Joe Rogan on Stand-ups
Joe Rogan is well-known for his objection to stand-ups. Presumably, he is a supporter of “real” fighting where there are no stand-ups, and sees it as the fighter’s job to stand up rather than getting stood up by the referee, thus being “saved” from a bad position. He remarked on the matter a little more than usual this past Saturday during the Camozzi/Santos fight.
I thought I would address some of his remarks:
In the second round, when Santos was in side control, Rogan said that once he’s got him in side control he’s got to do something about it, and that he can’t just hold the guy there. I wanted to ask him “why not?” He is winning the fight by “holding the guy there” so why does he “need” to do something? That’s exactly the problem, in my opinion, with the current situation: that you can just hold the guy there and still win the fight.
In the third round when Santos was holding down Camozzi and Camozzi looked at the referee, Rogan said there shouldn’t be stand-ups: when a guy holds you down, he is still beating you. Stand-ups are not realistic because there is no referee in a street fight, when your life depends on it, and so they shouldn’t be used in order to find out which marital art is the best.
First of all, there are no judges in a street fight either. No fighter in a street fight would just take the other guy down and hold him there, because there are no judges to decide who won the fight, and anyway neither fighter cares who “won” the street fight. They both just want to hurt each other – not “win”.
Second, there is no danger to your “life” anyway when a guy just takes you down and holds you, and the absence of a referee doesn’t change that fact.
Finally, this isn’t a street fight. This is a show, and the purpose of all of this is entertainment. If everybody would just hold their opponents down in every fight, nobody would watch their fights. Even if it is more realistic (which it isn’t, as I explained), and even if this proves that wrestling is the best martial art (which it doesn’t, since beating a guy in a real fight means hurting him too, not just holding him).
I don’t like stand-ups, either. I don’t like when anyone interferes with the fight. But the current situation is that the judging system promotes this style of fighting, so need to be stand-ups, or people will lose interest. Abolishing the stand-ups wouldn’t solve this problem – it will worsen it. The only solution is changing the judging system to one that significantly favors damage over control.
Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
| Thursday, December 31st 2026: Rizin FF Super Rizin 6: Shiwasu no Owarinagoya Gekokujo Matsuri | |||
 [#1 W105] Natalia Kuziutina |  [#4 W105] Saori Oshima | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/10/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#18 W105] Rena Kubota Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 7/18/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#13 W105] Ye Ji Lee Last 5: L W L W W | ||
| Sunday, December 13th 2026: Deep - 135 Impact | |||
| [#3 SW] Sukai China | [#4 SW] Jo Arai | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 5/04/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#6 SW] Sora Sugiyama Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 9/13/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#23 SW] Daichi Kitakata Last 5: L L W L W | ||
| Sunday, December 13th 2026: Deep Tokyo Impact 2026 6th Round | |||
| [#6 SW] Sora Sugiyama | [#10 SW] Goal Makino | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/20/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [NR] Musashi Musashi Last 5: W W W L W | Last Fight Date: 9/06/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#42 SW] Toshiya Takashima Last 5: W W W W W | ||
Featured Fighters
| [#18 W125] |  Lucia Szabova | [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev | |
| [#18 LW] |  Renato Carneiro | [#1 FW] |  Alexander Volkanovski | |
| [#13 LW] | Tom Nolan | [#26 WW] |  Jacobe Smith | |
| [#102 W125] | Tainara Lisboa | [#1 LW] | Justin Gaethje | |
| [#2 LW] |  Ilia Topuria | [#8 HW] | Josh Hokit |
Fight Matrix Program: UFC TUF Finale 19 Edgar/Penn (07-06-2014)
Featherweight (145)
[#2] Frankie Edgar (16-4-1, -518) vs. [*] B.J. Penn (16-9-2, +376)
Frankie Edgar is the All-Time #16 ranked Absolute fighter.
