Every sport has a specific set of guidelines in place, a list of rules to ensure the safety of its participants and to keep the game competitive. Mixed-martial arts is no different, with its unified rules of engagement going a long way in releasing MMA from the stigma of a barbaric bloodsport. But while many of these strictures were created for good reason, some of them serve no real purpose and should have been nixed long ago.
Back in September of 2000, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) legalized MMA events in their state. The main purpose for this was to get a first hand look at how the sport was conducted, in order to determine what should and should not be legal. The NJSACB planned to help create a universal set of rules to regulate MMA, by sharing their findings at a meeting of all parties involved in making such decisions.
That meeting was held on April 3, 2001 in an attempt to unify the proposed rules of the NJSACB with those of other North American athletic commissions and MMA promotions. An agreement was reached by all in attendance, and the various rules discussed were combined to form a list of regulations to be adopted by all parties.
At the annual meeting of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) on July 30, 2009, a motion was passed unanimously to declare these guidelines the Unified Rules of Mixed-Martial Arts. While all professional MMA promotions across North America must abide by these unified rules in order to hold sanctioned fights, there have been situations where certain restrictions have been detrimental to a fighter’s career.
The “12 to 6” elbow, thrown downward in a vertical line, has often been misconstrued as a more dangerous blow than the standard angled elbow strike. It is currently illegal under the Unified Rules of MMA, and is grounds for an immediate disqualification or a no contest, depending on the circumstances and the referee’s decision. UFC commentator Joe Rogan has said that the illegal technique can be used to break through a stack of bricks, thus making it a lethal weapon and banned in sanctioned MMA fights.
However, according to long-standing MMA referee “Big” John McCarthy, the “12 to 6” elbow should be legalized. “It’s not a good rule. Nothing makes it more effective than any other type of elbow strike. It needs to be changed”, says the veteran third-man. Unfortunately that has yet to happen, and the unlawful maneuver has cost some fighters a potential victory.
Most notably, former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones was disqualified for executing the taboo technique, after dominating Matt Hamill in their 2009 bout. The attack appeared to have been thrown ignorantly and without malice, yet referee Steve Mazzagatti called for an immediate disqualification. It is the only loss of Jones’ unparalleled career, and will forever remain an unnecessary blemish on his otherwise perfect record.
Another MMA stricture that should be removed from the unified rules is the three-point stance rule. This occurs when a fighter has both feet and one hand – or even just a finger – on the mat, and his/her opponent throws a knee to the head.
There is no scientific or technical explanation for this being banned, and it seems to be taken advantage of at times in an attempt at causing a foul for the attacker. There have been instances where fighters appear to intentionally place their hand on the mat when they sense a knee coming, or even as the strike is being thrown.
A great example of the three-point rule ruining a fight is when Melvin Guillard fought Ross Pearson in 2013. After a scramble on the ground, Pearson stood up and Guillard blasted him with a couple of hard knees to the head. The first blow was completely legal. But as Melvin was in the process of throwing the second knee, Ross touched the mat with his fingers, entering the three-point stance and thus making the knee illegal.
Pearson suffered a serious cut to the forehead, and the cageside doctor ruled him unable to continue. The result should have been considered a TKO by doctor stoppage, but following the unified rules, referee Marc Goddard deemed the fight a no contest. Needless to say, Melvin was not happy; he felt he had earned a win, and rightfully so.
The UFC righted the wrong as much as they could though, giving both competitors their respective show and win money. The two MMA veterans vowed to meet again in a rematch to give fans the exciting fight everyone was expecting, but it never came to fruition.
Former Executive Director of the Nevada Athletic Commission and current UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner has stated that something needs to be done about the abused rule. “We really believe this ‘three-point stance rule,’ where a fighter is just placing his hand on and off the mat so he won’t get hit, needs to be addressed,” said Ratner. “That’s not what the rule is for. That has to be looked at.”
At the 2013 meeting of the ABC, Ratner expressed his thoughts on the dilemma in hopes of some kind of change. His voice was heard, and all professional MMA referees have since been ordered to further discuss the three-point stance rule with fighters before their bouts.
The ABC states, “Referees should instruct the fighters that they may still be considered a standing fighter even if they have a finger or portion of the hand (or entire hand) on the canvas. In the discretion of the referee, a fighter who has a finger or hand on the canvas may still be legally struck in the head with knees and kicks.”
This means it is now up to the referee to determine whether a fighter is intentionally placing his hand or fingers on the mat to create a foul for his/her opponent. While Ratner says this is a step in the right direction, many feel that the three-point stance rule should be removed from the unified rules altogether since there is no valid reason for its existence.
For the most part, the Unified Rules of MMA serve a good purpose and are a blessing for this great sport. They separate professional MMA from the savage “no holds barred” style it was once known for, while still keeping things exciting. If the unnecessary rules of engagement can be removed and not just refined, a step in the right direction will become an important evolution for mixed-martial arts.
Main Photo:
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Ross Pearson (L) and Melvin Guillard (R) are separated by referee Mark Goddard after an illegal knee strike by Guillard their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Phones 4 U Arena on October 26, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Secondary Photo:
