Time for elbows to go
I think it is time to get rid of elbows from MMA.
There. I said it.
I have been a fan of MMA since the UFC advertised itself as having no rules. I watched the sport through the years when Mark Coleman was head butting opponents' faces into a bloody pulp, and I cannot tell you how many times I have seen the highlight of Babalu soccer kicking a sprawled out Brad Kohler in the head. I am not squeamish about fighting or blood. But I want to see elbows banned from MMA.
I have not always felt this way. I attended the California State Athletic Commission hearings in 2000 that established the rules that were the basis for today's unified MMA rules. The commissioners had proposed a ban on elbows and I was very concerned that they were going to ruin the sport. So, I was relieved when the MMA advocates were able to limit the regulations' ban to only point of the elbow strikes.
But, I have long been in favor of rules changes that have helped turn the spectacle of NHB to the accepted sport of MMA. I remember giving Jeremy Horn and Matt Hughes a ride from a Fresno fight show to Los Angeles Airport, and discussing the (then new) rules in American MMA that banned kicking or kneeing an opponent who is on the ground. Horn felt very emphatically that fighters know what they are getting into before the step into the ring or cage, and the rules should not be changed to water down the sport. I told him that it was the introduction of rules such as these that were going to enable the sport of MMA to gain acceptance so fighters can earn a living. Horn had a good point, but I was right about the rules being better for the sport.
I think elbows hurt the sport of MMA.
Take the recent Sean Sherk vs. Kenny Florian fight. Sherk dominated the fight for 5 rounds. But in the second round, Florian landed an elbow to Sherk's forehead while Sherk was in his guard. The elbow did not look like it stunned Sherk, however it opened up a cut on the vein in Sherk's forehead that did not stop bleeding until Sherk received stitches in the hospital after the fight. It would have been a shame if Sherk, who was clearly the superior fighter, ended up losing the fight because of that cut.
I like fights that end with a "lucky" knockout or a "fluke" submission. There is finality to those fights - one fighter catches the other fair and square. But fights that end because of cuts caused by elbows just leave me disappointed, as if we never get to see who the better fighter is. All we got was a lot of blood and unsatisfied fans.
What is even more frustrating is hearing fighters talk about how they train specifically to open up cuts with elbows, and they use that as their main tactic rather than try to submit or knock out their opponents. Those fighters are trying to win a fight legitimately and within the rules, but also in a way that leaves fans feeling that they did not get their money's worth.
So, I am saying something I thought I would never say. I would like to get rid of elbows from MMA.
del.icio.us tags: mma, rules, elbows, whaledog
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There. I said it.
I have been a fan of MMA since the UFC advertised itself as having no rules. I watched the sport through the years when Mark Coleman was head butting opponents' faces into a bloody pulp, and I cannot tell you how many times I have seen the highlight of Babalu soccer kicking a sprawled out Brad Kohler in the head. I am not squeamish about fighting or blood. But I want to see elbows banned from MMA.
I have not always felt this way. I attended the California State Athletic Commission hearings in 2000 that established the rules that were the basis for today's unified MMA rules. The commissioners had proposed a ban on elbows and I was very concerned that they were going to ruin the sport. So, I was relieved when the MMA advocates were able to limit the regulations' ban to only point of the elbow strikes.
But, I have long been in favor of rules changes that have helped turn the spectacle of NHB to the accepted sport of MMA. I remember giving Jeremy Horn and Matt Hughes a ride from a Fresno fight show to Los Angeles Airport, and discussing the (then new) rules in American MMA that banned kicking or kneeing an opponent who is on the ground. Horn felt very emphatically that fighters know what they are getting into before the step into the ring or cage, and the rules should not be changed to water down the sport. I told him that it was the introduction of rules such as these that were going to enable the sport of MMA to gain acceptance so fighters can earn a living. Horn had a good point, but I was right about the rules being better for the sport.
I think elbows hurt the sport of MMA.
Take the recent Sean Sherk vs. Kenny Florian fight. Sherk dominated the fight for 5 rounds. But in the second round, Florian landed an elbow to Sherk's forehead while Sherk was in his guard. The elbow did not look like it stunned Sherk, however it opened up a cut on the vein in Sherk's forehead that did not stop bleeding until Sherk received stitches in the hospital after the fight. It would have been a shame if Sherk, who was clearly the superior fighter, ended up losing the fight because of that cut.
I like fights that end with a "lucky" knockout or a "fluke" submission. There is finality to those fights - one fighter catches the other fair and square. But fights that end because of cuts caused by elbows just leave me disappointed, as if we never get to see who the better fighter is. All we got was a lot of blood and unsatisfied fans.
What is even more frustrating is hearing fighters talk about how they train specifically to open up cuts with elbows, and they use that as their main tactic rather than try to submit or knock out their opponents. Those fighters are trying to win a fight legitimately and within the rules, but also in a way that leaves fans feeling that they did not get their money's worth.
So, I am saying something I thought I would never say. I would like to get rid of elbows from MMA.
del.icio.us tags: mma, rules, elbows, whaledog
You bring up some good points, but you also note the fact that Sherk dominated Florian from the top all 5 rounds. While I still think Sherk would have won the fight, how dominant would he have been if he had not been allowed to elbow Florian from the top? A lot of his domination came in the form of elbows.
Posted by Dr J | 10/19/2006 5:29 AM
I agree with you I hate to see good fighters lose because of a cut. Seeing blood everywhere is not good for the sports image obviously, seems to be routine now. Maybe they need to give fighters the option of wearing elbow pads if they want to use elbows? After watching Franklin get beat I am starting to think knees are an issue also...
Posted by scitcat | 10/19/2006 6:20 AM
No elbows? No knees Mick? They have that sport already, its call Karate.
Posted by Jason Gatties | 10/19/2006 8:35 AM
If it were up to me, I'd actually trade elbows for knees on the ground.
-whaledog
Posted by Jeff | 10/19/2006 8:56 AM
i agree with ending elbows, specifically on the ground, if not alltogether. i've lived in Thailand as a fighter, and can say that there is something very devestating about an elbow KO. they feel so much more powerful than even a kick to the head. but on the mat, where there is no way for the receivers head to recoil is just so dangerous. an elbow to the head on the mat is near the same as a stomp. it needs to go.
Posted by Kurt | 10/19/2006 10:56 AM
>>No elbows? No knees Mick? They have that >>sport already, its call Karate.
Yeah Jason you are right I guess it would be exactly like karate.
But seriously, who wants to watch a guy covered in blood try to fight? Some of the redneck fans do iI guess...
Posted by scitcat | 10/19/2006 11:49 AM
Yeah, no knees would be ridiculous.
The point hes making is that elbows open up cuts, unlike stomps and knees.
Posted by Anonymous | 10/20/2006 5:27 PM
i also don't like elbows, because of the high probability of cuts... and winning that way is due to a technicallity. i think it should almost be listed as a draw and re-matched if there's a cut and the fight has to stop, but with ufc and they're sequel fights... that could get ridiculous.
but no... the only way a fight should be won is either by a tapout, knockout, referee/corner stopage, or decision. that's it, and that should (imo) only be it. i mean sure you can argue that it's a fight, and in a "real" fight, there are no rule. but also keep in mind it's a sport. a serious, professional sport and i think if i fought and won a fight from a cut (look at fedor's first loss ever) i'd feel like a coward and try and get is cleared from my record, coz that's not a win.
so ya... get those elbow out of there!
Posted by joemahma | 10/21/2006 2:16 PM