How UFC Judging Works: The 10-Point Must System Explained

When a UFC fight goes the distance, three judges decide it round by round. Here is how the 10-point must system works and why scorecards cause so many arguments.

By ForTheFans

Published Oct 25, 2026 · 3 min read

When a UFC fight ends by knockout or submission, there is no debate. When it goes the distance, the result is in the hands of three judges, and that is when fans start arguing. Here is how UFC judging works under the 10-point must system.

The 10-Point Must System

Each judge scores every round on its own:

The fighter who wins the round must get 10 points.
The loser gets 9 or fewer.

At the end of the fight, each judge adds up their round scores. A judge's card for a three-round fight might read 30-27 (one fighter won all three rounds) or 29-28 (one fighter won two rounds).

What Judges Look For

Under the unified rules of MMA, judges score rounds using three criteria, in order:

Effective striking and grappling: the impact of strikes, takedowns, reversals and submission attempts. Damage matters most.
Effective aggressiveness: actively trying to finish the fight. Only used if the first criterion is even.
Fighting area control: dictating where and how the fight happens. Only used if the first two are even.

That order matters. A fighter who walks forward all round but lands less damage should lose the round.

10-9, 10-8 and 10-7 Rounds

10-9: a close or clear round won by one fighter. The most common score.
10-8: a round won by a wide margin, showing dominance, real damage or long periods of control without reply.
10-7: an overwhelming round, extremely rare.

A single 10-8 round can swing an entire fight, which is why judges' willingness to award them is so controversial.

Point Deductions

The referee can deduct points for fouls such as eye pokes, groin strikes or grabbing the fence. A deduction is taken off that fighter's score for the round, so a 10-9 round can become 10-8.

Types of Decisions

Decision	What it means
Unanimous decision	All three judges score the fight for the same fighter
Split decision	Two judges pick one fighter, the third picks the other
Majority decision	Two judges pick the same fighter, the third scores a draw
Draw	The judges' cards produce no winner, such as a majority draw or split draw

Why Judging Causes Controversy

Judges sit at different angles and see different things.
Fans often score on momentum, while judges must score each round separately.
Some fights are genuinely close, and a round can go either way.

That is why fighters like to say: "Don't leave it in the judges' hands."

Keep Reading

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are UFC fights scored?

Three judges score each round using the 10-point must system. The fighter who wins the round gets 10 points and the loser gets 9 or fewer. The scores are added up at the end of the fight.

What is a 10-8 round in MMA?

A 10-8 round is a round one fighter wins by a wide margin, with dominance, damage or a long stretch of control. It is a two-point swing rather than the usual one.

What is the difference between a split decision and a majority decision?

In a split decision, two judges score the fight for one fighter and the third judge scores it for the other. In a majority decision, two judges pick the same winner and the third scores it a draw.

What do MMA judges look for first?

Effective striking and grappling, meaning the damage and impact of strikes, takedowns and submission attempts. Aggression and cage control only matter if the first criterion is even.