Most controversial decisions at MMA

Most controversial decisions at MMA

All sports have their own controversies and mixed martial arts (MMA) is no different. Although a single punch or kick can put an end to a fight, not every fight has a dramatic finish. When battles go the distance, judges come in to give their score of the action that has just taken place, and that is when controversy often follows. Over the years, the UFC and other organizations have seen countless decisions that fans, hunters and even commentators have left their heads. These moments are part of the history of the sport and cause endless debates about scores systems and the honesty of the game.

How MMA is scored

Before we jump into the list, it is important to understand how MMA fights are assessed. MMA uses the “10-point must-system”, adapted from boxing, where the winner of each round gets 10 points and receives the loser less. Although this works in theory, MMA includes several disciplines, such as striking, grabs, clinching and octagon control, which means that there are variables to consider, making it harder to assess.

Different judges often appreciate different elements. Some reward effective striking Takedowns. Others put more emphasis on land control. This inconsistency creates the potential for controversial results. Just as people debate on narrow decisions in sports analyzes or discuss promotional practices in Online Casino NJ Platforms, the subjective nature of MMA assessment means that disagreements probably remain a consistent part of the sport.

Leonard Garcia vs Chan Sung Jung (2010)

Chan Sung Jung, known as “the Korean zombie”, would go up with his fight against veteran Leonard Garcia on WEC 48. The fight was famous for his rapid pace and violent exchanges that caused non -stop action, and as soon as the fight had passed the decision.

Instead, the jury members Garcia gave a victory in a split decision. The decision was maintained with loud anger of the crowd and heavy criticism from commentators. Years later it is still considered one of the most astonishing scorecards in the MMA history.

Benson Henderson vs Frankie Edgar 2 (2012)

Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson fought twice before the UFC light weight title. Their second fight on UFC 150 was Razor-Close. Edgar seemed to land more strikes and to control the pace, so that the majority of fans believe that he would be mentioned as the new champion, but Henderson retained the belt by a split decision. Although fans were confused, nobody was more frustrated by the decision than Edgar, who believed he had done enough to walk away with the belt.

Many analysts and fans argued that Edgar had done clear enough to win. The controversy emphasized how championship fights are often examined more. When the bet is high, every questionable round is enlarged in the MMA history.

Diego Sanchez vs Ross Pearson (2014)

Diego Sanchez was a favorite with a fan since his appearance in the Ultimate Fighter Reality TV show. He was best known for his grit and aggressive fighting style. Sanchez faced Ross Pearson of Sunderland, in what seemed to be a one -sided fight for Pearson, while he surpassed Sanchez on the feet and checked most of the fight.

It was until the shock of both the fans and Pearson present that Sanchez was announced as the winner through a split decision. UFC President Dana White called the scoring ‘horrible’, and media stores generally labeled one of the worst decisions in the history of UFC. The decision was so bad that calling for important reforms in how MMA fights were assessed.

UFC 167 saw one of the most controversial title fights ever taking place when George St-Pierre (GSP) takes on Johny Hendricks. At the time of the fight, GSP was considered one of the greatest hunters in the MMA history. During the fight, Hendricks landed many heavy strikes and seemed to have control until the last bell. Many believed that GSP would finally be dethroned when he was announced the winner through a split decision, and he would shock his retirement after the fight.

The result was so controversial that it forced the UFC to reconsider aspects of assessment and to convey the debate whether champions get an unspoken advantage of close scorecards.

Jon Jones vs Dominick Reyes (2020)

Jon Jones is no stranger to controversy, but his fight against Dominick Reyes on UFC 247 is perhaps his most disputed victory. Reyes set up a career-defined performance, surpass Jones in the early rounds and putting pressure on the champion.

Although Reyes seemed to win three of the five rounds, the jury members Jones brought a unanimous decision victory. The return was immediately, both with analysts and fans in which they were called to reform the scoring system. Reyes has since had trouble recovering that momentum, while Jones eventually moved to the heavyweight division, so that the controversy was not resolved.