UFC President Dana White recently held a Q&A session with fans, providing a glimpse into the promotion's short-term goals and announcing several key matchups.
Judging remains one of the most controversial aspects of MMA and combat sports overall. To address this, there has been a growing call for 'open scoring,' which would let the fighters, their corners, and the audience see the scorecards at the end of every round. The idea is that this transparency would push fighters to take more risks in the final round to secure a win.
At the very least, transparency is something that could be seen around the octagon.
White is against this approach, mainly because he feels it would strip away the drama and anticipation for the fans before the final bell rings.
In a recent discussion, White explained that the current process—where judges deliver scores exclusively to Bruce Buffer—builds incredible tension as the audience speculates on the result. He believes that open scoring would destroy the unique electric atmosphere and thrill that defines a fight night.
Furthermore, Dana White is concerned that open scoring would encourage fighters to play it safe rather than fighting for a dramatic comeback.
White argued that if a fighter knows they are comfortably ahead after two rounds, they might simply avoid engagement in the third to protect their lead. He believes this would betray the spirit of the sport and frustrate the opponent. He noted that this 'coasting' behavior is already seen in boxing, where fighters sometimes avoid contact once they've secured enough points—a scenario he wants to keep out of the UFC.
Dana White admitted that the sport will never be perfect; there will always be controversial decisions that frustrate fighters or ruin a bet. According to White, those imperfections are part of the business, and the real joy comes from watching the battle and the anticipation of the final verdict.