Judge Removed After Controversial Fight Decision

During UFC 305 on Saturday night, judge Howie Booth was unexpectedly pulled from his duties after his scorecard raised eyebrows among fans and fighters alike. He scored the bout between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Tai Tuivasa as a unanimous 30-27 in favor of Tuivasa, standing out dramatically against the other judges’ scores.

Many found it hard to understand how anyone could view Tuivasa as the winner when Rozenstruik landed more than twice the amount of strikes—92 to Tuivasa’s 37—and showed greater efficiency throughout the match. This discrepancy prompted immediate reactions from those watching.

Rozenstruik himself expressed surprise and disbelief over Booth’s scoring, sharing a light-hearted comment on Twitter wondering if the judge was under the influence. UFC executive Dave Shaw commented on the situation, emphasizing that removing judges after questionable decisions is part of ensuring fairness in the sport.

Booth was set to officiate another fight later in the night, but his spot at the judges’ table was quickly filled by Ben Cartlidge after the uproar over his earlier decision. Luckily, the judges didn’t have to weigh in on the co-main event, as Kai Kara-France claimed victory through a first-round TKO.

The swift action taken by the Combat Sports Commission demonstrated their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport, preventing what could have turned into a larger controversy.