It is Saturday night. The main event just ended. One fighter’s face is a crimson mask, swollen and bleeding, but he spent 15 minutes pressing forward. The other fighter looks fresh, having spent most of the fight backing up but landing sniper-like counters that snapped his opponent’s head back. Bruce Buffer reads the scorecards. “And new…”

Half the bar cheers; the other half screams “Robbery!” Welcome to the complex, often misunderstood world of MMA judging criteria.

For years, fans believed that lying on top of an opponent for five minutes guaranteed a round win. Today, that logic is as outdated as the VHS tape. Modern Mixed Martial Arts scoring has undergone a radical shift, placing a premium on one ruthless metric: Effective Damage (officially termed “Impact”).

If you want to understand why Sean O’Malley beat Petr Yan or why Dricus Du Plessis edged out Sean Strickland, you need to look beyond the takedown stats. This guide will decode the Unified Rules of MMA, explain the “10-Point Must System,” and show you why damage is the new king of the octagon.

The 10-Point Must System: The Foundation

Before diving into the nuances of damage versus control, we must understand the chassis this engine runs on: the 10-Point Must System. Borrowed originally from boxing, it is the standard scoring method used by the UFC, Bellator, and most major organizations worldwide.

The concept is simple in theory but complex in application:

• 10-9 Round: The most common score. One fighter wins the round by a close margin.
• 10-8 Round: A round where one fighter wins by a large margin. (We will break this down later).
• 10-7 Round: Total domination. The loser is overwhelmed and barely survives. These are unicorns—extremely rare.
• 10-10 Round: A round so even that there is absolutely no difference between the fighters. Judges are discouraged from using this score unless absolutely necessary.

Three judges sit cageside at different angles. They do not consult each other. They score each round in isolation. This isolation is why you often see “Split Decisions”—two judges see it one way, the third sees it another.

The Hierarchy of Scoring: Not All Actions Are Equal

Here is where 90% of fan confusion stems from. Many believe that if Fighter A lands 50 soft jabs and Fighter B lands 10 power punches, Fighter A wins on “volume.” Under the current MMA judging criteria, this is often incorrect.

The Unified Rules establish a strict hierarchy of criteria that judges must follow in order. You do not move to the second criterion unless the first is 100% equal.

1. Effective Striking / Grappling (Priority A)

This is the gold standard. It is the first and most heavily weighted factor. The rules define “Effective” as actions that have the potential to contribute to the end of the match. This means IMPACT.

A heavy leg kick that makes an opponent limp scores more than three light jabs that just touch the nose. A slam that knocks the wind out of a fighter scores more than a gentle trip to the mat. If one fighter has a clear advantage in damage/impact, the round is scored based on this alone. Aggressiveness and Control do not even factor in yet.

2. Effective Aggressiveness (Priority B)

Judges only look at this if—and only if—they deem the Striking/Grappling to be exactly equal. Effective aggressiveness means aggressively making attempts to finish the fight. Chasing an opponent around the cage without landing effectively does not count.

3. Fighting Area Control (Priority C)

This is the final tiebreaker. It is only assessed if Striking/Grappling AND Aggressiveness are 100% equal. This refers to who is dictating the pace, place, and position of the match. In modern MMA, it is incredibly rare for a round to be decided purely on control time.

“Effective Damage” Explained: Why Impact is King

The term “damage” is often used colloquially by Dana White and commentators, but the technical term in the rules is Impact. Why the distinction? Because “damage” implies visible injury (cuts, blood), which can be misleading. Some fighters bleed easily from scar tissue; others have skin like leather.

Judges look for actions that diminish the opponent’s energy, confidence, and abilities. This shift was monumental in recent history.

Case Study: Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan (UFC 280)

This fight is the perfect example of the “Damage vs. Control” evolution. Petr Yan secured six takedowns and had over five minutes of control time. In the old era (pre-2016 rule changes), Yan likely wins that fight comfortably.

