5 possible rule changes that the UFC should consider implementing
The UFC might be the biggest MMA promotion in the world, but it’s certainly not perfect. One area it could definitely improve on is in the rules it uses.
The UFC’s rules have largely remained unchanged for the best part of two decades now, but could they be changed to improve things for both the fighters and the fans?
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The answer is absolutely. There are definitely some rules of the octagon that could do with tweaking, if not overhauling entirely, to make for a better product for all.
With that in mind, here are five rule changes that the UFC should consider.
#5. UFC referees should implement more point deductions for fouls and infractions
Despite what many uneducated people might think, the UFC has plenty of rules that outlaw fouls inside the octagon. Strikes to the groin and the back of the head, for instance, are banned entirely, and a fighter also can’t perform questionable moves such as grabbing the fence or the gloves of their opponent.
However, the promotion’s use of a 10-point must system, which sees a fighter who wins a round gain 10 points, with their opponent taking nine or less based on various criteria, means that if a fighter is deducted even a single point, the outcome of a fight can be changed entirely.
While the results of some big fights, notably including the flyweight title bout between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno in late 2020, have been affected in this way, for the most part, it seems like referees are unwilling to take points away unless a combatant flagrantly performs multiple fouls in a round.
What a fight!!
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More to the point, “lesser” fouls like fence grabs are rarely dealt with correctly by the referee, with fighters usually only receiving a warning for what could be a fight-altering move.
Simply put, this isn’t right. The scoring system may need to be changed to reflect this, but the promotion’s referees ought to be encouraged to crack down more on petty fouls like fence grabs, and should be told to take points more liberally in order to prevent these infractions.