Is exchanging bodily fluids with your opponent an allowed strategy?

[big franklin]

Let me preface this thread by stating that this is a very serious question I have, and one that I have spent plenty of time thinking about.

I've noticed a trend this past year regarding fighters weaponizing their bodily fluids. We saw Luke Rockhold pin Costa down and smear his bloody nose all over his face and we also saw Chandler bust blood all over Dustin Poirier's face. In both cases, no fighter was penalised or even warned.

This begs the question: are fighters allowed to utilize their 'juices' in fights? If not, why weren't Rockhold and Chandler punished?

I personally don't mind fighters using avant garde strategies like this, it adds an extra dimension to fights but I can understand that some may fight it overly vulgar.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

 

[HereticBD]

It is kinda gross when they climax, but hey, a strategy is a strategy.

 

[nonoob]

We saw Luke Rockhold pin Costa down and smear his bloody nose all over his face and we also saw Chandler bust blood all over Dustin Poirier's face

F'n repulsive actions. Complete scumbag moves, lost respect for both fighters.

No rules against it - guess no one ever considered something that slimy would happen.

 

[Safton]

Here are the only rules I could find that even tangentially touch on the subject:

3. Biting or spitting at an opponent: Biting in any form is illegal. A fighter must recognize that a referee may not be able to physically observe some actions, and must make the referee aware if they are being bit during an exhibition of unarmed combat.

18. Intentionally placing a finger into any orifice, or into any cut or laceration of your opponent: A fighter may not place their fingers into an open laceration in an attempt to enlarge the cut. A fighter may not place their fingers into an opponent's, nose, ears, mouth, or any body cavity.

22. Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions;
a. A fighter MUST follow the instructions of the referee at all times. Any deviation or non-compliance may result in the fighter's disqualification.

23. Unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent. Every athlete competing in the sport of MMA is expected to represent the sport in a positive light emphasizing sportsmanship and humility. Any athlete that disrespects the rules of the sport or attempts to inflict unnecessary harm on a competitor who has been either taken out of the competition by the referee or has tapped out of the competition shall be viewed as being unsportsmanlike.

So you can't spit on a dude, obviously. That rules out that particular "bodily fluid". You also can't stick a finger into one of their lacerations. Other than that, there is no explicit guidance against coating your opponent in your blood or their own as Rockhold did. Likewise, Cory even used his forehead to widen Song's laceration with some vigorous head position and rubbing IIRC. Totally legal even though using his fingers or actual forceful headbutting to do the same would've been a foul.

The only real way I think you'd get called for doing something like this is if the ref in question decided he/she didn't like it and said "Hey, stop that shit" under nebulous grounds of it being "unsportsmanlike" and you kept doing it anyway, causing it to fall under Rules #22 and #23, which is why I included them. Dunno how enforceable that is under the Rules-as-written, though.

 

[regmma123]

F'n repulsive actions. Complete scumbag moves, lost respect for both fighters.

No rules against it - guess no one ever considered something that slimy would happen.

If Costa did it to Rockhold, people would've had a big problem with it

 

[Kryptt]

No peeing, pooping, vomiting or spitting. You might get away with a subtle booger flick tho or Blow yer Nose Military style...

Not sure about Tears...

 

[Fergelmince]

Let me preface this thread by stating that this is a very serious question I have, and one that I have spent plenty of time thinking about.

I've noticed a trend this past year regarding fighters weaponizing their bodily fluids. We saw Luke Rockhold pin Costa down and smear his bloody nose all over his face and we also saw Chandler bust blood all over Dustin Poirier's face. In both cases, no fighter was penalised or even warned.

This begs the question: are fighters allowed to utilize their 'juices' in fights? If not, why weren't Rockhold and Chandler punished?

I personally don't mind fighters using avant garde strategies like this, it adds an extra dimension to fights but I can understand that some may fight it overly vulgar.

Yes, watch Chandler vs Poirier. chandler was literally spitting his blood on Poirier's face and mouth and the ref just stood there and watched.

Timestamped at 7:22

 

[nonoob]

If Costa did it to Rockhold, people would've had a big problem with it

NO Question about that.
Luke showed zero respect for a fellow fighter, plus a total lack of sportsmanship.

Chandler sunk SO LOW - cheating a fish hook, spitting all over Dustin, scumbag moves.

 

[richardjohnson]

Yea the examples TS provided were fucking disgusting. It’s a fight so you obviously might get some of your opponents blood on you but something like what Chandler did shouldn’t be allowed IMO

 

[G10]

I remember Poirier actually admitted using this tactic against Joe Duffy. He was in Duffy’s guard, and he was using his own blood to drip into Duffy’s eyes, nose, and mouth. I’m the post fight interview, Poirier even bragged that he’s “a nasty mother-f***er.”

As for my thoughts, I’m okay with it. They have to do blood work for a reason, right?

 

[gentel]

The biggest incident of this I can remember was Tim Elliott intentionally grinding his forehead on his opponent's face to cut his own forehead and drip blood into his opponent's eyes

 

[kfighter]

Time to work on my aim for the "semen to the eye" technique.

 

[CanMMAfan]

Let me preface this thread by stating that this is a very serious question I have, and one that I have spent plenty of time thinking about.

I've noticed a trend this past year regarding fighters weaponizing their bodily fluids. We saw Luke Rockhold pin Costa down and smear his bloody nose all over his face and we also saw Chandler bust blood all over Dustin Poirier's face. In both cases, no fighter was penalised or even warned.

This begs the question: are fighters allowed to utilize their 'juices' in fights? If not, why weren't Rockhold and Chandler punished?

I personally don't mind fighters using avant garde strategies like this, it adds an extra dimension to fights but I can understand that some may fight it overly vulgar.

I utilized your moms juices last night

 

[bongwater]

yoel used to shit on people

 

[muhammadgoatli]

 

[IDGETKTFO]

/thread

 

[Flower2dPeople]

 

[runjay]

Forgot who it was but some dude was notorious for not showering for like a week before the fight. Dirty motherfucker that smells disgusting, rubbing his gross-ness all over you.

If Chiesa or Smelesberger were smart, they’d pull that move. They already look the part :clever:

 

[AndrewGolota48]

yoel used to shit on people

Would've been interesting if Yoel, Kish, or Sylvia's got into a north-south position.