Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, Kayla Harrison debate merits of open scoring

LAS VEGAS – The idea of open scoring has come to light after some controversial decisions last month at UFC 247.

Invicta FC took initiative by implementing open scoring in its most recent event, which saw Julija Stoliarenko win the 135-pound title in a bloodbath with Lisa Verzosa.

During a recent Dominance MMA media day, a few champions were asked about their thoughts on open scoring and the perks of implementing it in MMA. UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov says while he sees advantages of open scoring, it can affect a fighter’s mentality while competing.

“For example, open score, first round is very close, and judges give for blue corner, and red corner doesn’t agree with this and not all fighters very strong mental,” Nurmagomedov said. “Sometimes he can go with his corner or with judges like, ‘Hey, what are you talking about, guys? I beat this guy.’ Like inside the fight, it can happen like maybe some fighters, first two rounds he lose, he can say, ‘OK, I’m out. I don’t want to fight no more.’ It’s like little bit dangerous, too.”

Nurmagomedov’s main issue, however, is not so much whether you know the score or not, but who’s judging the fights.

“I think in MMA, we have a lot of judges from boxing, and they don’t understand MMA,” Nurmagomedov said. “But I think we a have a lot of veterans. We have to teach them a little bit and put them like judges because a lot of guys don’t understand like wrestling, they don’t understand grappling, they don’t understand clinch. They know only like boxing, and that’s why I think we have to bring a lot of veterans and like MMA veterans … who understand MMA.”

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman notched his first title defense in a thriller at UFC 245, where he stopped Colby Covington late in the final round.

One judge had Usman up, the other had Covington, and the third judge had it tied at two rounds apiece, but Usman likes the concept of suspense, especially going into the later rounds.

“That element of being in the dark and not knowing, like he (Nurmagomedov) mentioned,” Usman said. “Fighters might not be mentally as strong as others, so having that little bit of hope of not knowing what the score is, even if the fighter lost the first two rounds, just having that little bit of hope. ‘You know what, I can still win this and go out there and give it all in the third round.’

“How many fights have we seen where a guy finishes someone with a second left or 10 seconds left. I think open scoring could potentially work, but also it could hurt that little bit of hope that fighters may have going into that last bit of the fight. And, plus, it takes away from the suspense.”

PFL lightweight champ Kayla Harrison admits that she doesn’t know much about open scoring, but likes the idea of a fighter knowing where they’re at in a fight, especially when the judges can determine your fate.

“It shouldn’t be suspense who’s winning. Like, you should know who’s winning a fight,” Harrison said. “The judges shouldn’t be able to make those calls based on personal choices or whatever. If you are watching a fight, and you know the score, it should be clear-cut who’s winning the fight so it shouldn’t be a mystery. I mean, how many times have you been watching a fight, and you’re thinking that one guy is winning, and then all of a sudden the judges pull out the scorecard, and you’re like, ‘What? I never saw that coming.’

“That should totally be eliminated from the sport. I don’t know if open scoring is the way to do it, but that drives me nuts.”