During Saturday night’s UFC event, a judge’s performance was so controversial that he was dismissed midway through the evening—a rare and drastic move in the sport. The incident occurred during the co-main event, where heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Jairzinho Rozenstruik squared off in a highly anticipated bout.
Rozenstruik dominated the fight, controlling the action and landing more significant strikes. However, one judge, Howie Booth, saw the fight differently, scoring it 30-27 in favor of Tuivasa. This decision raised eyebrows not only among the fans but also within the UFC organization itself. Booth’s scoring was so out of line with the other judges that it prompted his immediate removal from the event.
Booth was originally scheduled to judge the flyweight co-main event between Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg later that night, but following his controversial scorecard, he was relieved of his duties. The decision to remove Booth was announced by ESPN during the broadcast, with UFC commentator Jon Anik delivering the news.
“Howie Booth, who gave all three rounds to Tai Tuivasa, has been relieved of his duties for the rest of the night,” Anik announced, confirming Booth’s dismissal.
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The scoring discrepancy was stark. Judge Charlie Keech scored the fight 29-28 for Rozenstruik, and David Lethaby had it 30-27 in favor of Rozenstruik as well, which reflected the dominant performance by the Surinamese fighter. Booth’s 30-27 scorecard for Tuivasa stood out as a glaring anomaly, with media outlets and fans alike expressing their disbelief.
MMA Fighting reported that media scores on MMA Decisions unanimously had the fight 30-27 for Rozenstruik, further highlighting the questionable nature of Booth’s scoring.
Firing a judge in the middle of an event is an exceedingly rare occurrence in the UFC, underscoring the severity of Booth’s misjudgment. The decision to remove him was seen as necessary to maintain the integrity of the event and ensure fair judging for the remaining fights.
In the high-stakes world of UFC, where careers and reputations can hinge on a single judge’s scorecard, accuracy and fairness are paramount. The incident on Saturday night serves as a reminder of the critical role judges play in the sport and the consequences of getting it wrong.
