During the recent UFC 305 event in Perth, Australia, a judging controversy unfolded that left fans and experts alike scratching their heads. The incident occurred during the heavyweight fight between Tai Tuivasa and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, where judge Howie Booth submitted a highly questionable scorecard.
Despite Rozenstruik ultimately winning the fight by split decision, with two judges scoring in his favor, Booth's scorecard of 30-27 in favor of Tuivasa raised eyebrows for its glaring inaccuracies. Rozenstruik dominated the fight with superior striking, outlanding Tuivasa 91-37 over three rounds and holding a significant striking advantage in each round.
Booth's scorecard was swiftly deemed unacceptable, leading to his removal from judging duties for the remainder of the event. This decision was met with widespread agreement from fans and experts, who found the scorecard to be inexplicable given the clear performance of Rozenstruik.
Following this incident, judge Charlie Keech also faced scrutiny for his scorecard, particularly for awarding the first round to Tuivasa despite statistical evidence favoring Rozenstruik's performance.
While the judging controversy marred the event to some extent, the fighters themselves delivered memorable performances. In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France secured a quick TKO victory over Steve Erceg in the first round, showcasing his impressive power and skill.
Overall, while the judging mishap drew attention, the fighters' efforts shone through, providing fans with thrilling matchups and exciting moments. The UFC 305 event in Perth will be remembered for both the action inside the Octagon and the unexpected judging drama that unfolded.
