Can There Be A 9-9 Round? Understand Scoring in MMA & Boxing

There cannot be a 9-9 round in MMA & Boxing. This is because they follow a 10-point must-scoring system. Both fighters are ranked in number between 7-10 depending on their dominance for each round. Judges score each round individually, on a 10-point score. 

Basically, the player performing better and winning the round gets a score of 10. Meanwhile, the opponent losing the game gets a score of 9 or less. The score of the round loser can be 9, 8, or 7 depending on how dominant the winner was.

In both MMA & Boxing, three judges get assigned to score the match.  

As someone who’s passionate about MMA and grew up watching boxing, the scoring system in these combat sports have always fascinated me. While they may share some commonalities; there still exist large differences. 

So, without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the scoring in MMA & Boxing. 

The point system in Boxing & MMA works as per the10- point scoring system. Three judges would be seated at ringside to watch the fight up close. Those judges are approved by the same authority that licenses the fights and when possible, are usually from a neutral location compared to the contestants. 

Boxing & MMA have different parameters when it comes to point systems. These differences are mentioned below:

Point system in Boxing & MMA

The modern boxing and MMA systems work on a ‘’10 point must system’’. The basics of the point systems are below (they vary slightly in boxing and MMA but generally the same):

• The judges award points on a scale of 10. The majority of rounds will end 10-9, with the more powerful boxer receiving 10 points and the other 9.
• A boxer loses a point when he is knocked down. If the player gets knocked down twice, he loses two points. If both fighters get knocked down, the knockdowns cancel each other out.
• A judge can still score that round 10-8 if a fighter completely dominates a round but is unable to score a knockdown. However, it’s quite uncommon. 
• Judges can award a 10-10 round if they believe that the game was entirely even and there was nothing between the fighters.
• The referee has the authority to deduct one or two points for an intentional foul. He can do the same for unintentional fouls but the players would be given a warning before. 

Point Outcomes in Boxing and MMA

In both boxing and MMA, judges evaluate the fight and can result in outcomes below:

1. Unanimous decision. All three judges vote for the victory of the same fighter.
2. Majority decision. Two judges scored a win for the same fighter, while the third one scored a draw.
3. Split decision. Two judges scored a win for one fighter and one judge scored a win for another fighter (opponent).
4. Technical decision. This is a  very rare case. It happens when one fighter is unable to continue because of an unintentional illegal shot. The referee stops the fight and sends the decision to the judges.
5. Unanimous draw. All three judges scored the bout as a draw.
6. Majority draw. Two judges score a draw, but the third judge scores a win for one of the players.
7. Split draw. One judge scored it a win for one fighter, one judge scored it a win for another fighter, and the third judge scored it a draw.
8. Technical draw. The fight closes in the same manner as in the above-mentioned technical decision scenario, prematurely, but the judges scored it as a draw.

Also Read: Consequences Of Hitting The Ref In UFC & Boxing (+ Videos)

Points in Boxing & MMA are scored by evaluating various forms and techniques used by players as per the guidelines. Naturally, boxing & MMA have different parameters based on which decision will be made. 

Scoring Points In Boxing

These are the aspects that judges look for while scoring points in boxing. 

1. Effective aggression: Aggression implies the impression of dominance. However, the aggression isn’t considered effective unless the boxer is landing shots and not frequently getting countered. Judges seek effective aggression where the aggressor consistently lands his punches and avoids those from his opponent.
2. Ring Generalship: Judges evaluate the fighter who controls the action and enforces his will and style. 
3. Defense: Here the judges will evaluate the fighter’s slipping, parrying, and blocking punches.
4. Smooth Punches: Judges look for hard and clean shots that land clean. 

Scoring Points in MMA 

These are the aspects that judges look for while scoring points in MMA. 

1. Effective striking and grappling: This is evaluated on the basis of a number of legal strikes landed, and the execution of a number of takedowns and reversals. 
2. Effective aggressiveness: The judges are looking to see fighters displaying attempts to finish their opponent and not just move around with them and rack up the strike count.
3. Control of the fighting area:  Here the judges are looking for a fighter that is controlling the centre of the cage and pushing the opponent outwards (against the cage). So, the fighter that dictates the pace and rhythm of the fight and chooses where the fight takes place, wins here. 

Martial Art Bout is scored 9 or 10 because a 10-point must system seems more efficient than other scoring alternatives such as the five-point must system. the Pancrase, and Ippon scoring systems. 

With a 10-point must system, the winner of the round gets 10 points and the loser receives nine or fewer points. 

Each participant in Pancrase starts the bout with a set number of points. They can lose points if they are trapped in a submission but manage to get to the ropes to escape, or if they are thrown to the ground. This means the fighter who had the most points left at the end of the bout would win. 

This can affect judgement as it would allow fighters to bite time and win over a decision. 

The Ippon scoring system implies ‘’one whole point’ ’Instead of scoring a bout round-by-round, it is scored overall at the end of the bout. This all makes a 10-point must system more efficient and applicable.

Also Read: Red Vs Blue in MMA (UFC) & Boxing: What’s The Meaning?

There cannot be a 9-9 round in boxing & MMA. This is because both boxing & MMA  evaluate their score under the 10 point must scoring system. Three judges score each round individually, giving 10 points to the winner of the round and 9 or less (8 or very rarely 7) based on how dominant one fighter was in a particular round. The round can also go 10-10, but it is uncommon.

There has been a 10-7 round in MMA but not in boxing. In boxing, two or three knockdowns can lead to a 10-7 round whereas in MMA a fighter receives 10-7 when he completely punishes their opponents with powerful attacks and strikes. 

The only 10-7 round in the history of MMA was in a fight between Forrest Petz and Sammy Morgan at Ultimate Fight Night 6. Petz got victory via unanimous decision with one of the judges scoring the fight 30-23 including the only 10-7 round in UFC history.

There have been 10-10 rounds in boxing & MMA. In the 80s, when Roberto Duran fought Sugar Ray Leonard, all of the judges scored a bunch of 10–10 rounds. Similarly, the first round of the Woodley-Thompson fight had a 10-10 round in MMA.

You can appeal in boxing. Any fighter wishing to appeal a decision of an LBC Hearing Panel can appeal the decision to the USA Boxing National Judicial Committee.

The appeal must be filed within thirty(30) days of the date of the decision that is being appealed. The cost of filing an appeal to the National Judicial Committee is $100.00

Boxing decisions cannot be overturned. The whole purpose behind a three-judge point system was to prevent any one person from having the power to decide the winners and losers of any match.

Public outcry might happen regarding the decision of any fight but that wouldn’t cause any results to be overturned.