CSAC Director Andy Foster Calls UFC 331 Scorecard Impossible
California State Athletic Commission chief Andy Foster labeled Ron McCarthy's 50-45 card as impossible during the UFC 331 post-event review.
Key points
- Andy Foster, CSAC executive director, called Ron McCarthy's 50-45 scorecard for UFC 331 'not possible' during the post-event debrief.
- Foster specifically contested the fourth-round score, arguing that Alexandre Pantoja's control on the ground should have been weighted more heavily.
- Joshua Van retained his UFC flyweight title with a unanimous decision, scoring 49-46, 48-47, and 50-45 on the official cards.
The air in the debrief room feels heavy, thick with the residual heat of a five-round war that ended not with a knockout, but with a pen stroke. Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, does not sit back. He leans forward. His voice cuts through the professional veneer, sharp and unyielding, as he dissects the official decision of UFC 331.
Joshua Van retained his flyweight crown at Crypto.com Arena, the official cards reading 49-46, 48-47, and 50-45. Yet the final digit on that last card hangs like a ghost over the victory. Foster calls it "not possible." The words land with the weight of a heavy bag strike, a direct challenge to the integrity of the scoring system in one of the sport's most contested title defenses.
Foster Challenges the Fourth Round Score
The controversy centers on the fourth round, a stretch where the pace slowed and the ground game took center stage. Alexandre Pantoja controlled large portions of this segment on the canvas, a dominance that Foster argues was ignored by judge Ron McCarthy. According to reports from Aaron Bronsteter, Foster admitted he had to calm his temper before entering the meeting, his frustration boiling over from the perceived injustice of the score.
Foster insists the judges failed to apply secondary criteria, specifically the value of control when significant offense is scarce. In his view, the 50-45 margin is a statistical anomaly, a number that defies the physical reality of what unfolded between the ropes. He demands a reckoning with the standards set by the commission, pushing back against a card that seems to contradict the visible flow of the fight.
Judges Defend Their Individual Perspectives
Ron McCarthy stands firm in his defense, explaining that he saw Van ahead before Pantoja secured the takedown. He argues that the challenger produced little damage from the top position, while the champion remained active from the bottom. McCarthy, who plans to review the footage again, maintains that his assessment reflects the tactical reality he observed from his seat in the arena.
Sal D’Amato offers a contrasting view, awarding the fourth round to Pantoja based on effective grappling. His card reads 49-46, a narrower margin that acknowledges the challenger's ground work. Derek Cleary, meanwhile, split the difference by giving Pantoja the first and fourth rounds, resulting in a 48-47 victory for Van. The three cards paint a fractured picture of the same event, highlighting the subjective nature of judging in close contests.
Outcome Remains Unchanged Despite Criticism
Despite the heated exchange and the public scrutiny, the result stands. Joshua Van walks away with his second successful title defense, the belt tight around his waist. The criticism from the regulatory body serves as a loud echo in the aftermath, but it does not erase the official record. The fight remains a unanimous decision, a testament to the complexity and often contentious nature of professional mixed martial arts scoring.
As reported by MMA Sucka, the incident underscores the ongoing tension between athletic commissions and the judges who score the sport's most high-stakes bouts. The debate may linger, but the champion remains champion, the decision final even as the questions persist in the minds of those who oversee the game.
