The state of MMA judging is under closer scrutiny than ever before. UFC commentator and podcast host, Joe Rogan, recently interviewed Aljamain Sterling on his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, discussing ways to fix the scoring system. Unknowingly, Rogan’s suggestion was to implement rules that the MMA world – at least in theory – already follows.
“Maybe there’s a way to score it like you would give points for moments in fights where someone either did damage or someone had control, but control was not worth as much as damage.
Joe Rogan Suggests Fixing MMA Judging With Current Criteria
Because you can survive control unscathed. Just because someone has you down maybe in half-guard, and you’re just clinching and controlling, you can survive that for a couple minutes sometimes, and nothing happens. Even though the person’s in control of you, it’s not that big of a deal.
But then damage: How much more is damage worth? Like if you see the person gets wobbled or you see like a big, impactful kick, you’re like, ‘Wow, that was a significant moment in the fight. So that would be worth more.’
Instead of being attached to this system. It’s just not comprehensive enough, I don’t think.” As of 2016, this is already the model for MMA scoring. The Unified Rules reads as follows: “Effective Striking/Grappling shall be considered the first priority of round assessments.
Effective Aggressiveness is a ‘Plan B’ and should not be considered unless the judge does not see ANY advantage in the Effective Striking/Grappling realm. Cage/Ring Control (‘Plan C’) should only be needed when ALL other criteria are 100% even for both competitors. This will be an extremely rare occurrence.
Legal blows that have immediate or cumulative impact with the potential to contribute towards the end of the match with the IMMEDIATE weighing in more heavily than the cumulative impact.
Successful execution of takedowns, submission attempts, reversals and the achievement of advantageous positions that produce immediate or cumulative impact with the potential to contribute to the end of the match, with the IMMEDIATE weighing more heavily than the cumulative impact.
It shall be noted that a successful takedown is not merely a changing of position, but the establishment of an attack from the use of the takedown.
Top and bottom position fighters are assessed more on the impactful/effective result of their actions, more so than their position.
This criterion will be the deciding factor in a high majority of decisions when scoring a round. The next two criteria must be treated as a backup and used ONLY when Effective Striking/Grappling is 100% equal for the round.”
What do you think of Joe Rogan’s recommendation? Let us know in the comments.
