Why aren't headbutts legal?

[The Reed]

I've actually wondered this for a while now.
To those saying it takes no skill, that logic is flawed for several reasons.
First of all by this logic it technically takes no skill to place ones fist into anothers face but there are defences and counters that come in to play as there would be with headbutts.
As for clinching or on the ground, elbows are arguably just as easy to land from these close positions.
One thing that comes into play with headbutts more than any other strike is the risk of costing yourself the fight, so even still its not something you would want to do often.

However there are still arguments against the headbutt though, cuts are the main one, Wanderlei Silva famously cost himself a tournament final because of them and there's also a high risk of double KO's.
Oh yeah and also brain damage but who cares about that?

Here's a gif of a cool headbutt KO:

 

[AtaTheCrow]

If headbutts were legal, Tito would of been the eternal champ

fuck this is so true!

Imagine if headbutts were legal... wrestlers would have been even stronger, fights wouldn't last long either, cuts and so on.

 

[The Reed]

Bring it back

No holds barred

Fight day roid tests only

LETS GET IT ON

Take out the roid tests!

Can you imagine that? A bunch of prime Bob Sapps and Kevin Randlemans going at it in no holds barred.

 

[moogie101]

I think its just one of those moves that the public perceive as being far more violent & barbaric than punching or kicking someone. Similar to knees to downed opponents & stomps, no-one got hurt any more by these moves than any other attacks whilst legal in Pride. Yet they look far more brutal.

 

[56in]

Because it doesn't take a skill to headbutt someone, its Bush league.

So what you say is legal actions are based on if they require skills? There is no single regulation on mma strikes or moves which has its ground in whether the strike or move requires skills. However, regulations are set based on , inter alia, fighter safety. Your comment is one of the most dumb which I have read on Sherdog, and that says a LOT.

 

[GBJohn]

I think head butting would be a huge advantage for a wrestler. Just settle into your opponent’s guard and proceed to butt away. In the long term, however, those employing this tactic would likely develop nice cases of CTÉ. If you want the sport to grow, that’s the kind of thing that should be avoided.

 

[Ideanudge]

Because it's too damaging and not fun to watch. The fights would end up being too quick and too awkward with both fighters getting CTE, injuries and general worse entertainment.

 

[Lowercase p]

Concussions leading to CTE perhaps

 

[KillerIsBack V2]

I mean shit elbows, knees and kicks are legal tactics and strikes why can't headbutts be legal? Kinda weird imo especially since some martial arts (I think..) use headbutting .

First off, I want you to ignore every single thing in this thread. None of these people know what they are talking about. None of this has to do with real martial arts. There are plenty of martial arts with head butts and there’s a sanctioned fighting sport in meymar thats like muay thai with headbutts. Also nothing to do with being dangerous, ignore that interview joe rogan about 6-12 elbows. This has nothing to do with being dangerous either, so ignore the IBJJF’s excuse for banning heel hooks.


Anyway, let me break it down this way, MMA as a new sport, trying to get passed to the mainstream and approved by pencil pushing suits who dont know whats a jock strap. Headbutts does make alot of fights end super early, but thats only 10% of it so ignore that, just wanted to cover it. THE REAL REASON is it looks bad, yep u heard me. same reason soccer kicks were banned. We dont even have to go that back to pride days. Remember not too long ago all the court bs and commission hearing, and government babble to approve MMA in NewYork? All the excuses were verbal garbage for the sake of arguments calling it brutal and comparing it to gladiator arenas or street fights(gtfo lmao).

TLDR: Business, the product has to look good.

 

[christer]

Some martial arts include weapon training yet swords are not allowed in the UFC. Freaking bullshit if you ask me

 

[Franklin U.]

Well for starters - I cant imagine a more violent and dangerous way for a nose to get shattered(or an eye socket)when clinched up against a fence. You know- I can just stop there.

There are obvious reasons, lol.

 

[HelloJapan]

In the age of CTE, is this a serious question?

 

[ThunderL1ps]

GNP elbows are as bad as headbutts, IMO.

 

[ApplesVild]

Lots of fighters use headbutts, even more in boxing

 

[YourOnlineHero]

Weakens chins and more fights would be stopped by cuts.

Both things that aren't good from a business perspective.

As a fan I'd love to see them though.

 

[capnlarge]

I bet you could get away with two headbutts before the ref would take a point.

 

[Bocgam]

 

[usadaguy]

I mean shit elbows, knees and kicks are legal tactics and strikes why can't headbutts be legal? Kinda weird imo especially since some martial arts (I think..) use headbutting .

Imagine MMA with legal headbutts plus bare knuckles. So many broken noses via headbutts, cuts and less technics in the clinch and on the ground, cause fighters would try headbutt his opponent. Its dirty move for me. Once my mate broke my nose by accidental headbutt in the sparring, you dont need full power, forehead is so dangerous.
Now imagine bare knuckles, so many broken hands (if you hit someone full power to the forehead), so many cuts (f.e. Lobov vs Knight).
Soccer kicks, stomps and knees on the ground should be legal but nothing more, its a martial arts not fight for the death.

 

[iWas]

They banned head butts because of this guy.

Big John talks about Coleman being mad as hell at him on his talks about writing the unified rules.

 

[AdamantiumPimmel]

Because it doesn't take a skill to headbutt someone, its Bush league.