The Couchside Judges MMA Podcast

The Couchside Judges MMA Podcast has reached its end. But between UFC Vegas 91 and Bellator Paris, the fights send the show out with a whole bunch to break down from a wild championship alternative decision to a disqualification.

This being the final episode, Dan and Scott have some farewell thoughts and sentiments to express to their loyal listeners. Please stick around to the end as the hosts pour their hearts out. Will anyone cry? Gotta listen to see.

BONUS: A mini-data episode, as Scott shares what he learned from finally completing a nearly eight-year dataset of UFC round scores, going back to August 2016 when the ABC passed the revised criteria.

In the penultimate episode of the Couchside Judges, Scott and Dan have their hands full with all sorts of Contested Rounds and Adventures in Officiating from the UFC's return to Missouri. That includes a unanimous 10-8 that the hosts ponder as a potential 10-7.

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It almost happened. The Couchside Judges nearly had a full UFC event without a single Contested Round. And one of the hosts has to accept some (all?) of the blame, as you'll soon find out. Nonetheless, Scott and Dan soldier on and break down the lone round — early in the UFC 301 main event.

Plus, Scott and Dan have a major announcement to make. Don't miss this episode.

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More fights were delivered from the UFC warehouse because, hey, ESPN demands it. Most weren't consequential, but they did provide Scott and Dan with three helpings of 10-8/10-9 splits to evaluate. Those, plus a split decision in the curtain jerker, make for the bulk of this week's episode ahead of a more meaty PPV event next week.

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PFL had the weekend to itself amid a post-UFC 300 break. The fights were solid and — blessedly — without major judging controversy. Scott and Dan have six Contested Rounds to break down, and for whatever reason the co-hosts were not on the same page as frequently as usual. But the biggest officiating outcry came in the form of a perceived early stoppage in Brendan Loughnane's win over Pedro Carvalho. Was the trigger pulled too soon? The CSJ weigh in.

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Sorry, fellow judging nerds: Scott and Dan have a whole lot of thoughts about the massive UFC 300 before they even get to the scoring breakdown. Just have a good time looking back on the historic card with the hosts until they get to Contested Rounds to examine a pair of split decisions, some 10-8/10-9 splits and two of the most lopsided, potential 10-7s so far this year.

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Three straight split decisions to end the night at UFC Apex dominates this week's scoring recap, including from a potential fight of the year contender in the Brendan Allen vs. Chris Curtis headlining rematch. Less needed to say about PFL's regular season opener in Texas which, against all odds, was practically a beacon of judging normality. Go figure!

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Two days late and two dollars short, but the CSJ are finally back to report on UFC Atlantic City, where Scott was the fellow in the blue shirt and glasses seated behind the blue corner. ("Hello, friends!") Dan and his cohort have a split decision to break down in addition to a handful of other Contested Rounds, but the big officiating subject matter coming out of A.C. was on the refereeing side. Eyes were in plenty of danger on the main card, so the hosts have plenty to say about a pair of finishes influenced to varying degrees by pokes and finger rakes.

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You know, the CSJ had every intention of speaking about the Contested Rounds across both UFC Vegas 89 and PFLator. Why will there be no breakdown of the three rounds from two Bellator title fights? Ask ya boi Max! At any rate, Dan and Scott have some thoughts on the five rounds from that Las Vegas warehouse in which the judges weren't on the same page, and they're worth your time ... even if Max doesn't think it's worth its time to make Bellator 302 available for rewatch any time soon. (Not that the hosts are bitter or anything.)

UFC Vegas 88, arguably the most pivotal MMA event in 2024, has come and gone, and — alright, so it was Apex filler of the lowest order. But some fascinating scorecards emerged from the Vegas warehouse over the weekend including a split decision that featured *two* unanimous 10-8s, one for each fighter. You just don't see 28-27s both ways every day, folks. Scott and Dan dive into that one, plus one of those wacky alternative decisions and even some adventures in officiating. Pivotal event? No. Interesting for judging nerds? You bet!

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