Joe Rogan Unleashes Fiery Critique on 'Insane' UFC Judging After Adesanya vs. Blachowicz Bout

Joe Rogan, the veteran UFC commentator and podcast titan, recently ignited a firestorm of controversy with his passionate denunciation of a 'preposterous' judging decision following Israel Adesanya's pivotal clash with Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259. The fight, which saw 'The Last Stylebender' attempt to etch his name into history as a two-division champion, ended in a unanimous decision loss for Adesanya, but it was one specific score that sent Rogan into a 'wild rant' about the glaring inconsistencies in MMA judging.

The focal point of Rogan's outrage was judge Sal D'Amato's scorecard, which controversially awarded Jan Blachowicz a 10-8 round in the fifth.

While Blachowicz indeed asserted dominant control over Adesanya in that final frame, holding him down for an extended period, Rogan vehemently argued that the lack of significant damage or near-finishes rendered the 10-8 score utterly unjustifiable. "That 10-8 round was insane," Rogan declared, his frustration palpable.

"It was horrible judging. There was no real damage done there in that fifth round. He held him down, but it was certainly not a 10-8."

Rogan's argument wasn't merely a subjective take; he underscored the objective criteria for a 10-8 round, which typically requires overwhelming dominance, significant strikes, or near-finishing sequences.

According to Rogan, Blachowicz’s positional control, while effective, simply didn't meet this threshold. He pointed out the stark contrast with other judges who scored the round a more standard 10-9, highlighting the egregious outlier that D'Amato's score represented.

The implications of such a score are profound, as Rogan articulated.

A single 10-8 round can drastically shift the momentum and final outcome of a fight, potentially robbing a fighter of a closer decision or even a chance to argue for a draw. For Adesanya, who was striving for an elite double-champ status, that 'insane error' by the judge, in Rogan's eyes, created an almost insurmountable deficit on the scorecards, prematurely extinguishing his hopes and leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of many fans and analysts alike.

Rogan’s impassioned commentary serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding MMA judging.

His 'wild rant' isn't just about one fight; it's a broader call for greater accountability, consistency, and a more rigorous application of scoring criteria to ensure that the monumental efforts of athletes inside the Octagon are reflected accurately and fairly on the judges' scorecards.