However, Sean O’Malley landed the more damaging strikes on the feet, rocking Yan and cutting him open. The judges, adhering to the modern criteria, valued O’Malley’s immediate impact over Yan’s positional control. Yan was controlling the position, but he wasn’t doing enough with it to outweigh the damage he was receiving.

For a deeper dive into how different styles match up, check out Beginner’s Guide to MMA Styles and Rules.

The 10-8 Round: Defining Dominance

Another major source of confusion is the 10-8 round. Historically, judges were terrified to hand these out. Today, they are encouraged to use them when the criteria are met. But what are those criteria?

A 10-8 score does not require a fighter to be nearly finished. It requires a “Large Margin” of victory in the round, defined by three elements:

• Dominance: Is the fighter controlling the action and preventing the opponent from mounting any offense?
• Duration: Did this dominance last for a significant portion of the round?
• Impact: Did the dominance result in damaging strikes or submission threats?

If a fighter spends 4 minutes on top, raining down elbows and threatening a choke, that is a clear 10-8. If they spend 4 minutes on top just holding the position (often called “lay and pray”), it is likely just a dominant 10-9.

Control Time: The “Fool’s Gold” of MMA?

Many wrestlers and grapplers have had to adjust their game because “Control Time” is no longer a safe path to victory. If you take an opponent down but they elbow your head from the bottom while you just hold their waist, the fighter on the bottom is winning the damage battle.

Case Study: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 1

In their first epic encounter at UFC 284, Islam Makhachev had significant control time, taking Alexander Volkanovski’s back for long stretches. However, Volkanovski was punching backward, landing annoying shots to Islam’s head, and shouting at him.

While Makhachev won the decision, it was closer than the control time suggested. Why? Because holding a position without advancing toward a finish scores very low on the “Effective Grappling” scale. It serves as a placeholder—it prevents you from losing the round, but it doesn’t necessarily win it if the opponent is active.

Common Myths About Scoring

Myth 1: “To be the champ, you have to beat the champ.”

This is a romantic idea, but it is not a rule. Judges do not know who the champion is. They are scoring Fighter Red vs. Fighter Blue. A close round is a close round, regardless of who holds the belt.

Myth 2: “Takedowns score points.”

A takedown itself is merely a change of position. It scores very little if the fighter immediately pops back up. It scores highly only if it is a high-impact slam or leads to immediate ground-and-pound/submission attempts.

Myth 3: “Blood equals damage.”

As mentioned, a cut can happen from a glancing blow. Judges are trained to look at the effect of the strike. Did the legs wobble? Did the fighter retreat? Did their body language change? That is effective damage.

The Future of Judging

We are seeing a trend towards “Open Scoring” in some smaller organizations (where fighters see the score after each round), but the UFC remains resistant. For now, we rely on the three judges cage-side. Understanding the MMA judging criteria doesn’t just help you win debates at the bar; it changes how you watch the sport. You stop watching the clock and start watching the impact.

For more insights into the local and international fight scene, keep an eye on MMAailm.ee for the latest updates.

FAQ: MMA Scoring & Rules

Does a knockdown automatically win the round?

Not automatically, but usually. A knockdown is the highest form of “Effective Striking.” Unless the other fighter dominates the remaining 4:50 of the round completely, the fighter who scored the knockdown typically wins the round 10-9.

What is a split decision?

A split decision occurs when two judges score the fight for Fighter A, while the third judge scores it for Fighter B. Fighter A wins the bout. This usually happens in very close fights where subjective interpretation of “damage” varies.

Why do judges sometimes give 10-10 rounds?

They almost never do. The “10-Point Must” system essentially forces a judge to pick a winner. A 10-10 is technically possible if a round is perfectly even, but judges are trained to look for even the smallest advantage to award the 10-9.

Is MMA judging corrupt?

While fans often cry “robbery,” actual corruption is extremely rare. Most controversial decisions are due to incompetence or the inherent subjectivity of judging “damage” from a specific angle cage-side. A judge’s view might be blocked by a ring post or the referee.