OKTAGON MMA, a European-based promotion, has announced the decision to implement open scoring for all matches, starting with the Octagon 51 event in Prague on December 29, 2023. Open scoring provides transparency as judges’ scores are made public after each round. Fighters, coaches, and fans will have a better understanding of how the fight is progressing.
The promotion believes open scoring is a step toward greater transparency in MMA judging. Some critics argue that there can be fewer action-packed bouts when fighters know they have an advantage, but OKTAGON MMA co-founder Pavol Neruda believes that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. He emphasized that open scoring could change match strategy and create more excitement for both fighters and fans.
The new scoring system will be on display at OKTAGON 51, headlined by UFC veterans Bojan Velickovic and Andreas Michailidis in the welterweight tournament finals. This promotion plans to continue to use open scoring for all future events.
Invicta FC is currently the only major U.S. promotion to consistently employ open scoring, subject to state athletic commission approval. OKTAGON MMA’s decision to adopt open scoring marks a significant move in the European MMA scene, with the promotion aiming to provide a unique and transparent experience for fighters and fans alike.
Pavol Neruda expressed his excitement at being the first European organization to introduce open scoring and believes this is the right step for the sport. Special graphics will be incorporated into the production of live events and broadcasts to showcase the score to the audience and contribute to a new level of excitement for MMA fans. This decision was influenced by past fights, such as the one between Carlos Vemola and Patrick Kinkle, where knowing the scorecard in real time may have influenced the fighters’ strategies. OKTAGON MMA hopes that open scoring will contribute positively to the overall quality of the event.
70
/ 100