Transparency in all elements of MMA is critical, and the promoters of OKTAGON MMA think that’s particular true when it comes to judging fights.
Open scoring is an idea that has gained traction and simmered as a discussion point in the combat sports space in recent years. Some organizations, such as the all-female Invicta FC, have tried the system over time, but it has yet to catch on at the highest level of the sport.
The budding OKTAGON MMA promotion, which is primarily based in Europe, thinks it’s the appropriate method and will introduce it for the first time in its final event of 2023, OKTAGON 51, on Dec. 29 in Prague, Czech Republic.
“We will be happy to be the first organization in Europe to do this,” OKTAGON MMA co-founder Pavol Neruda told MMA Junkie. “We think it’s the right thing. Really, our thinking is, ‘Why not?’ We don’t really understand why it is not open already. We think it will bring more excitement for the fighters and the fans.”
One of the primary arguments in favor of open scoring is that it provides knowledge to the athletes and cornermen. MMA judging can be unpredictable and inexplicable at times, so knowing exactly where you stand, either in a winning or losing situation, is empowering.
Neruda points to a particular fight between Karlos Vemola and Patrik Kincl at OKTAGON 43 in May that led him down the path of bringing open scoring into the fold.
“Vemola had this controversial fight with Kincl – five rounds, kind of boring, but he thought that the way he was fighting was winning him the fight, so he kept those tactics,” Neruda said. “If he had known he was losing (on the judges scorecards), it would have been a very different fight. I’m super excited to see how the fights play out with the fighters knowing where they stand on the scorecards.”
Neruda said the element of open scoring will be worked into the live event and broadcast production, and ultimately he’s confident it will be beneficial to the overall quality of the OKTAGON MMA product going forward.
“We have prepared special graphics so the crowd will be able to see how the scores are going,” Neruda said. “And we really believe that it will add a whole new level of excitement for the fans.”