How do you feel about the "inability to continue" illegal strike rule?

[EGarrett]

Obviously it makes sense that if you render a guy unable to continue fighting with an illegal shot, you should lose, but there's a problem with it IMO, which is that, from what I've seen the victim is often notified beforehand whether or not the blow was illegal.

I think this is flawed. I'm not saying Corresani was acting, but he DID ask what happened and THEN claimed he couldn't see afterwards and had a long "I'm dizzy and can't stay off the ground" overselling that I've never seen from someone who was actually rocked.

If he was acting, I don't blame him though. If the ref tells you that you were the victim of an illegal blow and that if you can't continue he'll declare you the winner, you obviously have it in your interest to try to win an Oscar. From what I recall, Renzo and Matt Hughes have done this before also. But I think this isn't in the spirit of competition or the rules.

Wouldn't it be better if they didn't tell the victim outright that the blow was illegal, but instead called time and told the victim that it was POSSIBLY illegal, then ask him if he can continue? If he can't continue, then they can review the tape and the fight is stopped and he loses if it was legal, and wins if it was illegal. If he can continue, they deduct a point if it was illegal (and DQ on any subsequent illegal blow) and keep the fight going.

At least this way, the victim doesn't know beforehand and thus has an incentive to be honest about how much the strike harmed him, since he loses of it was legal.

Oh well.

 

[KantoTerror]

Illegal blows...doesn't matter if the victim wants to take the "high road" or take the "cheap" win.

 

[jayBMX]

The rule needs to be in place

But it's a sorry way to win..

I think the victim should be told straight up if it was an illegal blow. As much as it could have been an accident, the rules are there for everyone to see and they are there for a reason. If they want to milk it and act the part, then that's on them.

 

[Goodfella86]

I agree in spirit. I don't want to be the keyboard warrior who calls out fighters for overselling, but HONESTLY, we all know it happens. and we were probably all skeptical the other night. Renzo/frank was another case.

it's a tough rule to enforce. and for anybody who is legitimately hurt and unable to continue, it's a bit unfair. so we should just let it be, and any fighter who fakes it will probably be called out on this forum and suffer the small dose of shame. sherdog is the place for stuff like that.

 

[neomage2021]

well you can;t stop a fight for a possible illegal blow. Either it was illegal and you stop the fight and check on the fighter or it wasnt and the fight is never stopped.

 

[forskarn]

Obviously it makes sense that if you render a guy unable to continue fighting with an illegal shot, you should lose, but there's a problem with it IMO, which is that, from what I've seen the victim is often notified beforehand whether or not the blow was illegal.

I think this is flawed. I'm not saying Corresani was acting, but he DID ask what happened and THEN claimed he couldn't see afterwards and had a long "I'm dizzy and can't stay off the ground" overselling that I've never seen from someone who was actually rocked.

If he was acting, I don't blame him though. If the ref tells you that you were the victim of an illegal blow and that if you can't continue he'll declare you the winner, you obviously have it in your interest to try to win an Oscar. From what I recall, Renzo and Matt Hughes have done this before also. But I think this isn't in the spirit of competition or the rules.

Wouldn't it be better if they didn't tell the victim outright that the blow was illegal, but instead called time and told the victim that it was POSSIBLY illegal, then ask him if he can continue? If he can't continue, then they can review the tape and the fight is stopped and he loses if it was legal, and wins if it was illegal. If he can continue, they deduct a point if it was illegal (and DQ on any subsequent illegal blow) and keep the fight going.

At least this way, the victim doesn't know beforehand and thus has an incentive to be honest about how much the strike harmed him, since he loses of it was legal.

Oh well.

I dont get this part tbh. Of cource corresani knew the blow was illegal, else the fight wouldnt been paused? you must mean that the judge dont tell if the illegal blow in question was intenional or not? Cus depending on if it is or not, its a DQ or NC.

 

[Hans Gercmiov]

What's in question is intent. That judgment is left to the referee.

Edit: also, doesn't it go without saying if a referee intervenes due a strike without immediately calling a stop to the bout that the strike was illegal?

 

[Andre Xiong]

I think all illegal blows should be No Contest unless it's obviously blatant (Cheick Kongo to Al Turk) or repeat offense (Cheick Kongo to CroCop's sack)

I get groin shots and eye pokes but the knee-down (or finger on the mat) rule needs to go.

 

[antithetic]

TWO hands should be on the floor (while trying to stand up) or else people trying to wall walk will continuously exploit this rule.

 

[EGarrett]

I dont get this part tbh. Of cource corresani knew the blow was illegal, else the fight wouldnt been paused? you must mean that the judge dont tell if the illegal blow in question was intenional or not? Cus depending on if it is or not, its a DQ or NC.

