During the UFC 305 bout featuring heavyweights Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Tai Tuivasa, official Howie Booth was relieved of his duties due to disputed scoring. Booth had given the victory to Tuivasa with a score of 30-27, while the other two judges favored Rozenstruik. Although Booth’s mid-event removal was unusual, it was considered essential to uphold the event’s integrity and the sport’s credibility.
Ben Cartlidge replaced Booth as the third official for the co-main fight. Despite his removal from UFC 305, Booth remains a certified official with the Combat Sports Commission of Western Australia. UFC executive David Shaw endorsed the decision, emphasizing the significance of maintaining high standards and the need for introspection before resuming duties. While Booth may officiate future events in Western Australia, his involvement in upcoming UFC cards is uncertain.
