MMA fans are still buzzing about the controversial scoring of the UFC 247 main event between Jon Jones and Dominick Reyes. Fighters, MMA personalities, and fans have taken the Texas Athletic Commission to task over their judging decision and have demanded change. While the Texas Athletic Commission is staying firm under their decision of judging, the Kansas Athletic Commission is going to try something new and potentially game-changing.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reports that as of March 1, the Kansas Athletic Commission will allow the option for “Real-time scoring” per the Kansas boxing commission’s Adam Roorbach. This means that after a round is over, the judges scoring of that round will be public knowledge to everyone including the fighters, the corners, and the broadcast team. This presents transparency that has not been seen before in MMA and can set a trend for other commissions.
MMA fans will not have to wait long to see how it will work. Invicta FC, the all-women fight promotion will host an event on March 6 in Kansas City. ESPN spoke with Invicta FC promoter Shannon Knapp about using open scoring, to which she said: “If we can help in some way to push the sport forward in a positive direction, that’s what we’re about — we’ll try.” The use of open scoring is optional and Roorbach stated the use of open scoring is to the “Use of real-time scoring is up to the promoter and the commission will be flexible to the promoter’s desires.” That means that it doesn’t have to be used at all, it can be used for certain fights or it can be used for every fight on the card.
Invicta FC’s Phoenix Series on March 6 will feature a one-night bantamweight tournament and title fight between Lisa Versoza and Julija Stoliarenko for the vacant bantamweight championship. It will be available to watch on UFC Fight Pass.