Methods to Improve MMA Judging: Part Two

Jad Semaan by Senior Analyst Written on June 26, 2009
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With two referees cooperating together, the odds of making a dreadful mistake which costs a fighter dearly is greatly reduced, and perhaps is a concept at least worth pondering.

Of course, if this proposal is implemented there would probably be an initial trial and error period to work out the details, as is the case when many new rules in professional sports are adopted.

Conversely, such a configuration could be attempted on a provisional basis and if it's deemed more effective than a one-referee system, it could then be employed permanently.

After all, it's the thought that counts.

 

Epilogue

I think it's safe to say that the quality of judging and refereeing can only go up. MMA is in its infancy stage and it's still in the process of becoming sanctioned throughout North America and indeed many other parts around the world.

It's also prudent to recognize that the issues addressed here in part arose due to the fact that the UFC adopted the 10-point must system in an attempt to get sanctions. Remember, the state athletic commissions are the ones who hold the real ability to change the system, and of course they employ boxing judges to score MMA which lies at the root of the problem.

Perhaps in the future we will see former fighters become judges and referees. Maybe one day, we will witness those experienced in the grappling department tally bouts, in order to balance the background of the scorekeepers, such as Matt Hume when he was a judge in PRIDE Fighting Championships.

Every sport has its own issues with referees/judges (gymnastics, anyone?). As humans, we are naturally prone to error,  but there is clearly room for improvement here and the first step is to engineer ideas which can then be perfected and realized so that the best possible outcome can be attained.

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written on June 26, 2009 Opinion

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