's none. Stating that the fight was close, Joe Rogan said:
"The takedowns without damage, what is that value? I'm not denying that I thought Petr Yan won because I did think he won, but takedowns without damage versus stand-up with damage because 'Sugar' landed more strikes standing... The question is, how valuable are those takedowns and how valuable is that top game and control?"
While Yan had nearly six minutes of ground control, two of the three judges appear to have found his advantage in significant strikes to be more valuable.
Watch Joe Rogan discuss Sean O'Malley's controversial UFC 280 victory over Petr Yan below (starting at the 1:21 mark):