UFC
NSAC approves the use of cageside monitors for judges at UFC events beginning with UFC 130
May 20, 2011 - 6:10:46 PM NSAC approves the use of cageside monitors for judges at UFC events beginning with UFC 130

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The UFC is continuing to succeed in their efforts to provide MMA judges with an important tool during their events, as multiple published reports state that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has approved the use of monitors for cageside judges for future events, including this month's UFC 130 card.

The UFC submitted a request to the commission prior to their meeting this month to allow seven-inch monitors for judges at their events, and the commission gave their approval on Friday. The change in policy will go into effect next week at UFC 130, which airs live on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

According to reports, monitors will be in place for judges for all future UFC events in the state of Nevada. The organization has already had monitors in place for a few events in California, and have received approval as well in Vancouver for UFC 131 and in Philadelphia for UFC 133.

The monitors will be used as a supplemental tool for judges when the action in the cage is further away from them or if their view of the action is obstructed, as oftentimes the cameras provide a better angle of what is actually taking place in the cage. With it perhaps being easier for judges to get a good view of what is happening in the cage, the hope is that it will cut down on the number of poor decisions handed down.

Penick's Analysis: There will still be an issue of poor judging in general until a new generation of judges is given extensive training and clarification on how the rules of judging are supposed to be implemented, but this is a good tool for those already in place to get a better view of what they're watching. Of course, they still need to be able to interpret that visual data correctly, but they'll at least have the tool at their disposal.