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Combate Global shed some light on how it plans to utilize open scoring for the first time in Miami on Thursday, for its first of 30 events this year.
The mixed martial arts organization will utilize the system of informing fighters, their corners and viewers at home how the cageside judges are scoring the bout for their first event of the year on Thursday. Following each round, scores will be relayed by a producer at the scorer’s table to a television producer, according to Mike Afromowitz, Combate’s senior VP, operations and communications. A graphic displaying each of the three judges’ name and both round and cumulative scores will appear on all TV productions, including Paramount+ and Univision.
Fighter corners will receive the information on program monitors positioned in front of them, per Afromowitz.
Afromowitz said the idea was born from a brainstorming session for “elements that could make the show more dynamic, more exciting and add value to the audience experience.”
“It wasn’t my idea,” he said, “but I think it’s great because, rather than having to guess where a fighter stands, all the information, it’s transparent for the fighters as well as the audience.”
Open scoring has not been previously used in Florida. There are no rules on the books explicitly allowing or outlawing the practice.
Combate Global approached the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which regulates combat sports in the state, with their pitch for the idea, said Afromowitz. He noted that the commission asked questions but a lengthy process was not necessary to clear open scoring for their use.
“They were open to it on the initial pitch, and then we presented them with a bullet-point list of how it would integrate into our production,” he said.
Afromowitz said that also debuting for the promotion in its 2022 kickoff show, which is themed as Unites States vs. Mexico and airs the same night as a World Cup soccer qualifier between the two nations, will be a camera worn by referees.
A lightweight matchup between Daniel Sanchez and Angel Alvarez headlines for Combate Global. The first bout begins at 11 p.m. ET.
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