Should kicks to the knee be considered illegal in MMA?

[rlm81]

We all know that a number of moves are considered illegal according to the unified rules of MMA. The long list includes:
Butting with the head, Biting or spitting at an opponent, Hair pulling, Fish-hooking, Intentionally placing a finger into any orifice, or into any cut or laceration of your opponent, Eye gouging of any kind, Groin attacks of any kind, Downward pointing of elbow strikes, Small joint manipulation, Strikes to the spine or back of the head, Heel kicks to the kidney, Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea, Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle, Kicking the head of a grounded opponent, ...

There is an ongoing debate whether kicks to the knee should be added to the list or not. What is your opinion?

[Panacci]

I don't think so, they are legal in a lot of other combat sports, like Muay Thai, fighters just need to learn to deal with them properly. The same career ending damage can be done to a fighter through arm bars, heel hooks, ankle locks, etc.

[MMA Fan 505]

Put an option for "only for Jon Jones." so people don't have to let their bias be shown in actual words and posts.

[Tigerknee]

If someone is attempting to kick me in the face I see no problem of kicking their knee

[TheRassler]

Originally Posted by rlm81

So that's where greg jackson stole the idea from...

[Shake and bake**]

I don't see why they would want them to be allowed. Basically the two biggest recurring injuries in this type of sport are shoulders and knees. Why exacerbate an already significant problem. Imagine if Jones and GSP were in the same weight class you and I both know Jones would try and ruin GSP's career by stomping that newly minted knee.

[EvoTheGamer]

Yes, make them illegal. That shit can ruin a fighters career or can really put a fighter on the shelf for a long time. Why can't you just throw a leg kick?

[Anung Un Rama]

I don't like them at all but I think its just something fighters are going to have to prepare for.

I do think rules re: elbows to a grounded opponent and stomps need to be reviewed.

[SOE Jinn]

You can't make kicks to the knee illegal, without making kicks to the LEGS illegal TOO.

Because you can't be sure what was the target point of 2 dynamically moving fighters. He might have been aiming for the thigh and missed.

[sickboy609]

Originally Posted by MMA Fan 505

Put an option for "only for Jon Jones." so people don't have to let their bias be shown in actual words and posts.

I was thinking the same thing, haters gonna hate