Well, the ref can review the tape, so I'm suggesting that he just tell the fighter who was the victim of it that he thought the blow was illegal and will review the tape. Then it's up to the victim to say whether or not he can continue BEFORE the ref decides. If he can't and it's a legal (or unintentional blow), then the guy who can't continue loses (or I assume no contest if it was illegal but unintentional).

This way the victim doesn't know beforehand that he has a guaranteed victory if he just pretends to be seriously hurt, and could lose from it. Which should encourage them to be more honest.

 

[Jimmy Tuna**]

I think all illegal blows should be No Contest unless it's obviously blatant (Cheick Kongo to Al Turk) or repeat offense (Cheick Kongo to CroCop's sack)

I get groin shots and eye pokes but the knee-down (or finger on the mat) rule needs to go.

So if you're losing just use an illegal strike and get the NC? Gotcha.

A knee to the head changes the course of a fight and should be an automatic DQ. I don't want to see someone win using illegal strikes.

 

[ShoelessRye]

Corresani's nose was smashed up from the illegal strike - no reason he should continue as that would have great effect on the outcome of the fight going forward. A knee to the head is going to rattle you greatly and will effect you the rest of the fight - to try and put the onus on the victim to keep fighting is silliness. Same with eye pokes and egregious nut shots - I think in the very least they should be automatic point losses, and if I was the victim fighter I'd take my full allotment of recovery time to ensure no damage is lasting to the point my opponent was gaining from the foul. Because if you want to show how tough you are to fight while not completely ready, you are rewarding the illegal shot by giving your opponent the edge while you fight while still effected by the illegal strike.

 

[pseudo genki]

I'd much rather have the occasional fighter pretend to be slightly more finished than they actually are when they're winning anyway than have fighters pretend they aren't concussed with broken faces to avoid a potential loss. Adrenaline is one hell of a drug and fighters often don't realize how injured they are until shortly after the fight is over.

In this particular case, that knee was fight-ending anyway and watching Akira pull himself up the cage and try to do the Maynard walk wouldn't have improved anything.

 

[neomage2021]

Well, the ref can review the tape, so I'm suggesting that he just tell the fighter who was the victim of it that he thought the blow was illegal and will review the tape. Then it's up to the victim to say whether or not he can continue BEFORE the ref decides. If he can't and it's a legal (or unintentional blow), then the guy who can't continue loses (or I assume no contest if it was illegal but unintentional).

This way the victim doesn't know beforehand that he has a guaranteed victory if he just pretends to be seriously hurt, and could lose from it. Which should encourage them to be more honest.

the fighterscan look up at the screen just like the ref can...

 

[dredd57]

It really depends how hurt they are. Knocking someone out cold with an illegal blow or headbutt obviously needs to be addressed in such a fashion. But at the same time, there really isn't any legitimate way to stop a fighter from acting like Akira was. The pretending to lay down over and over thing was incredibly stupid and gave it all away.

With that said, it was on Blanco not the throw the illegal knees, even if it was an accident.

 

[tenniswhiz]

Akira would have had a lot of trouble fighting at his usual level after taking a shot like that.
You could see that his nose was broken by it.

I'm not saying Rivera was a good match for Bisping, but that illegal knee basically ended Rivera and all Bisping had to do was lean on him after that.

I just think that if the fighter DOES continue after taking a nasty illegal blow, they get penalized for doing so because they are often hurt badly and still have to fight.

 

[TampaBayBoxer**]

I feel medium strong to strong about this

 

[spid3yo]

So if you're losing just use an illegal strike and get the NC? Gotcha.

A knee to the head changes the course of a fight and should be an automatic DQ. I don't want to see someone win using illegal strikes.

If you are losing a fight and you have your opponent in a position to even be able to throw in illegal knee, you should be going for the win, not the NC. Stupid to imply a fighter would patiently attempt an illegal strike to end a fight.

but what do I know, It worked for Bobby Green

 

[Jimmy Tuna**]

If you are losing a fight and you have your opponent in a position to even be able to throw in illegal knee, you should be going for the win, not the NC. Stupid to imply a fighter would patiently attempt an illegal strike to end a fight.

but what do I know, It worked for Bobby Green

I'll just throw some rabbit punches then, or keep kicking him in the groin.

You just need to think ahead when planning things, it's not that hard.

 

[memphis0789]

If you are losing a fight and you have your opponent in a position to even be able to throw in illegal knee, you should be going for the win, not the NC. Stupid to imply a fighter would patiently attempt an illegal strike to end a fight.

but what do I know, It worked for Bobby Green

im assuming theyve been trying to win the whole fight anyway so its not much of a stretch to say someone will try to game the rules and throw a really hard groin strike that was close to legal just to draw out a possibility of a nc instead of a loss.