After a 2021 that solely had a handful of what I might contemplate real robberies (Maycee Barber vs. Miranda Maverick, I’m you), and even much less that registered on a wider viewership scale (Gleison Tibau vs. Rory MacDonald, anybody?), I used to be optimistic that 2022 wouldn’t solely characteristic few judging controversies, however that followers, fighters and media would get even nearer to being on the identical web page in relation to scoring a battle.
My mistake.
Simply when it seemed like we may be within the clear, the ultimate stretch of 2022 noticed two of probably the most controversial scorecards in latest reminiscence, as Sean O’Malley earned a break up nod over former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan and Paddy Pimblett received a unanimous determination over Jared Gordon simply seven weeks later. The state-of-the-art tools at Theft Overview almost went haywire breaking these fights down, let me inform you.
As I put together to as soon as once more head into a brand new yr with blind hope, let’s look again with clear eyes on the highest 5 fights that precipitated homes to crumble, friendships to be torn asunder, and loads of harmless betting slips to be shredded in rage.
1. Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon (UFC 282)
Paddy Pimblett arguably was the breakout fighter of 2021 simply primarily based on buzz alone. Then he stored successful fights. After which the Jared Gordon battle occurred.
On paper, Gordon was the right check for “The Baddy” at this stage of his profession: A well-regarded veteran who’s robust to submit however not a top-ranked contender assured to derail the Pimblett hype practice. In follow, the bout served its objective for Pimblett, although perhaps not in a manner that anybody may have anticipated.
Pimblett and Gordon threw down in an entertaining battle, one which noticed Gordon push the tempo for a lot of the contest exterior of a principally uneventful third spherical. There’s no query that Pimblett’s chin was examined as Gordon landed loads of energy pictures whereas navigating Pimblett’s busy offense. On the very least, Gordon placed on a a lot better efficiency than Pimblett’s first three UFC opponents, and it felt like he’d executed sufficient to drag off the upset.
All three judges disagreed, resulting in a direct uproar on social media and requires justice, particularly from one Doug Crosby, who had simply issued an egregious scorecard the night time prior at Bellator 289 (extra on Mr. Crosby later). Irrespective of who you thought received or how justified the judges have been in making their determination, it’s apparent that the general public notion is that Gordon acquired mugged.
Upon overview, I broke out the theft stamp for this one, and I stand by it, whilst I’ve struggled a bit with that decision since provided that it downplays loads of the nice work that Pimblett truly did. In the long run, I really feel snug with it, primarily as a result of two of the judges gave Pimblett Spherical 1, which by my analysis shouldn’t be doable. So even when a 29-28 Pimblett scorecard doesn’t appear egregious, the way in which Crosby and Ron McCarthy acquired there positively is.
The UFC positively isn’t complaining, although, as this ensures that Pimblett enters 2023 as one among its most talked-about fighters and there simply so occurs to be a London pay-per-view on the horizon.
My verdict: Theft
2. Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan (UFC 280)
Given the stakes, you can make a robust case that Sean O’Malley eeking out a win over Petr Yan needs to be No. 1. However I’m hoping that sometime this battle is best remembered for its sheer awesomeness fairly than the overblown judging controversy.
I actually suppose that this battle missed out on “Combat of the Yr” consideration attributable to how stunning the end result was, and I’m together with the media on this dialogue, as I do know loads of my colleagues anticipated Yan to run by means of O’Malley. The reality is that O’Malley seemed like he belonged in there with one of many two greatest bantamweights on this planet, and there have been a number of moments the place he was clearly successful the battle. Spherical 2 featured a very thrilling sequence the place each males staggered one another, sending the Abu Dhabi crowd right into a frenzy.
For a lot of the battle, a lot of the dialog on-line revolved round how nicely O’Malley carried out, however that turned shortly when the break up determination was introduced in his favor.
All however one of many 26 media scores submitted to MMA Selections had the battle for Yan, although a number of media members acknowledged the closeness of the battle, together with MMA scoring guru Seán Sheehan.
29-28 Yan for me @MMADecisions
However the kind of battle you can simply rating for O’Malley. Very shut throughout. #UFC280
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) October 22, 2022
I too had it 29-28 Yan, however to me this battle is the right instance of a dramatic back-and-forth contest that each males had a robust case to win. That ain’t a theft, of us.
My verdict: Not a theft
3. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Taila Santos (UFC 275)
Taila Santos did nearly every little thing she may to do the not possible and dethrone Valentina Shevchenko – apart from a lot harm.
This battle kicked off a referendum on whether or not the blending of the martial arts is being scored correctly, with Santos clearly controlling Shevchnko together with her grappling for almost all of the bout however hardly ever seeking to land significant strikes. The official stats had Shevchenko successful the numerous strike battle in each spherical.
