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ASK THE TORCH: Amadi answers reader questions about MMA judging, out-of-shape pro fighters
Nov 25, 2011 - 8:45:29 PM ASK THE TORCH: Amadi answers reader questions about MMA judging, out-of-shape pro fighters

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By: Jason Amadi, MMATorch Columnist

Matthew writes: My question is how do the judges score the rounds?

A: An MMA scorecard is pretty much a table with seven columns and enough rows for a twelve round boxing match. The center column has the number of rounds and the three columns to the left and right are designated for round scores, deducted points and net points.

When people discuss how judges “score” certain aspects of a fight, there is no actual numerical value officially placed on takedowns, time spent in the clinch, near submission attempts or anything like that. Officially, all that gets scored are who, if anyone, the judges thought won the round and by how much.

Judges score rounds based upon effective striking, effective grappling, and cage control/ring generalship. Though, given some of the lousy scorecards we've seen in the past, we know some judges don't even know those things when they see them.
 
Austin from London writes: Why do some top tier MMA fighters still appear to be out of shape? And somehow get away with it?! Examples include Shogun Rua, Cain Velasquez, Lyoto Machida, and B.J. Penn. These guys look nothing like the shape GSP or Chael are in.

There is no getting around the fact that some athletes train harder than others, and as a result have a greater degree of physical fitness.

That being said, appearances tend to be deceiving. The fact is, chiseled physiques aren't the ultimate indicator of fitness in mixed martial arts. We often see hulking fighters fade early in a fight like Kyle Kingsbury did against Stephan Bonnar back at UFC 139. Conversely, there are guys like Cain Velasquez, who despite a relatively doughy physique, is one of the best conditioned athletes in MMA.

Then there are guys like Alistair Overeem who are betrayed by their bodies in the cage, regardless of how hard they train. As a lean light heavyweight, Overeem was still known to wilt in fights, and adding “40 pounds of whoop-ass” has done little to change that. Even Joe Lauzon, a career lightweight, hits his peak sometime after the first round. Conditioning is something that can always be improved upon, but some guys are better equipped than others.

However, the point that everyone seems to miss when it comes to cardio in MMA, is that getting beaten up is fatiguing. There isn't anything in this world that will fatigue the human body quite like taking a good beating. The way B.J. Penn wore out against Georges St. Pierre (in their second bout), Nick Diaz and Jon Fitch are all a result of them battering him. That isn't to say that Penn has never come into a fight out of shape, but we've seen even the best conditioned fighters wilt under those circumstances.

As for how these athletes get away with it poor cardio, the answer is relatively simple; MMA fighters aren't paid by the hour. The one thing that Rua, Lauzon, Overeem, and Penn have in common is that they all finish fights relatively quickly. Most get so caught up in the excitement of finishes that they lose sight of the fact that fighters do so out of self-preservation. Had Rua, Lauzon, Penn and Overeem not developed into brilliant finishers, they certainly wouldn't be where they are today.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @JasonAmadi. I answer questions just like this, but with 53% more snark.