Kansas' New Way Of Scoring MMA Fights Could Be A Game Changer

The Kansas Athletic Commission are set to trial 'real time scoring' for MMA fights starting in March.

ESPN have reported that the new method will allow fans and fighters to know the score at the end of every round.

Currently, scores are only made common knowledge at the end of a fight if it requires to be decided on points.

KAC boxing commissioner Adam Roorbach stated that the new method is entirely optional for any promoter who wants to use it.

Roorbach also went on to explain he doesn't understand the current method used by promotions such as UFC.

"I come from outside of the combat sports world," Roorbach said. "But I've been a sports fan my whole life. It always mystifies me why the fighters and fans don't know what the score is until the end. No one has ever given me a good explanation as to why."

All-women promotion Invicta FC will be the first to try the new system during the March 6 card in Kansas City.

Invicta promoter Shannon Knapp stated that the company are willing to trial the method which could help 'push the sport forward in a positive way'.

"If we can help in some way to push the sport forward in a positive direction, that's what we're about - we'll try."

The state of MMA judging has been heavily scrutinised in recent days following the Jon Jones vs Dominick Reyes fight.

Jones defeated Reyes in the main event of UFC 247 on Saturday night in controversial fashion.

'Bones' retained his light heavweight title via a 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 unanimous decision but fans and pundits alike believed Reyes should have been named winner.

Commentator Joe Rogan raged at the scorecard while UFC President Dana White conceded the scoring was 'all over the map'.

"The scoring was all over the map," White said at the post fight press conference per MMA Mania.

"Joe Silva, former matchmaker here, had it a draw. Kevin Iole hit me up, he had Jones 3-2. Going into the last round, I had Dominick Reyes 3-1 going to the last round.

"My kids are terrorizing me that the fix is in, 'How could this happen, Dad?, Reyes won that fight,' and the list goes on and on of people who are reaching out to me. So it's not like there's this landslide of people saying it was a robbery or whatever. People have it all over the place."

What do you think of the proposed rule change?

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Featured Image Credit: PA & UFC

Topics: Jon Jones, Dominick Reyes, UFC, MMA

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

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