The last two UFC main events have ended on judge's scorecards and the decisions were controversial. Last night at UFC 105, Randy Couture beat Brandon Vera by unanimous decision and at UFC 104 Lyoto Machida defended his light heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. To many fans at home these looked the wrong decisions.
Last night, Couture controlled the pace of the fight well throughout, but Vera appeared to do more damage than Couture did throughout the fight. At one point Vera rocked Couture with a strike, Couture fell to the ground and turned his back as if retreating. Watching from home it appeared that Couture won the first round, Vera won the second, and Vera won the third. Both the second and third rounds were close but Vera got the lone takedown of the night in the third round. Couture's win was not as much of a surprise as the unanimous decision. The fact that Couture retreated from combat during the fight and yet still won does not sit well.
The title fight in UFC 104 was rather uneventful, with not much happening in the five rounds. No fighter appeared to have a distinct advantage on the scorecards. Rua attacked, while Machida was content to defend and never really pressed much of an offense. It could be argued that Machida showed better technique, but he showed less fighting all around.
UFC President Dana White cannot be happy with the way his last two Main Events have gone. White has clashed with fighters he thought did not bring enough a show to the Octagon. He took more than a few shots at former heavyweight champion Tim Slyvia, who he thought was too timid in his title defenses. For fights to end the way White wants them to, there might have to be a change to the rules.
Article comments
1 - combat fan
The fight was close...could of gone either way. I thought Randy was clearly ahead in the third round until the takedown. If Brandon had held him there (but he couldn't) I would have given him the win.
2 - combat fan
Oh...and as far as a rule change...there are two fighters in the cage/ring. If one is timid, then I expect them to get hurt by a more aggressive fighter. MMA involves different styles (not all exciting). It wouldn't be the same if you penalize a fighter for their style (if they impose their will over another fighter)
3 - combat fan
lastly...what's the difference between Randy vs Brandon and Michael Bisping vs Denis Kang...Bisping eventually imposed his will, Brandon didn't. In the first round Kang had Bisping on his back for most of the time but only worked for position (instead of inflicting damage). In round two, Bisping put Kang on his back and proceeded to inflict damage. Randy had Brandon pressed against the cage (imposing his will with a reasonable goal...to wear Brandon down). The much younger Brandon Vera was unable to do anything about it.
4 - Mark Kalriess
Combat fan,
I get what you are saying, but regardless of a style nobody wants to see fights like Shogun and Machida or Slyvia vs. Orlosoky. A title fight is supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport, not the most boring of matches.
Yes, arguments could be made for Couture to have won that fight, but the unanimous decision when a fight is that close is what worries me.
The difference between Randy vs Brandon and Bisping vs Kang is obvious. Bisping vs. Kang fight was finished it didn't go to the cards. Everyone wants to see more fights like that.
5 - MMA FAN
Vera got dominated and Randy didn't. Vera couldn't capitalize when he had Randy hurt and Randy controlled the fight. Was it a close fight? Sure.. but not close enough to question whether Randy won or not.
6 - IbrahimJ
Why would it worry you that it is a unanimous decision?? Doesn't that mean the judges are being consistent?? Not trying to attack you or anything but just trying to understand your point of view. Cheers
7 - MDT
I do agree that there needs to be more clarity in MMA judging. I'm not sure, however, that over-rewarding aggression is the way to do it.
A system you describe wouldn't take away from defensive styles like Machida's. If anything, it would force other fighters to over-commit in their offense, which is exactly what a counter-attacker wants.
Look at Rua, for example, who's been a rushdown fighter throughout his career. The smartest thing he did in that fight, and the reason he should have won, is that he controlled himself and picked his spots. A system that penalizes that behavior wouldn't help. If anything, it might favor defensive fighters who could learn to look just busy enough to get their opponent to step into traps. Most defensive fighters are smarter than Kalib Starnes that way.
Sometimes you get a slow fighter like Couture against a boring fighter like Vera and bad matchups happen. And I do think that MMA needs more judging education. But I think the market will sort out boring fighters at the top of cards (let's see if Jake Shields finds himself on TV again anytime soon). In the ring, we need to let them fight their own styles.
8 - Mark Kalriess
I think I should have made my two points more separate. There needs to be more clarity in judging and less bias for a champion or veteran. I did not think the Couture fight was a boring fight, but I thought the decision was questionable. In my eyes Vera won that fight, his strikes did more damage, and he got the takedown, which Randy was unable to do. But it was a close fight and if the there was a split decision I would have not been as disappointed in the outcome. To me it looked like the judges being consistently wrong.
My other point was about keeping the tempo of the fight's up. MDT made some good points. I don't think there's any need to "over-reward" aggressive fighting, like I said in the article I think the system works fine when the fighter's engage. The UFC should let fighters play their styles, but they shouldn't let fighters be over-protective of themselves and their belt. Liddell was a counter-puncher but I can't remember one boring fight of his.
Maybe the simple answer is to increase the number of rounds, maybe five for main events and more for title bouts. Maybe then there will be less controversy when it does go to a decision.
9 - Ralphie
Electrify the cage, and let the audience press the juice button whenever they feel the fight is too slow ;-).
10 - Ralphie
But seriously... the 10-9 system virtually guarantees that a fight WON'T be tied after 3 or 5 rounds. Unfortunate since many 3-rounders often end inconclusively, and should go to a 4th round more often. And I think non-title fights between ex-champs should be 5 rounds.
The only problem with more rounds is more boredom when guys just hug. So add a Pride-like yellow card, deduct 10%, 20% if fighters are lame. But donate that money to charity; UFC is already exploiting these guys too much!
11 - Ralphie
And also, how about educating the FANS! I think people have ridiculous expectations that every fight should end in spectacular fashion. Having trained mma a bit, I really appreciate the tactical struggles that other fans boo. Maybe in big venues, the crowd can't see the finer points of the battle.
12 - SINCorp
Easy Fix! 1 round, no time limit, fight till someone looses! The Original UFC!!!