Damage matters and per the the scoring rules is part of the criteria for determining effective striking.
But there is a great deal of subjectivity regarding it.
Some argue R1 Bisping/Hendo is exactly what a 10-8 Rd looks like due to the obvious and significant disparity in damage done and, therefore, effective striking.
Others argue it must be 10-9, regardless of damage, due to the amount of time Bisping spent point scoring and in control of the octagon.
Unfortunately, the scoring rules are vague enough to allow both these viewpoints to be valid.
GSP/Hendricks had no 10-8 Rds, so much less subjective to score as a whole, and only Rd 1 could have gone either way. The damage disparity was much less and distributed across the full 5 Rds, making it a 48-47 fight for either, or a draw.
Bisping/Hendo Rd1 having 10-8 potential, plus Rd2 and Rd5 could go either way, plus more damage disparity makes for a much harder to score fight, with more subjectivity built into the score.
I had Hendricks over GSP via edging Rd1, and Draw for Bisping/Hendo, but understand other scores are equally valid depending on how much damage is weighted.
But there is a great deal of subjectivity regarding it.
Some argue R1 Bisping/Hendo is exactly what a 10-8 Rd looks like due to the obvious and significant disparity in damage done and, therefore, effective striking.
Others argue it must be 10-9, regardless of damage, due to the amount of time Bisping spent point scoring and in control of the octagon.
Unfortunately, the scoring rules are vague enough to allow both these viewpoints to be valid.
GSP/Hendricks had no 10-8 Rds, so much less subjective to score as a whole, and only Rd 1 could have gone either way. The damage disparity was much less and distributed across the full 5 Rds, making it a 48-47 fight for either, or a draw.
Bisping/Hendo Rd1 having 10-8 potential, plus Rd2 and Rd5 could go either way, plus more damage disparity makes for a much harder to score fight, with more subjectivity built into the score.
I had Hendricks over GSP via edging Rd1, and Draw for Bisping/Hendo, but understand other scores are equally valid depending on how much damage is weighted.
