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MMA News Today: Herb Dean Offers Statistical Justification For 10-8 Score In Close Rounds, UFC Warned They Could Be 'Shooting Themselves In The Foot' With Risky UFC 296 Match Up, & More

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For September 26, 2023, we’re taking a look at:

  • Herb Dean Offers Statistical Justification For 10-8 Score In Close Rounds
  • UFC Warned They Could Be 'Shooting Themselves In The Foot' With Risky UFC 296 Match Up
  • Rafael Fiziev Confirms Serious Injury Suffered In UFC Fight Night Main Event Against Mateusz Gamrot

Herb Dean Offers Statistical Justification For 10-8 Score In Close Rounds

Scoring a round as a 10-8 has been a big talking point in MMA over the last few years due to how much it can change a fight.

With judges being encouraged to score rounds this way more frequently, we've seen some big 10-8 round shifts in big fights as a result.

UFC Noche two weekends ago was a great example of this but it also pointed out the wide inconsistency of what constitutes as a 10-8 round.

In an interview with Helen Yee Sports, veteran referee Herb Dean spoke about what he believes to be the clearest definition and explained why judges are encouraged to score them more often than before.

"Well a 10-8 round, it's really difficult for one thing with a 10-8 round, you know, they want to make sure you know there's going to have to be some effect and someone having it one way.

Or another way of seeing it is where you see a fight could be potentially stopped, a potentially fight ending situation. That's another thing that can make a judge think 10-8 but the thing about it is, we used to give them out very rarely but we've moved and started giving out more 10-8s because, I mean, what's the most common score in this sport? The most common score is a 29-28." 

"We asked the commission to look at all the fights that have done to the scorecards, the most common score is 29-28 and that means we have a one point game so we have to have some difference there with these close fights."     

UFC Warned They Could Be 'Shooting Themselves In The Foot' With Risky UFC 296 Match Up

One match-up at UFC 296 has got fans questioning whether the UFC is feeding a veteran to one of their rising stars or they've underestimated a fighter who is near the end of his career.

On December 16 in Las Vegas, Liverpool's Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett will face his toughest opponent to date when he takes on Tony Ferguson.

The former interim UFC lightweight champion was once considered to be the bogeyman of the division but he now finds himself on a 6-fight losing streak. 

In a video on his YouTube channel, Henry Cejudo said that the UFC may have mis stepped in trying to give Pimblett the biggest win on his record.

"It's a fight that's a winnable fight for Paddy the baddy, I'm just trying to understand whether if Paddy the baddy loses to Tony Ferguson, does he lose a lot of that hype train? A lot of that buy, does he have against a guy like Tony Ferguson because right now, if I was to breakdown the match-up, I think when it comes to durability and willpower, I would give it to Tony Ferguson." 

"When it comes down to youth and maybe just want and desire, you give it to a guy like Paddy the baddy but stylistically, this fight is a freestyle fight because the way I see it, both these guys are freestyle fighters.

Call me crazy but I think the UFC could probably shoot themselves in the foot on this one, I really do. I think Tony Ferguson's a way tougher match-up than what people actually think."          

Rafael Fiziev Confirms Serious Injury Suffered In UFC Fight Night Main Event Against Mateusz Gamrot

Last weekend's UFC lightweight main event ended in disappointing fashion after Rafael Fiziev suffered an injury in the second round.

After kicking his opponent Mateusz Gamrot, Fiziev fell to the floor clutching his knee and the fight was waved off.

"Ataman" has now given an update on the injury, confirming that it is bad as it first appeared. 

On his Instagram, Fiziev thanks his supporters and confirmed in the caption that he has suffered a torn ACL which will likely keep him out of action for almost an entire year.

"I just wanna say thank you for all your support... I will be back," Fiziev said. "I’m just sad because I had a very great camp, and I was ready to show my best skills. And I’m sad because it happened only in the second round… We have plans, but God has different plans. His plan is always the best.”

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This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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