10 of the worst judging decisions in MMA history

MMA judges have a long history of scoring fights completely wrong and making terrible decisions. This has a huge impact on a fighter because a loss on their record can be a huge setback in their career. Their income is also impacted because fighters are often paid a bonus when they win, which is equal to the amount of money they would normally get to show up and fight. Over the years, bad judging has cost fighters millions of dollars in lost earnings and yet judges continue to make life changing bad decisions without facing any repercussions. Here is a list of some of the worst judging decisions in MMA history… [divider]

10. LYOTO MACHIDA vs MAURICIO RUA – UFC 104

Lyoto Machida was the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and came into this fight against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua as a 16-0 real life Ninja who looked unbeatable. Up until this fight, Machida had not lost a single round in an MMA matchup. Shogun had been doing well in Pride, but hardly anyone gave him a chance of beating Machida. Shogun ended up landing more strikes and outworking Machida over 5 rounds but it wasn’t enough to win the belt because the judges scored the fight in favour of Machida. [adrotate group=”15″]
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9. LEONARD GARCIA vs NAM PHAN – TUF 12 FINALE

Leonard Garcia has a very similar fighting style to Diego Sanchez. This means that his forward pressure and aggression often helps him to win decisions that he probably didn’t deserve. When Garcia fought Nam Phan back in 2010, he was clearly outstruck and Phan even knocked him down and had him badly hurt. At the end of the fight a dejected Garcia walked back to his corner with his head down, looking like a guy who knew he just lost a fight. Luckily for Garcia, the judges didn’t agree and they awarded him the split decision win. This result was a shock to everyone, including Garcia and it still goes down as one of the biggest robberies in UFC history. Click here to watch the Leonard Garcia vs Nam Phan fight on UFC Fight Pass. Picture courtesy of MMA Mania [divider]

8. CATHAL PENDRED vs SEAN SPENCER – UFC FIGHT NIGHT 59

Cathal Pendred has won a few controversial decisions inside the UFC, but his unanimous decision win over Sean Spencer has to be the worst. I have absolutely no idea how anyone could have scored this fight in favour of Pendred, because he was rocked badly several times and clearly outworked over 3 rounds. Dana White and Joe Rogan perfectly summed up the judges decision in the video below by saying that they just saw a man get robbed… Click here to watch the Cathal Pendred vs Sean Spencer fight on UFC Fight Pass. [divider]

7. MIKE EASTON vs CHASE BEEBE – UWC 7 REDEMPTION

Mike Easton was the UWC Featherweight Champion when he took on Chase Beebe in a 5 round title fight for his belt. Beebe used his wrestling to dominate 3 of the 5 rounds, but Easton still managed to win a controversial split decision. The judging decision was so bad that the Virginia State Athletic Commission launched an investigation into what happened. The commission came to the conclusion that there had been no wrong doing and the decision stood. This didn’t help Chase Beebe, but Mike Easton retained his UWC title and was signed by the UFC immediately after the fight. Picture courtesy of Bloody Elbow [divider]

6. MICHAEL JOHNSON vs BENEIL DARIUSH – UFC FIGHT NIGHT 73

Michael Johnson vs Beneil Dariush was a classic striker vs grappler matchup where the striker clearly came out on top. Johnson effortlessly stuffed all of Beneil’s takedown attempts and clearly outstruck him in 2 out of the 3 rounds. Beneil did enough to make the final round close, but the fight still should have been scored 30-27 in favour of Johnson and at the very least Johnson should have picked up a 29-28 unanimous decision win. Somehow, the judges scored the fight in favour of Dariush and this fight will go down as one of the craziest split decision robberies in UFC history. Click here to watch the Beneil Dariush vs Michael Johnson fight on UFC Fight Pass. [divider]

5. GEORGES ST PIERRE vs JOHNY HENDRICKS – UFC 167

The judges scored this fight in favour of George St Pierre, but almost everyone else disagreed including the UFC President, Dana White. I’ve watched this fight several times and I still have no idea how anyone could have scored it for GSP. Hendricks dominated the stand up exchanges and he even managed to rock GSP and score a few takedowns. After the fight, GSP’s face looked like he’d been in a car crash, whilst Johny Hendricks was almost untouched. This fight will go down as one of the biggest robberies in UFC history because the stakes were so high. GSP ultimately retired after this fight and Johny never got the opportunity to get his win back. [divider]

4. DIEGO SANCHEZ vs MARTIN KAMPMANN – UFC ON VERSUS 3

Martin Kampmann outstruck Diego Sanchez throughout the entire duration of this fight and stuffed 14 of 15 takedown attempts. At the end of the fight Diego had taken so much damage that his face was battered and bloodied beyond recognition. There was simply no way that anyone could have scored this fight in favour of Diego Sanchez and yet the judges awarded Diego a 29-28 unanimous decision win. [divider]

3. KEVIN RANDLEMAN vs BAS RUTTEN – UFC 20

The fight between Kevin Randleman and Bas Rutten lasted 21 minutes. It consisted of a 15 minute 1st round, with two 3 minute overtime rounds. Bas Rutten spent over 18 minutes of this fight on his back with Randleman dishing out vicious ground and pound from top position. Randleman easily took Rutten whenever he wanted to and he inflicted significant damage on Rutten throughout the entire duration of this fight. Bas Rutten hardly did anything off his back and got dominated for the whole fight. If you have never seen this fight, I highly recommend that you check it out. I still have no idea how the judges could have awarded Rutten with the win. Click here to watch the Kevin Randleman vs Bas Rutten fight on UFC Fight Pass. [divider]

2. MICHAEL BISPING vs MATT HAMILL – UFC 75

The fight between Michael Bisping and Matt Hamill took place in London and the British fans came out in force to support their British fighter. Bisping ended up letting down the fans by putting in a lack lustre performance and being dominated for 3 rounds. When the fight finished, Bisping looked very disappointed because he knew that he had lost. To his surprise, the judges ended up awarding him with a split decision win. The decision was so bad that it was even booed by the British fans who were there to support Michael Bisping. Click here to watch the Michael Bisping vs Matt Hamill fight on UFC Fight Pass. [divider]

1. DIEGO SANCHEZ vs ROSS PEARSON – UFC FIGHT NIGHT 42

The fight between Diego Sanchez and Ross Pearson took place in Diego’s hometown of Albuquerque and it was extremely one sided. Pearson effortlessly outstruck Diego in all 3 rounds and easily stuffed every take down attempt. There was literally no way that you could have scored this fight in favour of Diego and yet the judges still awarded him the split decision win. This decision was so bad that the UFC even paid Ross Pearson his win bonus. I believe that this was the worst judging decision in MMA history. [adrotate group=”15″]
 

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