Dana White on knees to the head

Knees to the head? I get asked that a lot. Right now we're in this phase where we go out to all thees different states, and what we're trying to do right now is basically -- the game of soccer we play in the United States is the same game they play all over the world -- that's what we're trying to do with MMA, to make this a sport. Eventually, when the whole world isn't afraid of this sport anymore, then we can add knees to the head. I like them and I agree with you, but it's going to take a long time.

http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/02/22/dana-white-likes-knees-to-the-head-but-no-rules-change-soon/

That's probably the most sensible thing he's said in the past 2 years!

Great to hear he is open to change. I said before UFC is scared to change because its starting to be accepted in the mainstream and they dont want to jepordise this... Knees and downward elbows in please!!

I wouldnt get my hopes up just yet, they already are finding it difficult getting MMA legislated in certain places..... They wont jeopordise their New York appeal for this.

rudeboyben84 wrote:Great to hear he is open to change. I said before UFC is scared to change because its starting to be accepted in the mainstream and they dont want to jepordise this... Knees and downward elbows in please!!

I miss knees to the head on the ground so much. They were a very effective way of finishing a fight, ask Igor Vovchanchyn, Melvin Manhoef and Mark Coleman. Igor managed to stop Kerr with knees to the ground (although they were illegal at the time) and Coleman managed to submit Igor and knock Allan Goes unconscious. Melvin combined knees and ground strikes in DREAM to TKO Dae Won Kim. They are a devestating strike with the ability to render the opposition unconscious. They can be performed by strikers and wrestlers and stops the stalemate of the north south position and safety from strikes can't be found underneath a sprawled opponent. When Chuck Liddell fought in PRIDE he took advantage of the knee strikes on the ground. They are an effective way of disabling the opposition.

Elbows on the ground are significantly less effective. In two consecutive UFCs elbow strikes have led to particularly nasty cuts that have almost caused the end of the fight but have come nowhere near to knocking out the opponent. Perosh was free to continue and Sonnen continued to abuse Marquardt on his back. Elbow strikes more commonly cause nasty cuts rather than knock outs. As Bas Rutten commented on Inside MMA in a real fight a fighter isn't going to stop because of cut, he'll just bleed and continue and a fight stopped on cuts is never good (but obviously protecting fighter's health is always of the upmost importance).

I agree with Red, they're having enough problems trying to legalize MMA in New York state and parts of Canada as it is without factoring knee strikes into the arrangement too. I have a strange feeling that Dana White is just trying to appease fans of PRIDE and fans that are new to the history of PRIDE through Spike's reshowing of the old events.

actually the Crocop/Perosh fight was stopped by the cut, but not until between rounds.

one change i (and stephan bonnar according to inside mma) would like to see implemented is treatment of cuts mid fight, cuts are inevitable but letting fighters bleed all over each other is un neccessary, and to some audiences; off putting and unsightly.

They have this rule in japan.

a couple of my favourit examples of knees on the ground:

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I think a 5 minute blood stoppage should be implemented to be honest. If the cut can't be treated in 5 minutes or is just really bad or in a really dangerous spot like the eyelid then stop the fight.

i meant to post this one aswell but it didnt work: