So I went back and watched the first round of Khabib vs. Gaethje, having scored it decisively for Khabib during the madness live. On rewatch, I still thought Khabib did enough but it's a VERY close round.

One issue in that round is that both guys absorbed the shots so well. Making it harder to decipher what's more immediately impactful - i.e. what scores heaviest.

This is the big argument for having judges cageside, and deferring to their expertise, because they are up close and can see and hear the physical effects of the shots better than we can sitting at home. This is also why strike stats are meaningless. Impact scores - not quantity

For me, Gaethje landed some nice left hooks and leg kicks while Khabib caught him with that knee through the middle and seemed to trouble Gaethje with his punches as he went forward. It was close, but I just had Khabib ahead entering the last 30 seconds.

In that last 30 seconds, Khabib got a takedown. That doesn't score. He achieved a dominant position. That doesn't score. And he threatened with an armbar.... which does score, depending on how close you think it is to finishing the fight.

So, if you had Justin ahead after 4.20 of round 1.... I don't think Khabib would have done enough on the ground to change that.

But if you had Khabib ahead at 4.20 (which I had) the time on the ground kept that lead for him - without extending it much.

All in all.

Close rounds are close rounds.

Read the criteria.

Sound.