B.J. Penn is the All-Time #10 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Frankie Edgar (1-2-0)
2013-07-06: W vs. [#19FW] Charles Oliveira (18-4-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-02-02: L vs. [#1FW/#5DD/#3P4P] Jose Aldo (24-1-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
2012-08-11: L vs. [#2LW/#10DD] Ben Henderson (21-3-0) via SD (46-49, 48-47, 48-47)
Last 3 Fights: B.J. Penn (0-2-1)
2012-12-08: L vs. [#2WW] Rory MacDonald (17-2-0) via UD (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
2011-10-29: L vs. [*] Nick Diaz (26-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
2011-02-27: D vs. [#21WW] Jon Fitch (25-6-1) via Draw (Majority) in 5:00 of round 3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Frankie Edgar 365, B.J. Penn 575
Previous Match-up Record: Frankie Edgar leads 2-0-0
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#56] Matt Van Buren (6-2-0) vs. [#153HW+] Corey Anderson (2-0-0)
Last 3 Fights: Matt Van Buren (1-2-0)
2013-07-20: W vs. [#434LHW] Mojtaba Najim Wali (3-3-0) via UD ()
2012-11-30: L vs. [#284LHW] Terry Davinney (10-8-0) via KO (Punch) in 0:15 of round 1
2012-08-24: L vs. [#167LHW] Mike Mucitelli (6-1-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 3:01 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Corey Anderson (2-0-0)
2013-08-24: W vs. [NA] Stephen Flanagan (0-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:03 of round 1
2013-03-29: W vs. [NA] J.R. Briones (0-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:01 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Matt Van Buren 351, Corey Anderson 316
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Middleweight (185)
[#40] Eddie Gordon (6-1-0) vs. [#61WW] Dhiego Lima (9-1-0)
Last 3 Fights: Eddie Gordon (2-1-0)
2013-05-24: W vs. [#450MW] Oscar Delgado (6-3-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 1:32 of round 2
2012-09-14: L vs. [*] Anton Talamantes (5-4-0) via UD ()
2012-06-15: W vs. [*] Carlos Brooks (4-3-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Dhiego Lima (3-0-0)
2013-09-06: W vs. [#175WW] Ricky Rainey (9-3-0) via SD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2013-03-01: W vs. [#478WW] Roger Carroll (12-11-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:06 of round 3
2012-08-10: W vs. [*] Nick Hinchliffe (19-9-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Eddie Gordon 408, Dhiego Lima 303
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Fight Matrix Program: UFC 175 (07-05-2014)
Middleweight Championship (185)
[#1/#2DD/#4P4P] Chris Weidman (11-0-0, -195) vs. [#2/#7DD/#6P4P] Lyoto Machida (21-4-0, +162)
Chris Weidman is the All-Time #3 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Lyoto Machida is the All-Time #12 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Chris Weidman (3-0-0)
2013-12-28: W vs. [#4MW] Anderson Silva (33-6-0) via TKO (Leg Injury) in 1:16 of round 2
2013-07-06: W vs. [#4MW] Anderson Silva (33-6-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:18 of round 2
2012-07-11: W vs. [#13MW] Mark Munoz (13-5-0) via KO (Elbow and Punches) in 1:37 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Lyoto Machida (2-1-0)
2014-02-15: W vs. [#6MW] Gegard Mousasi (35-4-2) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
2013-10-26: W vs. [#13MW] Mark Munoz (13-5-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 3:10 of round 1
2013-08-03: L vs. [#8LHW] Phil Davis (12-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Chris Weidman 189, Lyoto Machida 140
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Women Bantamweight Championship (135)
[#1/#1DD/#1P4P] Ronda Rousey (9-0-0, -1650) vs. [#2/#5DD/#3P4P] Alexis Davis (16-5-0, +869)
Ronda Rousey is the All-Time #5 ranked Women’s fighter.
