Henry Cejudo Proposed AI Judging for UFC

Former champion Henry Cejudo suggested utilizing AI to improve scoring accuracy following recent UFC events.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts

Expressionist editorial sports illustration of MMA gloves with glowing nodes in mid-strike, representing the use of AI in combat sports. — Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo has proposed incorporating AI-based technology and glove-integrated sensors to increase objectivity in professional fight scoring. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Henry Cejudo has proposed the implementation of AI-based judging for UFC fights, arguing that current methods suffer from emotional bias and a lack of technical knowledge. Cejudo suggests tracking fighter strikes using integrated glove chips and infrared lighting to ensure more objective scoring.

Why it matters

Cejudo claims current human judges often lack the necessary combat sports expertise and may be influenced by personal feelings, which he believes undermines the integrity of fight outcomes. His proposal comes as the promotion continues to experiment with emerging technologies to modernize officiating.

The UFC 332 main event featured a 5-round flyweight title fight that concluded with two 48-47 scorecards. Officials note that Athletic Commissions remain skeptical of integrating AI judging due to potential system inaccuracies.

The players

Henry Cejudo

He is a former two-division UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist who has become a vocal commentator on fight officiating.

Dana White

He serves as the CEO of the UFC and has publicly voiced support for incorporating retired fighters into the official judging pool.

Natalia Silva

She is a professional mixed martial artist who recently secured a victory via unanimous decision at UFC 332.

The details

Cejudo envisions a system where infrared sensors and chips in gloves provide real-time data on strike precision, which he argues is superior to human perception. This push for automation follows the UFC's introduction of AI-powered rankings earlier in 2026 and prior testing in boxing matches.

The UFC 332 event occurred on October 3, 2026, in Salt Lake City.
AI-assisted judging technology was previously utilized during the 2024 boxing match between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Season Trajectory

The debate over AI officiating represents a potential paradigm shift in combat sports that could eventually replace or supplement traditional ring-side judging. This proposal follows the 2024 Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk boxing match AI judging experiment, which serves as the industry's primary reference for algorithmic scoring.

The potential adoption of AI judging would alter how significant fight outcomes are determined, moving away from subjective human scoring toward metrics-based strike tracking. This change could lead to more consistent results in tight 5-round decisions where scorecards have historically drawn criticism.

The takeaway

While proponents argue AI provides objective precision in tracking strikes, the skepticism from Athletic Commissions highlights the difficulty of replacing human nuance in high-stakes combat sports. Fans and bettors should expect continued debates over judging standards as the promotion explores new technological integration.