UFC 276: Alexander Volkanoski talks 'open scoring' in MMA

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By Jake Skudder

Published Jun 29, 2022

Here is what UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski had to say regarding open scoring in MMA ahead of UFC 276 on Saturday, July 2nd.

Open scoring has been a hot topic in the world of MMA over the past year or so, and UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski recently discussed the idea being introduced to the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the world ahead of UFC 276 this weekend.

Naysayers to the concept are concerned that fighters knowing how the judges are seeing the fight could hamper the excitement in the final rounds.

Conversely, if a fighter is aware that they’re down heading into the final few rounds then they will have to find a second wind and go all out to get the win, so it could introduce even more excitement to a contest.

Here is what UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski had to say regarding open scoring in MMA ahead of UFC 276.

Alexander Volkanovski on Open Scoring

Alexander Volkanovski is the current UFC featherweight champion

Speaking to Israel Adesanya’s official YouTube channel, the 145-pound champion would actually state that he himself is open to the concept being introduced.

He said: “I don't mind the open scoring thing, I don't think it's that bad. Because you want to know if you if you're up, or if you're not, or something like that you know?

“You SHOULD have a good enough corner to know that if you ain't definitely taken a round [you] don't just sit there thinking ‘oh yeah we're two up’ you know? You've got to have the right corner.

“So I'm lucky enough to have a corner where even if we're pretty comfortable and we're up? There are still rounds that are competitive, we still want these last rounds.

“To have that open scoring, to let everyone know [what the judges are thinking], then you ain't going to have people crying about decisions and all that. It's like ‘hey you knew you were behind and you couldn't do anything about it.’”

Alexander Volkanovski Next Fight

UFC 266: Volkanovski v Ortega — LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 25: Alexander Volkanovski of Australia taunts Brian Ortega in between rounds during their Featherweight title fight during UFC 266 at T-Mobile Arena on September 25, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 25: Alexander Volkanovski of Australia taunts Brian Ortega in between rounds during their Featherweight title fight during UFC 266 at T-Mobile Arena on September 25, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

For context, here is the current fight card for the event according to the UFC website as of Wednesday 29th June 2022:

Early Prelims