Nonetheless, does one deserve the nod in a championship battle the place they spent a big portion of it on protection? As of 2022, the reply is sure. Sadly, we’ll have to attend to see if Santos will get one other shot at Shevchenko as she first has to get previous wunderkind Erin Blanchfield on Feb. 18.
My verdict: Not a theft
4. Daniel Rodriguez vs. Li Jingliang (UFC 279)
This one made folks so mad.
I’m not totally positive what Daniel Rodriguez and I did to attract the ire of the Monday morning quarterbacks, however apparently Li Jingliang dominated him at UFC 279 and nonetheless didn’t get the win, which is simply a real assertion in the event you, like, didn’t truly watch the battle?
Look, all of us love the free-swinging model of “The Leech,” however I implore folks to observe the battle once more and see simply what number of of his haymakers truly landed. He got here ahead loads, which is what you need to see when somebody is attempting to win a battle, however he additionally acquired his face jabbed off, which is counterproductive to successful a battle in my ebook. Jabs rely, folks!
I don’t have an issue with a scorecard for Li or Rodriguez. I want extra folks may placed on a extra vital cap and perceive why.
My verdict: Not a theft
5. Andrei Arlovski vs. Jake Collier (UFC Vegas 53)
He can’t hold getting away with it.
It’s the yr 2022. America is a rustic divided. Mark Zuckerberg has invested billions within the metaverse. Electrical automobiles might be discovered on each avenue in each main metropolis on the planet. And Andrei Arlovski continues to be successful choices.
The previous UFC heavyweight champion (is there a statute of limitations on this?) went 2-1 this yr, ending up on the appropriate facet of each break up calls that he was concerned in. He beat Jared Vanderaa to start out the yr after which received a much more contentious determination over Jake Collier in April.
Collier did every little thing in his energy to not get Arlovski’d, urgent the motion for almost all of the bout, solely to be denied on the scorecards (the place one choose gave him a 30-27!). I get that Collier isn’t precisely a family identify, however Theft Overview doesn’t play favorites, and this could have been a loss on Arlovski’s report.
Justice for Jake!
My verdict: Theft
Honorable point out:
Judging, it’s higher than you suppose!
The previous couple of months have seen loads of vitriol aimed on the judges, however is it misguided? Whereas we would not all the time agree with the scorecards, I’m guessing most of us would agree that it’s the scoring system that really wants an overhaul.
Criticize the judges all you need – most of them are doing the very best they’ll with the standards that’s given, a standards that favors harm over management or quantity. The emphasis is all the time alleged to be on who’s doing a greater job of really attempting to complete the battle. Sadly, as we’ve seen, there’s a ton of room for interpretation there. Judging a detailed battle is tough!
Simply UFC fights, there have been 511 in 2022 and 240 went to a call (h/t Andy Hickey). Off the highest of your head, what number of of those fights are you able to identify that you just’d contemplate controversial? Ten? Twenty? Let’s say it’s 20, that might nonetheless imply that you just suppose judges get it principally proper 92 p.c of the time. When you consider there have been greater than 20 debatable scorecards, then I’d be involved, however something across the 90 p.c vary is fairly good, for my part. And the remaining fights in query aren’t even essentially robberies.
We slam a handful of irresponsible judges (I’m getting there) again and again, however hardly ever can we reward the dependable ones like Mike Bell, Ben Cartlidge, David Lethaby, Bryan Miner, Dave Tirelli, Clemens Werner, and others.
When you actually need to see change, then argue for tweaks to the scoring system: Extra 10-8s. A higher emphasis on grappling management. Increasing to a 20-point system (permitting for 9.5s, 8.5s, and many others.). It won’t make for higher fights, however it may at the very least result in much less complaining.
My verdict: The judges are alright. The scoring not a lot.
Doug Crosby has to go
Doug Crosby was lambasted for being one of many judges that awarded Pimblett a win at Madison Sq. Backyard, however that wasn’t even his most egregious card of the weekend.
A day prior, at Bellator 289, he someway noticed match to award Danny Sabatello with a 50-45 rating in a battle that noticed the opposite two judges rating it 48-47 in favor of Sabatello’s opponent, Raufeon Stots. It was a totally weird card for anybody with primary understanding of the scoring standards and a functioning set of eyeballs, each of which Crosby appears to lack.
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling referred to as Crosby’s Sabatello card “ignorant.” The California State Athletic Fee handed down a brand new rule stating that CSAC judges and referees wouldn’t be allowed to journey throughout the nation to work occasions on consecutive days, and the Mohegan Athletic Division has referred to as for a proper overview of the Bellator 289 playing cards. Stots has requested that Crosby be banned from judging his fights, and Chris Curtis referred to as Crosby’s latest makes an attempt to clarify his judging philosophy “ridiculous.”
Suffice to say, that is the newest in a protracted line of questionable choices from MMA’s worst choose, and one thing needs to be executed about it. Sufficient is sufficient.
My verdict: Hold Doug Crosby away from the scorecards.
