Should knees be allowed to the head/face on a grounded opponent?

[Takes_Two_To_Tango]

Should this be legal?

 

[thegr8st]

I don't think so. I think it could be very dangerous to pin someone's head to the ground and drive your knee onto his face. At least with knees from a standing position the re is room for someone's head rto go backwards. I do think they need to revisit what a grounded opponent is. Fighters like sterling will stay on there knees to prevent knees to the head.

 

[bobgeese]

 

[GBJohn]

Personally, I believe knees or kicks to the head of a grounded opponent should only be allowed if the thrower of the strike has his or her butt or shoulders touching the mat (upkicks). I like watching MMA, some things are always going to be forbidden in the interest of the sport being sanctioned. I'd rather keep it sanctioned and readily available.

 

[BenRichards]

That knee yan threw? That should be a legal knee. Sterling was stalling in that position knowing yan had to throw specific shots. The knee was deserved. Same situation with moose /weidman and the Chris trying to plant his hand to force the downed opponent situation.

Stomps/soccer kicks are a tad much but I think that opponent who's capable of standing shouldn't be able to stall or force the person trying to engage into picking specified shots or face disqualification. I think maybe an opponent who's on all fours, back is on the mat or stomach should be the line. Not a guy on 1 knee

 

[Frode Falch]

Yes imo.

Make it a more 50/50 sport for wrestler vs striker.

But no thug stomps like in pride.

 

[Fossor]

Yes. I don't see how putting a knee on the ground is different from a squat pose for example.

 

[Tweak896]

Should be, but because it isn't Yan should've known better. What a waste of a fight.

 

[Simple Southerner]

Yes, including stomps and soccer kicks

 

[capnlarge]

Sure. But they weren't legal. As a result, this is a sucker punch

 

[Ronin13]

Using a downed knee to avoid damage is number one bullshit

 

[ikite103]

Absolutely a valid technique you think in a real fight an opponent cares how many points of contact you have with the ground

 

[SeattleFightFan]

This article

https://www.mmamania.com/2021/3/7/2...time-to-legalize-knees-to-a-grounded-opponent

makes very compelling arguments.

Basically says fighters are now dropping hands and knees to say in danger zones safely, and that needs to be stopped.

 

[Gmork]

That knee yan threw? That should be a legal knee. Sterling was stalling in that position knowing yan had to throw specific shots.

All he had to do was either punch or step away. He wasn't trying to stall, he was trying to wrestle.

 

[Gmork]

Absolutely a valid technique you think in a real fight an opponent cares how many points of contact you have with the ground

In a real fight I can bring a gun, wtf does this have to do with anything? Let's bring back headbutts and ballshots and make sure we never get to see our sport on tv again, while we're at it.

 

[welcometohavoc]

I don't think so. I think it could be very dangerous to pin someone's head to the ground and drive your knee onto his face. At least with knees from a standing position the re is room for someone's head rto go backwards. I do think they need to revisit what a grounded opponent is. Fighters like sterling will stay on there knees to prevent knees to the head.

Here's the thing, if you want to change what the definition of grounded to mean someone on their back or stomach, I'm fine with that, but in the situation with Yan/Sterling, that knee should absolutely be legal. A fighter having his hands and feet/knees on the ground should not protect them from strikes to the head.

 

[welcometohavoc]

In a real fight I can bring a gun, wtf does this have to do with anything? Let's bring back headbutts and ballshots and make sure we never get to see our sport on tv again, while we're at it.

I hope you understand the difference between bringing a gun and using your body as a weapon just like you do in every fight.

 

[SeattleFightFan]

Using a downed knee to avoid damage is number one bullshit

Right.

It’s pretty clear this is what the folks who made the rules wanted to ban when they said “downed opponent”



Not this:

 

[Horsen A. Round]

In a real fight I can bring a gun, wtf does this have to do with anything? Let's bring back headbutts and ballshots and make sure we never get to see our sport on tv again, while we're at it.

Yet you can watch degenerate pornography on demand. It's not like we're talking about death matches. Kneeling the way Sterling was should not be considered downed.

 

[Gmork]

I hope you understand the difference between bringing a gun and using your body as a weapon just like you do in every fight.

You were talking about street fights as if that has any relevance here. In a street fight I can bite your eyelid off. It's not relevant to the conversation at all. MMA is a sport, and there are rules. It's not anything goes.