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Click Debate: How will the new judging criteria affect how MMA bouts are scored?

Get ready for more 10-8 rounds in mixed martial arts. At least that is the expected effect of new judging language that will be implemented beginning this month.

The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) approved a cleaned-up version of MMA scoring criteria at its annual conference back in August and the new criteria was adopted officially as part of the sport’s Unified Rules Jan. 1.

The goal for the change was two-fold: make the scoring language clearer and open the door for more 10-8 rounds.

Under the new criteria, judges are asked to look at three characteristics during a round — impact (or damage), dominance and duration — in order to determine if it is a 10-8.