Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk delivered thoroughly delivered in their rematch but the post-fight buzz wasn’t just about their performances—it was also about the judges. The Ukrainian picked up the win via unanimous decision with all three judges giving him the nod with a scorecard of 116-112. The decision was met with a barrage of controversy with many debating that the bout was much closer and Fury winning just four rounds against Usyk’s eight was downright bizarre.

The event also featured a groundbreaking twist with the inclusion of an AI-powered judging system, a novel concept in combat sports that had fans and pundits alike intrigued. UFC legend Michael Bisping weighed in on the fight and surprisingly backed the official decision. The former UFC middleweight champion shared his thoughts and expressed his surprise at how the AI system aligned with the judge’s decision. Speaking on the matter, Bisping said, “Oleksandr Usyk once again via decision… he clipped Tyson Fury, wobbled him. Tyson Fury had him hurt on a few occasions. It wasn’t like round nine of the first fight—it wasn’t as dramatic as that, but I tell you what.”

Bisping continued, “The judges, for once in boxing, got it right. All the experts had Oleksandr Usyk winning 116 to 112—Usyk, 8 rounds to 4 in favor of Fury. And that’s not one judge, not two judges, but all three judges. Even the AI judge had it that way.” Although the final scores aligned between the human judges (Gerardo Martinez, Pat Morley, and Ignacio Robles) and the AI system, there were notable differences in the rounds they scored. The judges agreed on five rounds (4, 5, 6, 10, and 11) but diverged on the other seven.

With this clinical performance, Usyk proved himself once again, retaining his WBO, WBA, and WBC heavyweight titles. Moreover, he handed Fury his second-ever defeat in an otherwise unblemished career. While Bisping praised the AI judging system for its accuracy, he also expressed some reservations about its continued use in combat sports. Although the AI’s score aligned perfectly with that of the human judges in this instance, Bisping raised concerns about the potential for technology to take over a process that has traditionally been left to human judgment.

Michael Bisping opens up about the inclusion of AI in combat sports 

Ahead of the highly anticipated Fury vs. Usyk showdown, Bisping discussed the unique aspect of the fight— the inclusion of an AI judge. During a live stream, Bisping shared his thoughts on the innovation, stating that it was an exciting step forward for boxing. “So apparently, for Fury vs. Usyk, they’re using an AI judge. I thought they were only going to use an AI judge, but they are having actual judges of course,” Bisping explained.

He expressed a sense of intrigue about the experiment, noting that AI judging could bring a fresh perspective to the sport. “They’re gonna use an AI judge as an experiment, so I like it. Innovative,” Bisping said, reflecting his appreciation for new technologies in the sport. He also acknowledged that boxing has had its share of controversial decisions over the years, and suggested that AI could offer a more objective and unbiased approach, free from human error or bias.

However, Bisping also raised a cautionary note about the potential risks of AI in combat sports. While he was enthusiastic about the innovation, he warned about the possibility of misuse if the technology fell into the wrong hands. “They could program something in there. They are going to at least experiment with it,” he said, underlining the need for careful oversight and ethical use of the technology.

Will this innovation enhance the integrity of the sport, or could it be prone to manipulation if not properly regulated? How did you score the Usyk-Fury rematch? Tell us in the comment section below!