Joe Rogan calling out judges for not watching the fight for 30 seconds. This is bad. That’s a problem. I’m sure it happened in the main event too. #UFC247 pic.twitter.com/1Qtgk6Jb3U
— ScodaEnterprises32 (@ScottyStyles29) February 9, 2020
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3049861/ufc-247-joe-rogan-and-dominick-cruz-outraged Mixed Martial Arts
UFC 247: Joe Rogan and Dominick Cruz outraged at judge ‘literally not watching’ on live broadcast
- UFC commentary duo Rogan and Cruz call out judge ‘looking down at the floor’ during undercard fight
- Rogan says MMA judging is ‘a giant issue’ as Cruz calls for more transparency in judging system
Jon Jones sits on the Octagon fence as Dominick Reyes celebrates following their light heavyweight title fight at UFC 247 in February. Photo: AP
UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Dominick Cruz were left outraged after noticing one of the judges was not even watching a fight at UFC 247 on Saturday night.
In a Texas card already marred with judging controversy, the pair called the judge out on the live broadcast during an undercard fight between women’s flyweights Lauren Murphy and Andrea Lee.
“We’re looking at a judge who’s literally not watching the fight. This is insane,” said Rogan, who also took issue with the judging in the Jon Jones vs Dominick Reyes event headliner.
“The judges just don’t even watch. They’re looking down at the floor. Insane,” added former bantamweight champion Cruz. “It’s gonna be tough for the fighters tonight to figure out to win a decision.”
After seconds of silence – presumably distracted by the distracted judge – Rogan exclaimed: “This is crazy, he’s still not watching the fight.”
Murphy ultimately won the fight via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27), further compromising the legitimacy of the accused judge’s decision-making.
After #UFC247, @joerogan and @DominickCruz call for reform to fight scoring and judging pic.twitter.com/Mc1fI0eD7j
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 9, 2020
Rogan and Cruz reflected on the event and the sport itself upon the broadcast’s closing, calling for major changes in the judging system and its transparency.
“It’s unfortunate because it’s one of the biggest sports in the world,” Rogan said. “And incompetent judging and a poor system.
“If we got together the best minds in mixed martial arts and the best journalists and fighters, and they try to figure out a way where we can agree on some sort of scoring system that makes more sense. It would be nice,” he added.
UFC president Dana White joined Rogan’s criticism of judge Joe Soliz for concluding “insane” scores for the Jones vs Reyes fight. The judge in question for the Murphy vs Lee fight was not named by Rogan or Cruz. White also told BT Sport that the UFC has “had problems with Texas” and he “hates to see that stuff happen”.
“Clearly there’s a giant issue with people judging that really don’t understand martial arts. They have judged boxing. Boxing you’re dealing with two weapons – a variety of ways of using them – but two weapons. With [MMA] there’s just so much more to it,” Rogan said.
Cruz added: “We need to work together with these commissions and they gotta let us in. They won’t let us, they want to control everything and that’s the issue. Why can’t we work together towards one common goal of creating an amazing sport. That’s what we need to do. We’re all one.”