Alexis Davis is the All-Time #13 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Ronda Rousey (3-0-0)
2014-02-22: W vs. [#5BW/#9P4P] Sara McMann (7-1-0) via TKO (Knee to the Body) in 1:06 of round 1
2013-12-28: W vs. [#6BW] Miesha Tate (14-5-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 0:58 of round 3
2013-02-23: W vs. [#13BW] Liz Carmouche (9-5-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 4:49 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Alexis Davis (3-0-0)
2014-02-22: W vs. [#8BW] Jessica Eye (10-2-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2013-11-06: W vs. [#13BW] Liz Carmouche (9-5-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-06-15: W vs. [*] Rosi Sexton (13-5-0) via UD (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ronda Rousey 133, Alexis Davis 133
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Ronda Rousey leads 2-1
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Heavyweight (265)
[*] Stefan Struve (25-6-0, -197) vs. [#24] Matt Mitrione (7-3-0, +156)
Last 3 Fights: Stefan Struve (2-1-0)
2013-03-03: L vs. [#6HW+] Mark Hunt (9-8-1) via TKO (Punches) in 1:44 of round 3
2012-09-29: W vs. [#8HW+] Stipe Miocic (12-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:50 of round 2
2012-05-26: W vs. [#50HW+] Lavar Johnson (18-9-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 1:05 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Matt Mitrione (2-1-0)
2014-03-01: W vs. [#36HW+] Shawn Jordan (15-6-0) via KO (Punches) in 4:59 of round 1
2013-09-21: L vs. [#19HW+] Brendan Schaub (10-4-0) via Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) in 4:06 of round 1
2013-04-06: W vs. [#53HW+] Philip De Fries (10-4-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:19 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Stefan Struve 489, Matt Mitrione 126
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Fight Matrix Program: UFC Fight Night / Swanson vs. Stephens (06-28-2014)
Featherweight (145)
[#4] Cub Swanson (20-5-0, -243) vs. [#11] Jeremy Stephens (23-9-0, +200)
Cub Swanson is the All-Time #18 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Cub Swanson (3-0-0)
2013-07-06: W vs. [#14FW] Dennis Siver (21-9-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:24 of round 3
2013-02-16: W vs. [#9FW] Dustin Poirier (16-3-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2012-09-22: W vs. [#32FW] Charles Oliveira (17-4-0) via KO (Punch) in 2:40 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Jeremy Stephens (3-0-0)
2014-01-25: W vs. [#16FW] Darren Elkins (17-4-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-11-09: W vs. [#35FW] Rony Mariano Bezerra (14-5-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 0:40 of round 1
2013-05-25: W vs. [#312FW] Estevan Payan (14-6-0) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Cub Swanson 357, Jeremy Stephens 154
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#18] Kelvin Gastelum (8-0-0, -383) vs. [#48] Nicholas Musoke (12-2-0, +305)
Last 3 Fights: Kelvin Gastelum (3-0-0)
2014-03-15: W vs. [#23WW] Rick Story (16-8-0) via SD (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
2013-08-28: W vs. [*] Brian Melancon (7-3-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:26 of round 1
2013-04-13: W vs. [#31MW] Uriah Hall (8-4-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Nicholas Musoke (3-0-0)
2014-02-15: W vs. [#102WW] Viscardi Andrade (17-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2013-10-26: W vs. [#270MW] Alessio Sakara (15-11-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 3:07 of round 1
2013-06-14: W vs. [#244WW] Ronny Alexander Landaeta (6-4-0) via UD ()
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Kelvin Gastelum 105, Nicholas Musoke 133
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Middleweight (185)
[#43] Andrew Craig (9-2-0, +161) vs. [#82] Cezar Ferreira (7-3-0, -191)
Last 3 Fights: Andrew Craig (1-2-0)
2013-10-26: L vs. [#30MW] Luke Barnatt (8-1-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:12 of round 2
2013-07-06: W vs. [*] Chris Leben (22-11-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
2013-01-19: L vs. [#71MW] Ronny Markes (14-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Cezar Ferreira (2-1-0)
2014-03-23: L vs. [#11MW] C.B. Dollaway (15-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:39 of round 1
2013-11-09: W vs. [#268WW] Daniel Sarafian (8-5-0) via SD (28-29, 30-28, 30-27)
