If a UFC fight doesn’t end in a knockout or submission, the decision of who wins is determined by the judges’ scorecards. Understanding how UFC fights are scored can be confusing for some, so let’s break down the UFC scoring system.
UFC fights are judged using the ten-point must system. This system involves three judges who score each round independently. The winner of a round receives 10 points, while the loser gets 9 or fewer points. A score of 8 is given for a round where one fighter is significantly more dominant, and a very rare score of 7 is reserved for rounds of overwhelming dominance. Although possible, a 10-10 round, indicating an evenly matched performance, is extremely uncommon.
When the fight goes to the judges, each judge tallies their scores from each round to arrive at a final score. There are three separate scorecards, one for each judge. The winner is determined based on these scorecards, and there are several possible outcomes:
- Unanimous Decision: All three judges score the fight in favor of the same fighter.
- Split Decision: Two judges score the fight for one fighter, while the third judge scores it for the other fighter.
- Majority Decision: Two judges score the fight for one fighter, and the third judge scores it as a draw.
- Draw: This can be a unanimous draw (all judges score it a draw), a majority draw (two judges score it a draw, and one judge has a winner), or a split draw (one judge scores it for each fighter, and the third judge scores it a draw).
The UFC scoring system also emphasizes effective striking and grappling, control of the fighting area, effective aggressiveness, and defense. Recent updates to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts have provided clearer guidelines on how to assess a fighter’s performance, making the scoring more consistent and understandable. These guidelines help judges better evaluate the effectiveness of each fighter, leading to more accurate and fair decisions.
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UFC Fight Outcomes Based on the Judge’s Decision
- Unanimous decision: all three judges scored a win for fighter A. Let’s take a three-round fight as an example. The first judge scored the fight 30-27 (10-9, 10-9, 10-9), the second judge scored it 30-26 (10-9, 10-8, 10-9), and the third judge scored it 29-28 (10-9, 10-9, 9-10).
- Majority decision: two judges scored a win for fighter A and the third one scored it a draw. For example, the first judge scored it 30-27, the second one also scored it 30-27, but the third one scored it 28-28 (e.g., 10-9, 8-10, 10-9).
- Split decision: two judges scored it a win for fighter A and one judge scored it a win for fighter B. As an example, let’s take a five-round fight. Scores might be something like: 48-47 (10-9, 10-9, 9-10, 9-10, 10-9), 49-46 (10-9, 10-9, 9-10, 10-9, 10-9) and 47-48 (10-9, 10-9, 9-10, 9-10, 9-10).
- Technical decision: a very rare case when one fighter is unable to continue because of an unintentional illegal shot. The fight is stopped and goes to the judges. This scenario was present when Donald Cerrone landed an illegal knee to Jamie Varner’s head while he was on the ground. That happened in the fifth round. Varner was unable to continue, so the fight went to the scorecard decision giving Varner a split decision win (49-46, 47-48, 49-46).
- Unanimous draw: all three judges scored the bout as a draw. P.e., all three cards were 28-28 (10-9, 10-9, 8-10).
- Majority draw: two judges scored it a draw, but the third judge scored it a win for one of the fighters. P.e., the fight is scored 28-28, 28-28, and the last judge scored it a win for either of the fighters.
- Split draw: one judge scored it a win for fighter A, one judge scored it a win for fighter B, and the third judge scored it a draw.
- Technical draw: the fight ends in the same manner as in the above-mentioned technical decision scenario, prematurely, but the judges scored it as a draw.
If the fight ended in a draw, it is worth pointing out that the total amount of a fighter’s points shouldn’t necessarily be equal. For example, when it comes to the majority draw, the total amount of points will never be equal; let’s say it is 28-28, 28-28, and the last one is 29-28 for either of the fighters.
Also, one more thing worth mentioning is that when a title fight goes to the distance, and it is a draw, the defending champion retains his title.
What Is Considered When Scoring a UFC Round?
I’ve outlined how the winner is determined if a UFC fight goes the distance. Now, let’s delve into how each round is scored individually. When scoring a round, judges primarily consider effective striking and grappling, effective aggressiveness, and control of the fighting area.
It’s important to note that these criteria are not all equally weighted. The primary factor is the effectiveness of a fighter’s striking and/or grappling. If neither fighter shows significant activity in striking or grappling, judges then assess the level of effective aggressiveness.
Effective aggressiveness becomes a factor only when there’s no clear advantage in striking and grappling. If both fighters also lack aggressiveness, judges then consider which fighter is controlling the UFC Octagon area.
Let’s break these down further:
- Effective Striking and Grappling: This is determined by the number of legal strikes landed, the execution of takedowns and reversals, submission attempts, and position advancements. The impact of these actions, in terms of potential damage and fight control, is highly significant.
