The year was 2024. October 5th, to be exact. And Dana White had latched onto a word. “Atrocious.” It came flying out of his mouth at the post-fight presser like a haymaker. Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena? Mario Bautista vs. Jose Aldo? “It was atrocious”. That was the theme of UFC 307, and judging by the history of MMA officiating, White wasn’t exactly wrong.

But here we are, and guess who finally decided to do something about it? Another one of the Gracies. Brazil’s MMA scene just underwent a major shake-up, and it’s thanks to Rose Gracie, the newly appointed president of the Brazilian MMA Confederation (CBMMAD). Her first order of business? Fixing a glaring flaw. Making sure that the people responsible for scoring and refereeing fights actually know how to fight!

A recently issued CBMMAD circular made it clear. All judges, referees, and officials must have formal and proven training in combat sports disciplines. No more desk jockeys calling split decisions like they’re flipping a coin. This move aims to enhance fairness, safety, and the overall integrity of the sport. “This is a time when these changes are necessary for the integrity of the sport as a whole.”

But, this is happening in Brazil, a country that has long been a powerhouse in MMA. If you’re an aspiring fighter, CBMMAD is the gatekeeper to major IMMAF events and, potentially, a UFC contract down the road. This isn’t just about fixing bad calls. It’s about shaping the future of the sport. And with Rose Gracie at the helm, the emphasis on fighter protection and officiating standards is clear. So, if Brazil can clean up its act, why hasn’t Dana White done the same for the UFC? After all, he’s the big boss, right?

Does Dana White actually have any say in UFC judging?

Well, yes and no. Despite his frequent rants about judging, the UFC head honcho doesn’t actually control who sits cage side with a pencil and a half-baked understanding of effective striking. That power belongs to state athletic commissions, which oversee the appointment and licensing of officials. Of course, White has his ways. He’s been known to apply indirect pressure, publicly roasting terrible decisions until commissions are forced to take a second look.

Sometimes, it works—remember when he went to war over Jon Jones’ disqualification loss to Matt Hamill? White pushed for it to be overturned, arguing that the 12-6 elbow rule was outdated nonsense. And guess what? The rule eventually got changed. Then again, it took 15 years since that happening for the change to come into effect.

And there’s a limit to his influence. No matter where the UFC hosts its events, whether it’s Las Vegas, New York, or Salt Lake City, the responsibility for appointing judges falls on state athletic commissions. These commissions are the ones to oversee licensing and assignment. That is to say, the UFC has no direct control over who scores its fights. And despite decades of high-profile events, the quality of judging across multiple states has often been called into question rather than improved.

CBMMAD’s move feels like a direct response to the growing frustration with bad officiating, not just in Brazil, but across the entire sport. Could this be a blueprint for the rest of the MMA world? Maybe. Will UFC commissions suddenly start requiring all judges to have actual fighting experience? Unlikely—at least in the short run.

But it does highlight a contrast, while Dana White screams into a microphone, Rose Gracie is taking action. She’s bringing in expertise from her work with the Concussion Legacy Foundation, ensuring that officiating isn’t just about scoring a fight correctly but also about protecting fighters from long-term harm. As for the UFC? Unless White gains more control over commissions or athletic bodies start following CBMMAD’s lead, we might still be hearing about “atrocious” judging at UFC 400 and beyond. But hey, at least Brazil is getting it right.

So, what do you think Dana White should do next? Should he push harder for a change? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!