Tanner Boser Demands Better UFC Judging: "Everyone Else Knew Who Won"
UFC fighter Tanner Boser has just joined an already long list of fighters complaining about the inconsistencies of judges in the UFC.
Few things in combat sports spark heated debate quite like a controversial decision. For fight fans, it is a frustrating conversation on the drive home. For fighters putting their health on the line, a questionable scorecard can derail years of momentum and cut a fight purse directly in half. UFC heavyweight Tanner Boser has had enough of watching questionable judging alter livelihoods, and he is demanding a higher standard from the officials sitting cage-side.
Speaking during media day ahead of his heavyweight clash against kickboxer Jhonata Diniz at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the Canadian fan favorite vented his frustration over scorecards that leave the entire MMA world baffled. While Boser acknowledged that officials manage to get the outcome right most of the time, he questioned whether some judges actually possess the combat sports experience required to evaluate high-level striking and grappling exchanges.
“Who are the judges? A lot of the time it’s just some guy,” Boser said. “I’m not going to go in and judge f*cking ice skating. A lot of the times they get it right, but when they get it wrong it can affect someone’s life.”
Taking Decisions Out of the Judges' Hands
For Boser, the issue is as clear as day. The Alberta native pointed out that identifying a fight winner is usually obvious to anyone watching closely, even family members sitting on the couch without formal judging credentials.
“There’s been times where my mom who’s watching at home knows who won that fight, and everyone else does,” Boser said. “So how the hell did the judges not know who won that f*cking fight?”
Those disputed decisions have directly shaped how the veteran approaches his craft inside the Octagon. Rather than coasting and leaving three-round battles in the hands of officials, Boser has adopted a noticeably more aggressive, finish-oriented mindset. Fresh off an intensive seven-week Las Vegas training camp alongside top heavyweights like Alexander Volkov, Boser is more than willing to accept the danger of a firefight, because taking a risk to hunt for a finish is far better than leaving his career in the hands of a questionable scorecard.
