In The Clinch: Overtime Rounds in MMA
Houston, we have a problem…
Or rather Nevada, and any other state that currently sanctions Mixed Martial Arts competition. We have a growing problem of ringside judges determining fight outcomes as draws.
Normally I would wouldn’t touch this topic because draws were few and far between. But it’s not normal anymore. Draws are being handed out in what seems like once every fight card. Frankie Edgar fought Gray Maynard at UFC 125 to a disappointing draw, B.J. Penn went toe to toe with Jon Fitch for a tie at UFC 127, and last weekend’s contest between Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine also ended with no clear winner.
Why is this a problem? Because nobody likes ties in sports. Not in football, not in basketball, and certainly not in Mixed Martial Arts.
This sport is built on excitement, old school gladiatorial excitement. Two warriors entering a cage, going toe-to-toe, to determine who is the best. Having fights end in draws is the opposite of excitement. The unpopularity of ties in sports is reflected in the saying, “A tie is like kissing your sister.” That phrase was first used by Navy football coach Eddie Erdelatz after a scoreless tie against Duke way back in 1953, but it holds true today.
What was the point of all those weeks of rigorous training if the fight yields no winner? It’s a complete letdown.
UFC President Dana White is on the same page and has been quoted as saying, “I hate draws. I think it’s just such a waste of everybody’s time and energy,” and he’s certainly open to figuring out a way to eliminate them. On The Ultimate Fighter Aftermath, Stephen Bonnar asked White if he was open to possibly adding an “overtime” round to bouts to determine a winner. White responded, “It’s something that I would definitely explore.”
Well let’s explore this thing, Dana. Get on the phone and get this ball rolling.
The only problem that could arise that would hamper this change would be athletic commission opposition. The Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctions the exhibition fights in The Ultimate Fighter, so the NSAC apparently doesn’t have any objection to adding an extra round. However, Ultimate Fighter fights are only two five-minute rounds, with overtime rounds only coming after the fighters have fought to a draw in the first ten minutes, which might lead to the athletic commissions opposing the idea.
I don’t see anything wrong with adding another round. If you are on the other side of the fence (the wrong side), I’ll ask you this: What would be more exciting than watching two fighters compete in a “winner take all” round? Nothing, that’s what. Ask any fighter, if it came down to a draw or fighting another round, I would bet the house they would all choose another round. If the NSAC will approve the change, others will surely follow.
Dana White wants it to happen, the fans want it to happen, and I highly doubt any fighter would object. While this won’t eliminate draws completely (overtime rounds could possibly still end as a tie), adding an overtime round is the perfect way to limit the amount of draws, and it should be implemented sooner rather than later.
5 Comments
Oh, I agree 100% on the scoring. It's horrendous. Either that, or the judges need to do a better job.
Actually, probably both.
But to your point about "You have a 10 point system yet use only 3 points," that'll probably never happen. 10-9 is showing up and actually fighting. 10-8 is getting owned, but still there (ala Edgar/Maynard 2 round 1). To get a 10-7 in either boxing or MMA you basically have to kill someone in the ring/cage…in which case, they fight should've been stopped.
Oh, I meant 10, 9 and 8 (not 7)
And while I understand how the award points, i disagree with it.
The problem is that in boxing they have 12 rounds, so it is ok to have 1 point difference only in each round.
But for MMA, you gotta give more separation. For instance, let’s say the refs got it right and gave Jardine the round (but on a close round) – so 10-9 plus the point deduction.
If Mousasi dominated the next round (like he did), then it should count as more than 10-9. this way, by dominating more than “a close round”, he had hopes to win not “max a tie”.
Examples like these are many. See Rampage & Machida. The last round could have been a 10-6 Machida. That would offset the 2 10-9 that Rampage got for doing nothing (but showing aggression) on the first 2 rounds.Machida would have won despite losing 2 close rounds. Because we both know he beat the hell out of Rampage on the third round…
And this would open a bigger setting in MMA, where even if you win 2 rounds by 10-8, you could still lose if you got tired and the other fighter beats the hell out of you.
Because as it is, most fighters can simply coast to victory by marginally being better in the first 2 rounds… for example, Like BJ did to Fitch.
Solve this and you will have more exciting fights, and give hope to fighters that losing 2 rounds doesn’t mean nescessarily “end him or you lose” while the other fighter has to merely survive to get minimum a tie (if judges would be brave enough and award a 10-8).
I would take the opposite side on this.
The problem IMO is not the tie within itself. I trully believe some fights deserve to end in a tie.
What I hate is the bad judging that sets the fight as a tie. See in Mousasi & Jardine fight. This should not have been a tie, point deduction or not.
The problem is the scoring on this fight. You have a 10 point system yet use only 3 points. Fix this and you will see less possibility of ties in MMA.
here. Just for you
My solution to this
http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/823665-mma-scoring-system
Read it. I’ve come to the conclusion that you stole my Jardine pic.
No, but your scoring system is good, but you would have to take it down to 5. Just make judges use numbers less than 8.
I also think it’d help to educate the judges that just because you are on bottom, doesn’t mean you a losing. Takedowns are scored way too heavily.