- Effective Aggressiveness: This involves actively pursuing the opponent with the intention of launching attacks, such as throwing strikes or attempting takedowns. It’s about moving forward with the aim of finishing the fight, rather than just maintaining position.
- Control of the Fighting Area: This refers to a fighter controlling the center of the cage and pushing the opponent towards the perimeter. It involves dictating the pace and rhythm of the fight and influencing where the fight unfolds.
Understanding these criteria, let’s explore how they influence the scoring of a round:
- A 10-9 Round is the most common score for a round where one fighter has a slight advantage in terms of effective striking, grappling, and control.
- A 10-8 Round indicates a more dominant performance, where one fighter clearly outperforms the other in these aspects, often with significant strikes or control that diminishes the opponent’s ability to compete.
- In rare cases, a 10-7 Round may be scored if a fighter completely overwhelms their opponent with no effective response possible.
The updated Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts provide more clarity on these scoring criteria, ensuring judges have a consistent framework to evaluate each round fairly and accurately. How Illegal Blows Affect UFC Scoring?
One more thing worth mentioning is fouls in a UFC fight. When one fighter throws an illegal blow, a referee can discretely deduce one or more points.
Some of the following moves are explicitly addressed as fouls in an MMA fight: head-butting, eye-gouging, biting, hair-pulling, fish-hooking, groin attacks, small joint manipulation, rabbit punches, elbowing in a 12-6 direction, throat strikes, soccer kicks, kneeing the head of the grounded opponent, etc.
Check out the complete list of illegal moves in the UFC fight.
If a foul disables a fighter, then the match can end in a disqualification (if the foul was intentional) or in a no-contest (if the foul wasn’t intentional). If a foul prevents a fighter from being able to fight later in the bout, a fight ends in a technical decision win for the injured fighter if that fighter is ahead on the scorecards. Otherwise, it is a technical draw.
Explaining UFC Round Scores
I have already said that UFC Round on judge’s scorecards can go either 10-10, 10-9, 10-8 or 10-7. Let’s see what makes a round go each of the ways:
- 10-10 round. Worth noticing is that a 10-10 round is an extremely rare event. It exists for the purpose of scoring a round that is stopped prematurely (like the Cerrone vs. Varner fight mentioned earlier, which is unusual in itself), or when, after 5 minutes, there is a completely identical output from both fighters. Judges shouldn’t give 10-10 rounds as an excuse that they cannot assign a round to a winner. That being said, if there is even the slightest difference in a fighter’s output, a round shouldn’t be scored 10-10.
- 10-9 round. Most common round score. It is given to a fighter that has landed more strikes, used grappling more efficiently, scored take-downs, attempted submissions, controlled the fight pace and area. Even if there is a slight difference between the two fighters, where one shows more efficiency, activity, and offensiveness, a round should be scored a 10-9 for the more dominant fighter.
- 10-8 round. A 10-8 round is given when one of the fighters had dominated the round, meaning he delivered significant blows, used grappling efficiently, and dominated the tempo of the fight. Dominance in striking the round can be explained when throwing shots while the opponent isn’t trying to counter or react. Dominance in grappling can be seen when the fighter is getting in dominating positions and constantly throwing shots or attempting submissions. If a fighter is significantly hurt from the opponent’s pressure, a round should also be considered to be 10-8.
- 10-7 round. It is extremely rare for a round to be scored as 10-7. It is explained as a round where one fighter completely overwhelms another. With the tempo, dominant positions, take-downs, knockdowns, and strikes that clearly impact another fighter’s ability to continue fighting.
Has There Ever Been a 10-7 Round in the UFC?
The 10-7 round happened only once in the UFC. It was in a fight between Forrest Petz and Sammy Morgan at Ultimate Fight Night 6. Petz won via unanimous decision with one of the judges scoring the fight 30-23 including the only 10-7 round in UFC history.
How Illegal Blows Affect UFC Scoring?
One more thing worth mentioning is fouls in a UFC fight. When one fighter throws an illegal blow, a referee can discretely deduce one or more points.
Some of the following moves are explicitly addressed as fouls: head-butting, eye-gouging, biting, hair pulling, fish-hooking, groin attacks, small joint manipulation, rabbit punches, elbowing in a 12-6 direction, throat strikes, soccer kicks, kneeing the head of the grounded opponent, etc.
Check out the complete list of illegal moves in the UFC fight.
If a foul disables a fighter, then the match can end in a disqualification (if the foul was intentional) or in a no contest (if the foul wasn’t intentional). If a foul prevents a fighter from being able to fight later in the bout, a fight ends in a technical decision win for the injured fighter if that fighter is ahead on the scorecards. Otherwise, it is a technical draw.
For more information and some updates on the rules, take a look at the video from on the best referees in MMA, “Big” John McCarthy:
If you have more questions about the UFC, check out our beginner’s guide to the UFC where you will probably find the answer!
