This isn't the first time MMA judging has come into question over the last oh, 3 years. I think I can provide in my first blog post since September, a reasonable solution to the controversy. First let me tell you know this is not going to recommend.
I don't think a requirement for being a judge is to only be an ex-fighter. While this does help, it certainly shuns off people who have handicaps and are disabled and physically are unable to fight, which never goes over well with the masses so while being a fighter in the past is a bonus, it should not be a requirement.
I think MMA Judges should have, if physically able to, train at a minimum of year in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Boxing, Muay Thai or a combination of one discipline that is based in striking and one that is based in Grappling. I think former and current boxing judges Tony Weeks, Adelaide Byrd should also be required to train in it. If they refuse, and they are in good physical condition to do, then their license should be revocated until they do so. In fact in MMA we need judges who are specific to MMA judges and not come from a background in Boxing. I understand when the UFC was first starting to gain support, we needed judges from somewhere and Boxing was a natural crossover. MMA is growing bigger everyday with Events on 6 continents every year and the increased number of eyeballs means the judges, fighters, officials all become under even greater scrutiny when something goes wrong. There is no doubt about, Nam Phan clearly won the fight vs. Leonard Garcia and any argument to the contrary is mis-guided, bias, or incompetent.
I think Keith Kizer's lack of a major response to this or even an admission of there being a problem means this won't be the last time there will be a controversial decision. Bad Decisions are going to happen until Boxing Judges who judge MMA are weeded out or evolve. Boxing is not MMA and MMA is not Boxing. Boxing is a facet of MMA but there is so much more. Here are some things that I could help judges.
1) Make a decision about a fight, stand by it. Even under the most intense scrutiny I think if a judge like NFL, MLB sports officials who make controverisal calls face the music and answer their critics, and can properly back up why they made that call, while we as fans will still disagree, we can appreciate the fact that they stood by their call.
2) Bring some blank paper, and write down keys things that happen each round that support why you gave that round to Fighter A or Fighter B. If say in this case of Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan, you scored his takedowns siginifcantly, write it down. If you scored the knockdown by Nam Phan in the 2nd as significant write it down. in 5 Minute Rounds a lot can happen and sometimes it can be hard to remember it all.
3) MMA Judges and Referees should speak to the MMA media more often. This helps bridge the current perception of even remote forms of corruption.
4) I think we as MMA fans who are tired of seeing such crappy decisions we need to step up and become officials and judges in the sport we love so much. If you have the means to do so and choose not to, then you are part of the problem and not the solution.
5) I think Judges that constantly deliver head scratching decisions need to be relieved of their duties. I am going to pick on Tony Weeks just for a minute. He obviously was one of two who gave Leonard Garcia the win. Here are some other fights that he delivered a head scratcher or two.
Evan Dunham vs. Tyson Griffin UFC 115, He gave the fight to Tyson Griffin.
Matt Hamill vs. Keith Jardine UFC TUF Finale 11 He scored the fight a draw 28-28.
Antonio Noguiera vs. Jason Brilz UFC 114, He Scored the fight 29-28 for Little Nog
Karen Darabedyan vs. Rob Mccullough WEC 44, He scored the fight 30-27 for Razer Rob.
Urijah Faber vs. Mike Brown WEC 41, He scored the fight 48-47 for Mike Brown when both Sherdog and MMAJunkie scored it at all 49-46 for Brown
This shows to me that he has difficulty scoring fights using the MMA 10 point Must system.
He either needs to revamp and evolve or stick to just boxing.
Thanks for taking the time to read please post some feedback if you felt I left something out
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