2013-08-03: W vs. [#49MW] Thiago Santos (9-2-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 0:47 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Andrew Craig 245, Cezar Ferreira 97
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Fight Matrix Program: UFC Fight Night / Te Huna vs. Marquardt (06-28-2014)
Middleweight (185)
[#20LHW] James Te Huna (16-7-0, -216) vs. [#35WW] Nate Marquardt (32-13-2, +177)
Nate Marquardt is the All-Time #2 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: James Te Huna (1-2-0)
2013-12-07: L vs. [#12LHW] Mauricio Rua (22-9-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:03 of round 1
2013-05-25: L vs. [#7LHW] Glover Teixeira (22-3-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 2:38 of round 1
2013-02-16: W vs. [#25LHW] Ryan Jimmo (19-4-0) via UD (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Nate Marquardt (0-3-0)
2013-10-19: L vs. [#4WW] Hector Lombard (34-4-1) via KO (Punches) in 1:48 of round 1
2013-03-16: L vs. [#14WW] Jake Ellenberger (29-8-0) via KO (Punches) in 3:00 of round 1
2013-01-12: L vs. [#16WW] Tarec Saffiedine (15-3-0) via UD (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: James Te Huna 203, Nate Marquardt 252
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Heavyweight (265)
[#28] Soa Palelei (21-3-0, +123) vs. [#32] Jared Rosholt (10-1-0, -147)
Last 3 Fights: Soa Palelei (3-0-0)
2014-05-10: W vs. [#133HW+] Ruan Potts (8-2-0) via KO (Punch) in 2:20 of round 1
2013-12-07: W vs. [*] Pat Barry (8-7-0) via KO (Punches) in 2:09 of round 1
2013-08-31: W vs. [#111LHW] Nikita Krylov (16-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:34 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Jared Rosholt (3-0-0)
2014-04-11: W vs. [#76HW+] Daniel Omielanczuk (16-4-1) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-11-30: W vs. [#50HW+] Walt Harris (6-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2013-08-02: W vs. [#177LHW] Jason Walraven (6-4-0) via KO (Punch) in 0:34 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Soa Palelei 49, Jared Rosholt 78
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Featherweight (145)
[#24] Hatsu Hioki (27-7-2, +162) vs. [#32] Charles Oliveira (17-4-0, -193)
Hatsu Hioki is the All-Time #4 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Hatsu Hioki (1-2-0)
2014-03-01: W vs. [#331FW] Ivan Menjivar (25-12-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2013-08-28: L vs. [#16FW] Darren Elkins (17-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2013-01-26: L vs. [#7FW] Clay Guida (31-14-0) via SD (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Charles Oliveira (1-2-0)
2014-02-15: W vs. [#151FW] Andy Ogle (9-5-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 2:40 of round 3
2013-07-06: L vs. [#3FW] Frankie Edgar (16-4-1) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2012-09-22: L vs. [#4FW] Cub Swanson (20-5-0) via KO (Punch) in 2:40 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Hatsu Hioki 119, Charles Oliveira 133
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Charles Oliveira leads 1-0
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There is nothing wrong with the 10-point must system.
There have undoubtedly been thousands and thousands of articles and posts on the Internet regarding the 10-point must system and how it should be abolished from combat sports, MMA in particular. Partly, because it has produced so many questionable decisions, perhaps mostly because it was developed with the sport of boxing in mind — most MMA fans like to distance themselves from the cousin sport.
However, introducing a more complicated scoring system for judges who can’t seem to utilize the 10-point must system properly would most definitely produce more variability and more chance for corruption.
Take the typical 3-round UFC fight for example, where there are no “obvious” 10-8 rounds, no even rounds and no point deductions. Without caring about the round-by-round particulars, each card can be scored 4 different ways (30-27,27-30,29-28,28-29). Looking at that and other popular proposed scenarios.
| Scoring Method | Potential Totals Per Card |
| 10-pt must (as is) | 4 |
| 10-pt must w/ 10-10 rounds | 8 |
| 10-pt must w/ half-points | 8 |
| 10-pt must w/ half-points & 8.5 rounds | 14 |
| Rounds vary from 10-9 to 10-5 (no half points) | 26 |
| Rounds vary from 10-9 to 10-0 (no half points) | 56 |