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Dana White didn't mince words following UFC 307, as the UFC president unleashed a scathing critique of the judges and referees in the aftermath of two highly controversial split-decision outcomes. "I thought the judging tonight was atrocious," White said at the post-fight press conference. "I felt like I was at a boxing match in Ireland tonight."
White’s frustration stemmed from the co-main event where Julianna Peña secured a split-decision win over Raquel Pennington, and Mario Bautista walked away with a split-decision victory over UFC legend José Aldo. While fans and pundits were divided over the Peña-Pennington outcome, the Bautista-Aldo decision left many scratching their heads—White included.
Control Over Striking? Dana White Complains
The Aldo-Bautista fight showcased Aldo's elite striking, with the Brazilian clearly dominating the stand-up exchanges. Bautista, however, spent the majority of the fight shooting for takedowns. Despite never securing one, the judges seemingly rewarded Bautista for his “control” as he maintained grips and pushed Aldo against the cage repeatedly.
“It’s common sense,” White said. “When the guy keeps doing it, and is doing everything he can to not fight, and not win the fight, as a ref, you should break it up immediately. If he just did it three rounds in a row, and he keeps doing it, and they get there, and he doesn’t get the takedown, give him a couple of seconds, see if he gets the takedown and break it up.”
White’s frustration didn’t stop there, as he added, “If you’re judging on a guy if it’s control, if it’s this or that, if you’re not trying to fight, how do you win the fight? If you’re looking at attempted takedowns, what about stuffing the takedowns? Just madness.”
The fight left a bitter taste in the mouth of many fight fans, who believed Aldo’s defensive skills and ability to neutralize Bautista’s takedowns should have been prioritized over control time that led to no actual offense.
Should We Change the Way Fights Are Scored?
The UFC has long been subject to heated debates surrounding the current scoring system, which borrows heavily from boxing’s 10-point must system. In fights like Aldo vs. Bautista, where one fighter is clearly winning the exchanges but loses due to “control” that lacks significant damage or progression, it raises an important question—should we rethink how fights are scored?
One of the major criticisms is that control time against the fence or on the ground without advancing position or causing damage still counts in the eyes of many judges. But does it really reflect the spirit of a fight? As White pointed out, “When you can tell that the guy definitely doesn’t want to stand and strike and just wants to stall against the fence, yes, the refs, that’s their job. When they see it continually happening and the guy is not trying to win the fight, then you keep breaking them up.”
This isn’t just a matter of bad judging; it’s also about referees being proactive in preventing stalling tactics that detract from the overall excitement and competitiveness of the bout.
The Need for Active Referees
White emphasized that referees should play a more active role in keeping the fight moving. “I always think that the referees should be more active on that. 100 percent," White said. "Especially when somebody keeps doing it to stall.”
It’s clear that White isn’t just talking about tonight’s card but the broader issue of how referees manage fights when one fighter relies solely on stalling tactics. As the sport evolves, there’s a growing sentiment that referees should be given more discretion to break up clinches and grappling situations that don’t lead to any meaningful offense.
The Future of UFC Scoring
Should we overhaul the scoring system entirely? Should more weight be placed on offense, even if it’s defense against takedowns, rather than simply control time? These questions are not new, but UFC 307 has brought them to the forefront again.
As the MMA community continues to debate the best path forward, Fight.TV is here for it. Whether it's adjusting the scoring system to reward more dynamic action or empowering referees to break up stalling tactics, one thing is certain: something needs to change.
After all, no one wants to leave a fight wondering, "Did the right person actually win?"
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