Colorado Commission Adopts Open Scoring for MMA, Boxing Bouts

Colorado will be the second state to have open scoring for combat sports events.

The Colorado State Boxing Commission voted on Tuesday to adopt open scoring for mixed martial arts and boxing bouts, according to a report from ESPN. Colorado joins Kansas as the only states to adopt the measure. The Kansas Athletic Commission implemented open scoring in February 2020, and it has been used consistently at Invicta Fighting Championship events.

Open — or real-time — scoring allows for cageside judges’ scorecards to be public knowledge after each round instead of only at the end of a bout. That information could prove useful for fighters, broadcasters and corners alike — and can help determine an athlete’s approach as a fight progresses.

CSBC director Tony Cummings said that open scoring will be optional for event promoters in Colorado.

"I've been around the industry for a long period of time from a coach's perspective, cornering fighters and stuff like that," Cummings told ESPN. "[The idea for open scoring] definitely comes from a transparency perspective. I think it applies real-time accountability. I should be answering those questions [about judging] in real time. I shouldn't be answering them two or three days later.”