Who is UFC judge Mike Bell? Know all about controversial judge who changed course of Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko

Learn about the referee, Mike Bell, and his recent controversial decision in the Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko fight.

Who is UFC judge Mike Bell? Know all about controversial judge who changed course of Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko

Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko (Image via IMAGO)

UFC fight fans had a blast on the occasion of Mexico’s Independence Day at UFC Fight Night 227. The whole fight card had some incredible fights., Many fans were looking forward to the highly anticipated main event. It featured the current flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso, and the former flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko, which generated notable controversy. Mike Bell will forever remain in the minds of MMA fans when it comes to scoring.

However, it’s important to note that the controversy wasn’t related to Grasso’s or Shevchenko’s performances. It had to do with the unpredictable outcome of the fight, which left several fans dissatisfied. The UFC Noche main event was no exception. Nearly every round of the Grasso vs. Shevchenko fight remained closely contested, leaving the judges divided. Junichiro Kamijo’s scorecard favored Grasso with a 48-47 score. Sal D’amato scored it similarly but in favor of Valentina Shevchenko.

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However, fans couldn’t believe it when Bruce Buffer announced the score of the third judge. Mike Bell, the third judge had declared the entire fight as a 47-47 draw. The fans’ objection primarily arose from Bell’s scoring in the fifth round. The fifth round had a tightly contested action, leading to divided opinions among UFC fans regarding the winner. Nonetheless, no one anticipated such a significant 2-point difference in the scores.

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Bell awarded a 10-8 score for the fifth round in favor of Grasso, a decision that many fans strongly disagreed with. They believed that Shevchenko should have been declared the winner of that round.

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Mike Bell’s history of controversial scoring in UFC fights 

Currently, a considerable number of UFC fans view Mike Bell as a judge who often makes unclear decisions. This perception was reinforced during UFC 282’s main event, where Bell’s scoring of the fifth round between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev raised eyebrows. While the other two judges saw it as a 10-8 round in Ankalaev’s favor, Bell rated it 10-9 for Ankalaev.

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Mike Bell (Image via X)

Bell’s decision to award Blachowicz an extra point in that round ultimately led to a split-draw verdict. Without that extra point, Ankalaev might have secured the UFC Light Heavyweight title. This incident has left many fans perplexed, especially when it comes to Bell’s scoring in the recent UFC Noche main event.

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A significant portion of the fanbase is now vocal about the need for improved judging standards in the UFC. They believe that such discrepancies in scoring affect not only the outcomes of fights but also the fighters’ careers and the integrity of the sport. Fans are advocating for more consistency and transparency in the judging process, hoping to enhance the overall experience for both fighters and spectators alike. As the UFC continues to grow, addressing these concerns about judging is becoming increasingly important to maintain the sport’s credibility and fairness.

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