Split Decisions

[Michael13]

I've seen videos online and heard people say that they predict a certain fight will end in a split decision.

It's made me wonder what people think split decisions actually are.

I believe some people think a split decision is when one guy wins 2 rounds and the other guy wins one round...

Whereas my understanding has always been that a split decision is when one judge disagrees with the other 2 judges.

I don't understand how you can 'predict' a split decision.

Sorry i had to get that off my chest, my friend has been arguing with me about it all night.

 

[BiggThump]

I've seen videos online and heard people say that they predict a certain fight will end in a split decision.

It's made me wonder what people think split decisions actually are.

I believe some people think a split decision is when one guy wins 2 rounds and the other guy wins one round...

Whereas my understanding has always been that a split decision is when one judge disagrees with the other 2 judges.

I don't understand how you can 'predict' a split decision.

Sorry i had to get that off my chest, my friend has been arguing with me about it all night.

Split decisions can suck especially if your fighter is on the short end of one.

 

[Romano338]

That thing put me in doubt sometimes when I started following MMA. Can be confusing that a split is refering to the judges and not the rounds

You can still predict a split if you think the fight will be very very close so you will probably have judges not aggreeing.
But it's not really a prediction, the prediction is the close fight. Then, split is more a way of saying it's very close I guess

 

[FinBJJ]

I think many of those who predict a split decision mean that the fight will be really close. That said, I'm not a fan of predicting splits. And then there's guys who give a split 29-28 to fighter x after the fight. How the hell can you give a split decision? You're just one person. Is 1/3 of you disagreeing with the rest of you?

 

[MadHorse]

I think it's possible. When I was watching Gomi/Sanchez I was certain Sanchez would win by split decision. But that's because I've seen enough matches to know how some fighters get points with the judges.

 

[s1fys]

I don't think it make sense to predict a split decision. It's like predicting what other people feel about the fight, not the fight itself.

 

[Rvd Slmr]

Garcia by SD!

 

[Magooglie]

When fans predict a split decision they're saying the fight will be close and they think 1 judge will pick one fighter. And the other two judges will pick the other fighter. It's a prediction based on 3 judges and not themselves as a judge.

 

[quatroquatro]

Well, some people use "split decision" as a hyperbole to mean that a fight will be really, really close.

Also, it's pretty standard that certain judges weigh things differently. So predicting a split decision may also be taking into account that the judges may not agree with each other and it could go either way, ie if one judge places more emphasis on takedowns over damage in a given round.

 

[Romano338]

More in general, what do you think of split decisions being judges not aggreing?
Is it like that in all combat sports? (I think but I don't know everything)
Split being 2 rounds vs 1 could be less confusing.
But not a big need for change

 

[EndlessCritic]

More in general, what do you think of split decisions being judges not aggreing?
Is it like that in all combat sports? (I think but I don't know everything)
Split being 2 rounds vs 1 could be less confusing.
But not a big need for change

So what would you call it if the judges disagreed on the winner, a split split? yeah, way less confusing

 

[MaveDeltzer]

If you're predicting a split it just means you expect one judge to be a goof and not agree with the other judges. With the judges we've seen it's a pretty safe bet.

One thing that grinds my gears is when I see people saying after a close fight that it should've been split. So they wanted one judge to goof up.

 

[tekara]

When you predict a split decision, you essentially predict that the fight will be very close. You're also predicting the fact that the rounds itself is not split 2-1 (because if you do that, by default you already predicted a winner), but that you predict one judge will disagree with the other two.

 

[Romano338]

So what would you call it if the judges disagreed on the winner, a split split? yeah, way less confusing

The same way you make no difference between a fighter winning 3rd to 0 and a fighter winning 2 to 1...

It was just a question, not a suggestion

 

[Candide]

You can predict a round will be close enough that judges could have differing opinions on it, you're just perhaps going a step further than necessary. I've thought about this behavior myself

 

[Wariowokecancel]

When fans predict a split decision they're saying the fight will be close and they think 1 judge will pick one fighter. And the other two judges will pick the other fighter. It's a prediction based on 3 judges and not themselves as a judge.

Yep. We're not all the uneducated mob TS thinks we are.

 

[EndlessCritic]

predicting a split decision is dumb

saying you scored the fight a split decision is full retard.

 

[Oblivian]

predicting a split decision is dumb

saying you scored the fight a split decision is full retard.

Lol - that is definitely true!

I think most that predict a split just think it will be close and a hard fight to score. Thus, they think one judge won't see it the same as the two others. I don't think it's that outrageous, but you definitely shouldn't personally score a fight a split decision!

 

[CoffeeAndBeer]

I've seen videos online and heard people say that they predict a certain fight will end in a split decision.

It's made me wonder what people think split decisions actually are.

I believe some people think a split decision is when one guy wins 2 rounds and the other guy wins one round...

Whereas my understanding has always been that a split decision is when one judge disagrees with the other 2 judges.

I don't understand how you can 'predict' a split decision.

Sorry i had to get that off my chest, my friend has been arguing with me about it all night.

People are stupid. Dana White has made comments like that himself, after a fight... "I didn't have it was a split decision, I thought so-n-so won it 30-27", or something to that effect.

 

[shrimc]

If it's a possible outcome it can be predicted, if it can happen it will be predicted.