Majority draw
A majority draw is a decision outcome in full-contact combat sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), where two of three judges score the bout as even, while the third judge awards the victory to one fighter, resulting in an overall tie with no winner declared.[1][2] This verdict arises under the standard 10-point must scoring system employed in these sports, where judges evaluate each round based on effective striking, grappling, aggression, and ring generalship, assigning 10 points to the winner of a round and 9 or fewer to the loser.[1] In MMA, the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) Unified Rules explicitly define a majority draw as occurring when two judges score the bout a draw, distinguishing it from a unanimous draw (all three judges score even) or a split draw (judges score differently but totals result in a tie).[1] The same principle applies in professional boxing, where judges' scorecards determine the result after the scheduled rounds, and a majority draw reflects closely contested fights without a clear dominant performer.[3] Majority draws are relatively rare, often sparking debate among fans and analysts due to the single dissenting scorecard, but they underscore the subjective nature of combat sports judging.[4] A prominent recent example is the July 19, 2025, WBC welterweight title bout between Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios, scored 114-114 by two judges and 115-113 for Barrios by the third, allowing Barrios to retain his championship via the draw.[3] In such cases, the outcome typically leads to no change in titles or rankings, though rematches may follow if the fight garners significant interest.[5]Overview
Definition
In combat sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), kickboxing, and Muay Thai, judges evaluate fighters' performances over a series of rounds to determine the outcome of a bout. These sports typically employ a panel of three ringside judges who score each round independently using a point-based system, assessing factors like effective striking, aggression, and ring generalship without direct influence from one another.[6][7] A majority draw is declared when two of the three judges score the entire bout as even, while the third judge scores it in favor of one fighter, leading to no overall victor.[7] This result reflects a closely contested fight where the majority consensus favors neither competitor, preserving both fighters' records without a loss.[6] This judging structure ensures impartiality and balances subjective evaluations across the panel, distinguishing majority draws from other outcomes like unanimous decisions.[7]Role in combat sports
In professional combat sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), a majority draw serves as a mechanism to declare no victor when two of three judges score the bout even, while the third favors one fighter, ensuring outcomes reflect closely contested performances without forcing an arbitrary winner. This ruling prevents title changes in championship contests, with the defending champion retaining their belt, as the absence of a clear victor maintains the status quo in divisional hierarchies.[8][9] In cases of a majority draw, fighters receive their contracted base pay, known as show money in MMA, without win bonuses. The predetermined purse split agreed upon before the fight applies, regardless of the outcome.[10][11] Majority draws occur infrequently, comprising less than 1% of professional bouts in major organizations like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as of 2025, where all draws total approximately 0.6% historically. In boxing under unified rules, they similarly represent a rare verdict, emphasizing their utility in resolving razor-thin margins without undermining the sport's decisiveness.[12] Post-fight, a majority draw influences fighter rankings minimally, as it neither advances nor significantly penalizes standings in official lists from bodies like the UFC or boxing sanctioning organizations, but it frequently prompts immediate rematch clauses in contracts to capitalize on unresolved rivalries and fan interest. This procedural resolution can elevate bouts to exhibition status in follow-ups, focusing on entertainment over championship stakes while allowing time for strategic adjustments.[13]Types of Draws
Majority draw
A majority draw is a decision outcome in combat sports like boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), where two of the three judges score the bout as even, while the third judge scores it in favor of one fighter, resulting in an overall draw due to the majority consensus on equality.[14] This mechanic ensures that a single dissenting opinion does not determine a winner when the fight is deemed too close for a clear victor by most judges. Under the standard 10-point must scoring system, the two judges awarding the draw typically score multiple rounds as 10-10 (even) or balance out 10-9 scores across rounds to reach identical totals for both competitors, while the third judge's slight edge—often from differing round assessments—fails to sway the majority.[15] The following example scorecard illustrates a majority draw from the UFC 205 welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson on November 12, 2016:| Judge | Scorecard |
|---|---|
| Derek Cleary | 47-47 (draw) |
| Douglas Crosby | 47-47 (draw) |
| Glenn Trowbridge | 48-47 (Woodley) |