Larkin vs. Tumenov; Trying to Understand How it was Scored
1/4/2016
Written By: Scott Beers
Let’s take a look at the comprehensive rules when it comes to judging MMA, according to the UFC rules and regulations.
The 10-Point Must System will be the standard system of scoring a bout. Under the 10-Point Must Scoring System, 10 points must be awarded to the winner of the round and 9 points or less must be awarded to the loser, except for a rare even-round, which is scored 10-10. The rules do not indicate how even or close it has to be. Judges shall evaluate mixed martial arts techniques, such as effective striking, effective grappling, control of the ring/fighting area, and effective aggressiveness and defense.
Effective striking is judged by determining the total number of legal strikes landed by a contestant. Fighting area control is judged by determining who is dictating the pace, location, and position of the bout. Examples of factors to consider are countering a grappler’s attempt at takedown by remaining standing and legally striking, taking down an opponent to force a ground fight, creating threatening submission attempts, passing the guard to achieve mount, and creating striking opportunities. Effective aggressiveness means moving forward and landing a legal strike. Effective defense means avoiding being struck, taken down or reversed while countering with offensive attacks. A round is to be scored as a 10-10 round when both contestants appear to be fighting evenly and neither contestant shows clear dominance in a round. If a round ends with a relatively even amount of standing and canvas fighting, striking and grappling are weighed equally.
The rules state no difference between trauma to a specific part of a fighter’s body. It is fair to say that Larkin’s head received less damage than Tumenov’s leg; the leg was significantly damaged. Tumenov could barely walk after getting hit with 47 leg strikes, four of which were spinning-heel kicks to the thigh; a type of strike that has never been utilized this effectively in MMA. Larkin’s performance was a piece of art, shining brightly in a long hallway of dull paintings. Tumenov was your typical precise, yet wild boxer by comparison.
If you score these rounds based on total strikes alone, Larkin wins 2-1, or we could elect to use the official judging rules to score round one a 10-10, making the fight as a whole a draw. If you agree that Tumenov won, I’d like to hear from you as to how he did that when utilizing the judging rules to full capability.