It’s been more than a week since the UFC Noche event sent ripples down the MMA community. After the UFC women’s flyweight title clash between current champ Alexa Grasso and former champ Valentina Shevchenko was declared a split-draw, Dana White and Co. has faced a serious backlash from fight fans over the decision-making that went into this fight’s outcome. The entire brunt of this backlash fell directly onto Mike Bell, the infamous referee who scored the final round of the bout a 10-8, leading to the split draw.

Now, a UFC insider, who’s been part of the fight game for over 19 years, has shared his take on why 10-8 scoring is becoming prevalent in our beloved fight game. We’re talking about none other than UFC’s refereeing icon Herb Dean. What’s more – Dean has shed light on some startling insights on the decision-making process for fights. So, what does the iconic referee have to say? 

Herb Dean shares insights on the 10-8 scoring debate surrounding UFC Noche

Herb Dean recently starred in an interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee. During their discussion, Yee brought up the judging disparity at the UFC Noche event. Dean explained that scoring a round as 10-8 is a challenging task. 

Stating his POV, the renowned referee added, “Well, a 10-8 round – it’s really difficult! One thing with a 10-8 round is you know they want to make sure[it’s fair] – there’s going to have to be some effect. And someone having it one way or another way of seeing it is – where you see a fight could be potentially stopped – a potentially fight ending situation…”

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He emphasized that judges should only assign this score when there’s a clear and significant impact on the fight. He noted that a 10-8 round typically occurs when a fight is on the brink of being stopped due to one fighter’s dominance. On the other hand, UFC’s CEO Dana White has already voiced his distaste over this controversy, labeling the decision as a “total bullsh*t.” It remains to be seen as to what measures the UFC undertakes to avoid such disparity in decisions.

Iconic UFC referee’s take on the ever-evolving narrative of scoring UFC bouts

But what’s even more intriguing is Dean’s revelation about the evolution of scoring in MMA. He shared, “But the thing about it is – we used to give them out very rarely. But we moved [on] and started giving out more 10-8s because – I mean – what’s the most common score in this sport?” 

Dean pointed out that the most common score in MMA fights is 29-28, reflecting a narrow one-point difference. To address this pattern, judges have been encouraged to use the 10-8 score more liberally in close contests, thereby introducing greater scoring diversity.

In the aftermath of Alexa Grasso’s win, the question remains the same. How long will it take for the judges in the UFC to adapt to these nuances in the fight game? Well, after Chris Leben, a former UFC veteran, joined the UFC Vegas 79 event as a judge – fight fans have found some solace. But will we see more fighters transitioning into the role of a UFC judge? Only time will tell.

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

Keeping that aside, Herb Dean’s insights into the 10-8 scoring system provided valuable context for understanding its increasing prevalence in MMA. The desire for more decisive outcomes in closely contested fights has prompted judges to be more generous with 10-8 scores. This evolving approach aims to ensure fairness and accuracy in assessing the complexity of MMA bouts. What do you make of Herb Dean’s statements? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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