ABC to vote on revised MMA judging criteria

[Wild]

A revised version of MMA's judging criteria will be voted on at the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) convention next month, MMA Fighting has learned.

Earlier this year, the ABC's MMA rules and regulations committee unanimously passed new scoring language, including the adaptation of a more liberal definition of a 10-8 round, according to committee chairman Sean Wheelock. The proposed criteria will be voted on by the ABC's general body at its annual convention Aug. 1 in Las Vegas. If voted into MMA's unified rules by the ABC, the proposed changes would go into effect Jan. 1, 2017.

The proposed new criteria will have judges evaluate the damage, dominance and duration of a round. If a round contains two of those three characteristics, a 10-8 must be considered. If a round has all three, then a 10-8 — or even a 10-7 — must be the score. A 10-7 score calls for "overwhelming dominance" and "significant damage" with a referee stoppage warranted.

ABC to vote on revised MMA judging criteria, including change in 10-8 round language

 

[TheFifthScallop]

They definitely need to get away from the 10 point must system, but this is step in the right direction.

 

[KWingJitsu]

Incremental improvement I suppose. . It's good damage is going to be "officiailly" the dominant criteria. ...... as it should. Like Pride rules. But what we really need is Pride judging itself.

 

[Treadstone06]

I wonder how damage will be defined. If it's by blood and just "how it looks", that could very well be detrimental to those fighters that just cut easier than others. Thoughts?

 

[Cosuir]

It's a start.. at least things are being talked about and changing a little.. there needs to be more changes.. elbows 12/6 and knees kicks to a downed opponent for me are a must. (Not stomps or head kicks)

 

[Kingtony87]

Maybe get some educated judges would be a good place to start????? Just maybe.

 

[SC MMA MD]

The judge criteria does need to change IMO, but the bigger issue is making sure judges are competent and accountable.

 

[seekntruth]

No one will be happier than @Zeph , he gives out 10-8's like candy...if this passes, he'll finally be right

 

[girlandcoconut]

I fear the subjectivity of "damage" is going to have fights being scored all over the place. There is little to no ability to visually assess damage. A bloody nose mid round can end up leaving the octagon and the fighters looking like a zombie apocalypse. Or one of those Hominick/Mitrione hematomas, they look much worse (esp if they rupture) than they really are in some cases. Outside of someone being KO'd or another leg falling off mid calf, "damage" can be far less obvious.