Question about mma judging

I am a boxing fan and learning about mma so I will admit I am not an expert on it. However how in gods name is that not a 10-8 round for Thiago in the 3rd round? He had the guy dropped and almost out and he still only gets a 10-9 round when Evans gets a 10-9 round for scoring take downs that did no damage at all. That just doesn't seem right to me and I was just wondering if someone could explain to me how that was only a 10-9 round for Thiago. Are takedowns that do no damage scored the same as dropping your opponent and almost finishing him? Its not like Evans did much at all in the third either to make it a 10-9.

It was close.

In MMA you really really have to dominate and the other person has to basically do nothing.

In MMA a knockdown does not automatically make it a 10-8 round.

A takedown is a scoring technique. A takedown is also like ring control in boxing, the fighter taking the other down is dictating where the fight is taking place.

A round is to be scored as a 10-10 Round when both contestants appear to be fighting evenly and neither contestant shows clear dominance in a round;

A round is to be scored as a 10-9 Round when a contestant wins by a close margin, landing the greater number of effective legal strikes, grappling and other maneuvers;

A round is to be scored as a 10-8 Round when a contestant overwhelmingly dominates by striking or grappling in a round.

A round is to be scored as a 10-7 Round when a contestant totally dominates by striking or grappling in a round.

There aren't 10-10 rounds in MMA

Few and far between but they are there.

Primetyme199 wrote:

Few and far between but they are there.

Do you know of any?

Seen them here in NJ in Ring Of Combat (Pro), as well as in the amateur system. Trying to think but I do believe there was one in the first ever show in Baltimore last year.

But not in the UFC. They do a 10-9 must.

Looks like I'm dead wrong

Farmer1906 wrote:

But not in the UFC. They do a 10-9 must.

The biggest misconception associated with the 10 point must system, particularly amongst Mixed Martial Arts fans, is that you cannot have a 10:10 round. 10:10 rounds are infrequent within MMA but are allowed within the rules.

Reasons for this misconception stem largely from the phrasing of the brief rules description at the start of UFC broadcasts "The round winner gets 10 points, with his opponent receiving 9 or less".

At no point does this description state that there must be a round winner, however this is often assumed by the viewer as there is no mention of 10:10 as an option.

Additionally, 10:10 rounds rarely dictate the outcome of a bout even when they do occur, as they are usually awarded by one judge at a time. One notable exception where a 10:10 round did dictate the fight result is the 2003 bout between Ian Freeman and Vernon White. The fight was scored 30-27, 28-29, 29-29 with the final scorecard including a 10:10 round.

Primetyme199 wrote:

In MMA a knockdown does not automatically make it a 10-8 round.

A takedown is a scoring technique. A takedown is also like ring control in boxing, the fighter taking the other down is dictating where the fight is taking place.

I know a knockdown is not automatically a 10-8 in mma, but it wasn't like it was just a knockdown, he had him hurt BADLY.

No denying he had him hurt bad, but did he overwhelmingly dominate the round? IMO he didn't.

There were also several 10-10 rounds at Dynamite, which was using the ten point must system for the MMA bouts the other day.

Thats actually a pretty common misconception for long time boxing fans. They see a guy get dropped and hurt and think its a 10 - 8.

If someone gets dropped by a punch and then gets up and secures a takedown the round is still about even IMO. Primetyme is the expert on this though. A 10-8 is rare in MMA. It has to be a complete domination. That was kinda close to a 10-8 round though.

No expert, just try to do my best.

up to the judge, their transgression