UFC 308 kicked off with a welterweight showdown between Rinat Fakhretdinov and Carlos Leal. Originally scheduled to face Nursulton Ruziboev, Fakhretdinov had prepared for a completely different style, but sometimes fate throws a curveball, and that’s exactly what happened. His new opponent? UFC newcomer, Carlos Leal, took the fight on just a week’s notice!

While the fight was an action-packed affair, its conclusion has left the MMA sphere fuming at the judging of the fight. The bout may have ended, but the conversation is far from over with judge Hadi Mohamed Ali finding himself in the eye of the storm!

UFC 308 judging leaves fans fuming and judge Hadi Mohamed Ali under scrutiny

At UFC 308, Rinat Fakhretidinov found himself in a firefight with Carlos Leal. The Russian fighter was undefeated in the promotion coming into this matchup but the former PFL star, Leal, wasn’t going to make it easy for him. Leal’s striking was overwhelming at times, landing more significant blows and controlling the pace.

Yet, Fakhretdinov stayed true to his game plan. His grappling provided brief moments of control, particularly a key takedown in the first round. Still, Leal bounced back to his feet quickly, and it was clear that he wasn’t intimidated by Fakhretdinov’s wrestling pedigree. The tide of the fight seemed quite certain but then came the real shock—when the judges’ scorecards were announced.

The unanimous decision in favor of Fakhretdinov left fans, commentators, and even fighters scratching their heads. Leal had been the more active striker, especially in the first two rounds.  How, then, did the Russian fighter secure the victory? The answer lies in the controversial scorecards. Each judge saw the fight differently. Mike Bell gave the first and third rounds to Fakhretdinov, while Hadi Mohamed Ali awarded him all three rounds! David Lethaby, however, saw Leal winning the first round, giving the next two to Fakhretdinov. This wide discrepancy left many questioning the criteria used in MMA judging.

Scrutiny has especially fallen on judge Ali who scored the bout overwhelmingly in the Russian fighter’s favor with a 30-27 card that has drawn a massive uproar from the MMA sphere. Ali is a combat sports referee and judge and according to his official website, “I have received my MMA Officials training from the best in the world and renowned referee and Judge such as John McCarthy, Marc Goddard, Herb Dean and Kevin Mcdonald.”

Yet, this time, the decision has raised numerous questions, was this a case of poor judging? Or did Fakhretdinov’s grappling edge outweigh Leal’s striking volume in the eyes of the judges? After all, this is the second UFC card in recent months that has caused an outrage over the judge’s decision!

UFC CEO isn’t a fan of recent judging fiascos  

When Dana White speaks, the world listens—especially when he’s fuming. At UFC 307, the Octagon was buzzing with action, but it wasn’t just the fighters making headlines. White’s frustration with the night’s judging stole the spotlight, especially after two controversial decisions left UFC legends Jose Aldo and Carla Esparza on the wrong side of the scorecards.

When asked about the night’s judging at the post-fight press conference, White didn’t hold back. His voice echoed the frustrations of many as he bluntly stated, “I thought the judging tonight was atrocious. I felt like I was at a boxing match in Ireland tonight”

The main points of contention? Jose Aldo’s loss to Mario Bautista and Carla Esparza’s defeat at the hands of Tecia Pennington. The Brazilian legend, facing Bautista, found himself stuck in a clinch-heavy fight. Bautista used his wrestling to gain control but never managed to secure a takedown. Fans were left wondering: How can a fighter win without any significant offense? The UFC boss agreed as he pointed out, “If you’re judging on a guy, whether it’s control, if it’s this or that if you’re not trying to fight, how do you win the fight? And if you’re looking at attempted takedowns, what about stuffing the takedowns? Just, madness.”

With two UFC PPVs marred with controversial judging back-to-back, the integrity of MMA judging is once again under the microscope. Fans and fighters alike are left wondering if the system needs a serious overhaul. As Dana White continues to voice his frustration, the pressure mounts on officials to make changes. Will we see reforms in how fights are scored? Or will these decisions continue to leave fighters—and fans—feeling robbed? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!