Scorecards! How Was Royval Vs. Taira A Split?

LAS VEGAS- Another week, another bad mixed martial arts (MMA) scorecard.

Brandon Royval scored a big main event win at UFC Vegas 98 last (Sat., Oct. 12, 2024), when he upset the betting favorite, undefeated Tatsuro Taira, via split decision from inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada (watch highlights).

Royval won rounds one, three, and five, and for some ridiculous reason, it ended in a split decision. The fight was very, very easy to score if you have eyeballs.

For some reason, longtime MMA judge Sal D’Amato scored round one for Taira, and it makes no sense because he got outstruck and suffered more damage - you know, the number one criteria of effective striking.

Check out the scorecard below:

#UFCVegas98 Official Scorecard: Brandon Royval (@BrandonRoyval) vs Tatsuro Taira

Complete Scorecards ➡️ https://t.co/zL6QkKTLpn pic.twitter.com/ECKL7buyw0

— UFC News (@UFCNews) October 13, 2024

D’Amato has improved at judging fights this year for the most part, but when he’s bad, he is awful - like at UFC Vegas 98.

D’Amato was the dissenting judge on two other fights throughout UFC Vegas 98 that clearly should have been unanimous decisions (Daniel Rodriguez vs. Alex Morono and Julia Polastri vs. Cory McKenna).

Sal D'Amato has to be betting on fights pic.twitter.com/5qCLQn19A3

— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) October 13, 2024

UFC 305 had “atrocious” scorecards last week, and shocker, there were bad ones this week. And guess what? There will be bad scorecards next week for UFC Vegas 99 - the never-ending cycle of horrible judging in MMA.

For complete UFC Vegas 98 results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.