The purpose of this study was to compare the athletes’ scores, penalties and efficiency between the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016, and identify which variable determined the winner of the matches. A total of 608 matches in the Olympic and Paralympic Games were analysed. Total relative scores (ippon, waza ari and yuko), penalties (shido per match) and efficiency were identified in the male and female categories, Olympic and Paralympic Games, and medallists and non-medallists. The main results showed that waza ari was higher in the Olympic Games (p=.05) than in the Paralympic Games (male team); ippon was higher in the Paralympic Games (p=.05) and shido was higher in the Olympic Games (p=.05) (female team). The male Olympic medallists were more efficient (p=.01), while the female Paralympic medallists were less penalised (p=.01). Ippon was the key variable that determined winning in both the Olympic and Paralympic matches (p<.001). We concluded that the male Olympic judo athletes showed greater efficiency and scores than Paralympians, while the female team presented more scores and fewer penalties. Ippon was the key point that determined victory in most of the matches.