A controversial scorecard in the heavyweight fight between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Tai Tuivasa led to judge Howie Booth being removed from UFC 305 where he was actually scheduled to also work the co-main event.
While it’s not an unprecedented change, the removal of an official in the middle of an event is still unusual. Booth scored Tuivasa winning with a scorecard of 30-27, while the other two judges gave the fight to Rozenstruik with scores of 30-27 and 29-28 for the split-decision win.
Judges often score rounds differently during a close fight, which is how many split decisions happen, but there was no question that Rozenstruik deserved the nod over Tuivasa after three rounds. As a result, Booth was removed from the event and judge Ben Cartlidge was inserted as the third official scoring the co-main event between Steve Erceg and Kai Kara-France.
In the aftermath of that decision, Honorable Bob Kucera, the chairman of the Combat Sports Commission of Western Australia issued a statement to MMA Fighting regarding Booth being removed from UFC 305.
“To ensure the best outcome for the event and the sport, the Combat Sports Commission of Western Australia (CSC) supported a change to the judging assignments during the UFC 305 event,” Kucera said.
“Due process was followed in reaching this decision which included consultation with the Head Official. Mr Booth remains a registered official with the CSC.”
Based on that statement, Booth is still cleared to work future events in Western Australia, although it remains to be seen if he’ll be back at a future UFC card when the promotion eventually returns there.
UFC executive David Shaw addressed the decision to remove Booth from the event and he praised the move after there were more than a few complaints about Booth’s scoring in the heavyweight fight.
“It’s good checks and balances,” Shaw said at the UFC 305 post-fight press conference. “I think everyone needs to be held to a high standard. It doesn’t matter if, like, if I don’t do my job, or you don’t do your job, maybe it’s good to sit on the bench for a while, and reconsider the work, and try to figure out how to get back on track and do a better job next time.
“I think just, generally, in life, it’s a decent principle. But it’s not for me to say whether it was right or wrong for the commission.”
