With the UFC’s 2020 calendar now in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to look at what took place inside the Octagon this year from a betting perspective. We already went through the list of Shana Dobson and the top-10 biggest UFC betting upsets of the year, and now it’s time to go over some of the most controversial decisions. Using the list of the top-10 most popular decisions of the year from our friends at MMADecisions.com, let’s look at 10 of the most controversial judging decisions of 2020.
(Note: There are plenty of other controversial decisions that could have easily made the list, but we just used the top-10 most popular decisions over at MMADecisions to make the list easy to follow.)
No. 1: Jon Jones def. Dominick Reyes via unanimous decision, UFC 247 (02/08/20)
Judges scorecards’: 48-47 Jones, 48-47 Jones, 49-46 Jones
My scorecard’: 48-47 Reyes
It feels like ages ago that Jones fought Reyes, but yes, it was back in February in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic days where one of the most controversial decisions of the year took place at UFC 247. I truly believe Jones is the greatest MMA fighter of all time, but I thought Reyes did enough to beat him that night. It was a competitive fight, but I thought Reyes won the first three rounds. This decision generated a ton of controversy as many fans and media scored the bout for Reyes.
No. 2: Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero via unanimous decision, UFC 248 (03/07/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 49-46 Adesanya, 48-47 Adesanya, 48-47 Adesanya
My scorecard: 48-47 Adesanya
This was a pretty bad fight. Actually, of all 10 fights on the list, this was by far the worst fight of the bunch. Neither Adesnaya nor Romero wanted to engage at all in the striking, leading to a tepid, boring, drawn-out fight. Because there was so little going on it was somewhat difficult to score at times, but ultimately the judges gave it to Adesanya, who I agree edged out a 48-47 scorecard.
No. 3: Weili Zhang def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via split decision, UFC 248 (03/07/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 48-47 Zhang, 48-47 Zhang, 48-47 Jedrzejczyk
My scorecard: 48-47 Zhang
Zhang vs. Jedrzejczyk was a crazy war that was maybe Fight of the Year in 2020. It was one of those classic back-and-forth fights where you aren’t sure what the judges will say. Ultimately, the judges sided with a split decision victory for Zhang, and I agree with that. The damage that Zhang caused to Jedrzejczyk’s face was just too large to ignore and that’s why she won the decision.
No. 4: Alexander Volkanovski def. Max Holloway via split decision, UFC 251 (07/12/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 48-47 Volkanovski, 48-47 Volkanovski, 48-47 Holloway
My scorecard: 48-47 Holloway
I thought Holloway won this fight 48-47. This was one of the most controversial decisions of the year, especially since a title was on the line. I think Holloway should have won his belt back.
No. 5: Dan Hooker def. Paul Felder via split decision, UFC on ESPN+ 26 (02/22/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 48-47 Hooker, 48-47 Hooker, 48-47 Felder
My scorecard: 48-47 Hooker
I loved this fight between Hooker and Felder, and to me, it was one of those crazy wars that came down to the last minute of the last round. I thought Hooker won 48-47 but 48-47 Felder is fine, too.
No. 6: Robert Whittaker def. Darren Till via unanimous decision, UFC on ESPN 14 (07/26/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 48-47 Whittaker, 48-47 Whittaker, 48-47 Whittaker
My scorecard: 48-47 Whittaker
Of the 10 fights on the list, Whitaker vs. Till seemed to me like one of the most clear-cut decisions. It was one of those “close-but-clear” fights, and the judges agreed, but there was still a lot of chatter post-fight about the cards as there were still many media and fans who thought Till won the fight.
No. 7: Dan Ige def. Edson Barboza via split decision UFC on ESPN 8 (05/15/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 48-47 Ige, 48-47 Ige, 48-47 Barboza
My scorecard: 48-47 Barboza
This was another highly controversial decision. I thought Barboza won this fight based on the damage he caused to Ige and I think the judges overvalued takedowns. It’s a borderline robbery.
No. 8: Frankie Edgar def. Pedro Munhoz via split decision, UFC on ESPN 15 (08/22/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 48-47 Edgar, 48-47 Edgar, 49-46 Munhoz
My scorecard: 49-46 Munhoz
This was a highly-competitive, technical battle between two elite bantamweights in Edgar and Munhoz. Although I scored the bout 49-46 for Munhoz, the rounds were competitive. I value leg kicks a lot more I think than some, and Munhoz did a lot of damage with his kicks. Don’t get me wrong, this was a pretty close fight. But I personally believe the judges made the wrong call.
No. 9: Song Yadong def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision, UFC on ESPN 8 (05/16/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 29-28 Yadong, 29-28 Yadong, 29-28 Yadong
My scorecard: 29-28 Vera
This was a really close fight but I did think Vera did enough to edge out two rounds and win the fight. After a strong start, Yadong faded and Vera took over the fight. He should have won this decision.
No. 10: Stipe Miocic def. Daniel Cormier via unanimous decision, UFC 252 (08/15/20)
Judges’ scorecards: 49-46 Miocic, 49-46 Miocic, 48-47 Miocic
My scorecard: 49-46 Miocic
I thought this one was pretty clear for Miocic and the judges agreed by giving him the unanimous decision. Looking back it was surprising to see how many fans and media thought Cormier won. I thought Miocic won four rounds and two of the judges did as well. The right man got his hand raised.
Some interesting notes about the decisions that I noticed:
- Two of the top-10 most popular decisions took place on the same card, UFC 248.
- Six of the 10 decisions were handed out after the COVID-19 pandemic began in March.
- Five of the fights on the list were unanimous decisions and five were split decisions.
- Five of the fights were five-round title fights, three of the fights were five-round non-title main events, and only two were your standard three-round bouts.
- Seven weight classes were represented on the list: heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, featherweight, bantamweight, and women’s strawweight. Middleweight, featherweight, and bantamweight were all represented twice. The only men’s weight classes not to be represented on the list were flyweight and, surprisingly, welterweight. Women’s 125lbs, 135lbs, and 145lbs also didn’t see any fights featured on the list.
What would be on your list of the most controversial judging decisions of 2020?
