MMA Judging Criteria

MMA judging evaluates fighters based on five main criteria: effective striking, grappling, control, aggression, and defense. Effective striking looks at the quality and impact of strikes landed. Grappling assesses takedowns and submission attempts. Control emphasizes who dominates the fight, either on the feet or the ground. Aggression considers a fighter's intent to engage and press the action, while defense evaluates how well a fighter avoids damage. Judges score rounds on a 10-point scale, typically giving 10 points to the winner and 9 or fewer to the opponent, unless a round is particularly one-sided.