• UFC 118

'Judges don't know what they're doing' claims Penn

ESPN staff
August 20, 2010
Only one of BJ Penn's 11 UFC victories have gone to a decision © UFC
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BJ Penn has warned the UFC that it risks turning the sport of MMA into an ultra-negative spectacle unless something changes in the way fights are judged.

Penn lost out to a decision against Frankie Edgar when he gave up his lightweight title back at UFC 112, and he has no complaints over the manner in which Edgar won that fight.

However, as MMA continues to evolve and wrestling becomes an ever-increasing 'must-have', Penn fears all fighters are becoming 'the same'. Speaking just two weeks after Chael Sonnen failed to finish Anderson Silva despite spending over four rounds on top of him, Penn insists the rewards for takedowns and positional movement should be minimal.

"Every fighter looks the same," said Penn. "Every fighter looks exactly the same. It's just crazy now but I guess that's just the future of the sport and that's how the sport is evolving.

"Nobody wants to be on their back because even if the guy doesn't do one bit of damage, you're still going to lose the fight. That is really affecting how the fighters fight.

"Judges, as we all know, they don't know what they're doing. I don't think anyone should get points for any other [grappling] position. What's the sense of taking Demian Maia down and why should you get points for that and why should you get points for mounting James Toney? It just doesn't make sense to me.

"It's just all about damage and submission attempts. That's the only things that really matter in the fight."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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