How scoring works in MMA: Complete guide to rules and criteria

How scoring works in MMA

Scoring in MMA follows specific criteria that the judges use to evaluate each round. There are three main pillars that guide this evaluation: Damage, Dominance and Duration. Each of these elements has its own characteristics that have a direct impact on the final decision.

Damage: The most valued factor

The damage caused to the opponent is considered the most important criterion in MMA scoring. Judges look at:

Power of strikes

The force with which the blows are applied has significant weight in the evaluation. One blow that clearly shakes the opponent is worth more than several unpowerful blows.

Impact visible

When you see a fighter with a marked face, bleeding or showing clear signs of damage, this directly influences the score.

Volume-of-strikes

The number of connected blows also counts. A fighter who lands more significant blows tends to gain an advantage on the judges’ scorecards.

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Domain: Territorial and positional control

Dominance shows who is dictating the pace and controlling the fight. Among the main aspects assessed are:

Effective falls

Dropping the opponent and keeping him on the ground scores positively, especially when followed by effective strikes or clear finishing attempts.

Finishing attempts

Even if they don’t result in immediate victory, traps such as triangles, arm locks or other submission blows show technical superiority and are valued.

Position on the grid

Keeping the opponent pressed against the grid while applying blows or seeking to improve the position also demonstrates mastery.

Duration: Consistency in control

Duration is linked to the ability to maintain dominance for prolonged periods during the round:

Octagon-center-control

The judges value fighters who maintain control of the center of the fighting area. Those who just constantly retreat lose points in the evaluation.

Control time

The more time a fighter spends in a dominant position, whether standing or on the ground, the more favored he will be in the final score.

Effective aggressiveness

It’s not enough to push forward, this pressure must result in effective action. Aggressiveness must be productive in order to count for points.

Change of tactics

When a fighter is being slowed down on the feet and starts trying to get takedowns anyway, the judges don’t look kindly on these changes, especially when they have no effect. These desperate changes of strategy show that the athlete is at a disadvantage and end up weighing negatively in the judges’ assessment.

When a fighter is behind on his feet, he starts trying for takedowns anyway.

How the judges make the final decision

The judges evaluate each round separately, assigning a score that is usually 10-9 for competitive rounds, 10-8 for rounds with clear superiority, and rarely 10-7 for extreme domination.

The sum of the points from all the rounds determines the winner. In three-round fights, the maximum score would be 30 points (10 per round), while in main or title fights with five rounds, it would be 50 points.

The maximum score would be 30 points (10 per round).

The subjectivity of decisions

In the end, the issue is subjective. Time and again, the judges seem to watch the fights with their eyes covered. But in general, if you pay attention to these items, you’ll be able to predict with some degree of confidence who wins a fight.

Practice your evaluation

Take advantage of each fight you watch to put together your own score based on what you’ve just learned. Write down round by round who you think is winning and compare it with the official score. Pay attention to the Damage, Dominance and Duration criteria throughout the fight. In no time at all, you’ll have mastered the evaluation and will be able to better understand the judges’ decisions!