In the fast-paced world of mixed martial arts, the scoring criteria and judging decisions have always been a topic of heated debate. One of the most contentious aspects is the concept of ‘significant strikes’ which plays a pivotal role in determining the outcome of a fight. These strikes, which define pivotal blows carrying weight and impact, hold the expectation of influencing the judges’ decision-making process. However, UFC reporter Laura Sanko has recently illuminated an intriguing and contradictory discrepancy between the statistical definition of significant strikes and their evaluation in the Octagon, creating a vastly different perception of the fight’s outcome for spectators.
In her thought-provoking revelation, Sanko has uncovered a glaring discrepancy between the statistical definition of strikes and their evaluation within the Octagon. While fans may assume that significant strikes denote powerful blows that visibly harm the opponent, the statistical definition takes a broader and somewhat perplexing approach.
Laura Sanko debunks a wild UFC theory
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During an interview with the former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub, the UFC heartthrob opened up about the information that left her dumbfounded.
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Speaking with Schaub, the 40-year-old noted, “The thing that blew my mind- I had no idea, I had never heard before, not to do with judging, but sort of interrelated. The statistics that the UFC for significant strikes. Every single strike at distance is considered significant. It can be the lightest jab, the lightest distance finding jab ever, it’s significant. I don’t know why. But for whatever reason, that is how they define it.”
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“It makes no sense to me that it counts a distance finding jab as significant, but the judges are specifically, ‘No no, we only judge on damage’. Like, those two, those are polar opposite things”, she further stated.
Only by aligning the statistical definition of significant strikes with the judges’ interpretation can the MMA community hope to mitigate controversies and deliver fair verdicts that resonate with fighters and fans alike.
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What are your thoughts on this? Did you know about this fact as to what is considered a ‘significant strike’? Let us know your thoughts on the same in the comments below.
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