### Controversial Officiating Sparks Outrage at UFC 307

UFC 307 has become the talk of the town, not for its fierce matchups, but for a series of controversial officiating decisions that have left fans and fighters infuriated. The uproar stems from three main issues: questionable judges' scorecards, referees overlooking fouls, and broader concerns about how MMA fights are officiated.

The first major point of contention emerged during the co-main event, a bantamweight title fight between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Pena. Heading into the fifth round, most spectators and even the commentary team believed the fight was evenly matched at 2-2. Raquel Pennington appeared to have the upper hand in the final round. However, the judges awarded the split decision victory to Julianna Pena, a decision that left many, including UFC CEO Dana White, baffled. "I thought the judging tonight was atrocious," White remarked at the post-fight press conference. "It felt like I was at a boxing match in Ireland tonight."

The second controversy erupted during a prelim bout featuring middleweights Cesar Almeida and Ihor Potieria. Almeida committed up to five eye pokes and low blows, yet inexplicably received no warnings from the referee. Dana White admitted he missed the fight but shared that UFC Executive Marc Ratner quickly intervened, ensuring referee Dave Seljestad would not officiate any more bouts that night.

The third and perhaps most debated issue involved bantamweight Mario Bautista’s match against Jose Aldo. Bautista's strategy focused heavily on repeated takedown attempts, keeping Aldo pinned against the fence without landing significant strikes. This approach drew criticism for stalling the fight, with Dana White vocalizing his frustration, "If you're looking at attempted takedowns, well what about stuffing the takedowns? It was just madness." White emphasized that referees should be more proactive in breaking up such tactics to keep the fight engaging.

The controversy didn’t end there. Former double champion Conor McGregor suggested on social media that the UFC could consider implementing a clock system to prevent fighters from stalling against the cage. In response, Mario Bautista fired back at McGregor, saying, "Conor can kiss my ass... Shut up."

Dana White concluded by stressing the responsibility of referees to maintain the flow of the fight. "When the guy keeps doing it and is doing everything that he can to not fight and not win the fight, as a ref you should break that up immediately," he asserted.

With multiple controversies stemming from UFC 307, questions remain about how the sport can better ensure fair and decisive officiating in future events.