Over the years, UFC’s head honcho Dana White has consistently imparted a key lesson to his fighters- never leave a fight in the hands of the judges. But despite his efforts to encourage exciting finishes, many fights inevitably reach the final bell – much to White’s frustration. This is when judges are tasked with determining a winner.

However, this process can be contentious, especially when judges lack a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies. Recently, in the UFC Women’s Flyweight title bout between former champ Valentina Shevchenko and champion Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC, the controversy reached new heights when the bout was declared a split draw. What’s more – ever since this bewildering turn of events, fans have been in a state of frenzy. So what does it mean for the community and the two fighters? Before we get into that – let’s try to understand what a split-draw decision means.

What is the controversial split draw that unfolded at Noche UFC?

In the MMA universe, a split-draw decision materializes when the three judges overseeing a match diverge in their assessments. One judge may lean towards one fighter, another towards their opponent, and the third, in a rather unusual twist, deems the contest a perfect stalemate.

The recent UFC Noche event featured a closely contested main event between Alexa Grasso and ‘Bullet’, which ultimately ended in a split draw. In such cases, since there is no clear winner – both fighters walk away without a victory or a loss. However, the UFC Women’s flyweight title remains with the reigning champion, Alexa Grasso.

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What’s more – Dana White and Co. presented Grasso with a custom-made flyweight belt as part of her recognition and celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

When a split draw occurs, neither fighter is declared the winner, and the fight is officially recorded as a draw. In this case, it was referee Mike Bell who played the pivotal role. He scored this contest 47-47, taking the majority decision to a split draw.

How many split draws have been witnessed in UFC title fights?

In the year-old history of  Dana White’s UFC, there have been three title fights that ended in a split draw. Each of these clashes has its own tale – and it’s every MMA artist’s nightmare to go down this path, even once in their career.

B. J. Penn vs. Caol Uno: In 2003, UFC 41 was supposed to determine a new champion, with B. J. Penn facing Caol Uno in the final. Penn’s performance impressed many, but the judges had differing opinions. One judge favored Penn, another favored Uno, and the third judge scored it as a 48-48 draw. This unsatisfying result stalled the division’s progress. Ironically enough – a rematch never materialized.

Read More: “In a Fair Fight…” – MMA World Erupts as Valentina Shevchenko Questions Split Draw Over Champ Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC

Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard: Reigning lightweight champion Frankie Edgar entered the UFC 125 octagon with a high morale. But to his surprise – Gray Maynard took the first round of the bout with a dominating performance. Likewise, one judge scored it 10-7 in favor of Maynard. But the champ did not fall back! He rallied forward in the subsequent rounds – and even came close to finishing Maynard. But it was the official decision that shook Edgar to the core. This fight also concluded in a draw – but the two fighters had a memorable rematch later that year.

Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev: This fight’s decision remains one of the most bizarre split-draws in UFC history. Why? Well, in this iconic light heavyweight title bout, the judges declared a split draw – leaving both fighters unsatisfied. Typically, when a title fight ends in a draw, the UFC schedules or promises a rematch. However, in this case, Dana White and Co. made a surprising move. UFC opted to award the light heavyweight title to the winner of an already-scheduled bout between Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill. As expected, this twist left both Blachowicz and Ankalaev in dismay.

Fellow fighters reacted to the split draw at UFC Noche

The split-draw decision in the fight between ‘Bullet’ and Alexa Grasso surprised fellow fighters and fans alike. Within minutes of the official decision, social media flooded with opinions and reactions to the controversial decision. Here are some of the reactions from fighters:

Belal Muhammad chimed in with his humorous take on the decision, tweeting:

Conor McGregor praised the fight as an all-time classic in women’s MMA (WMMA) and expressed his amazement that it ended in a draw. He tweeted:

Jalin Turner expressed his thoughts, stating that a championship fight should have a decisive result. He tweeted:

What’s more – UFC’s official X page posted this tweet in the aftermath of the title clash:

Terrance McKinney playfully wrote:

While the split draw may have left some unsatisfied, it also serves as a testament to the sport’s competitiveness and the fighters’ resilience. As we reflect on this intriguing chapter in MMA history, one thing is certain: the debate surrounding judges and split decisions will continue to captivate fans and fighters alike, ensuring that the sport remains as unpredictable and thrilling as ever. What do you make of this split-draw decision by the judges? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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