Mixed martial arts is a combination of various types of fighting styles. Because it is the purest form of fighting, many people think there are no rules inside the octagon and everything is allowed. But that’s not true. In the 1990s, UFC’s slogan was “There are no rules, but still, biting and gouging were illegal. Things like headbutting, pulling hair, and groin strikes were considered perfectly fine. As of today, the rules have changed, and there is a full list of illegal moves. UFC fights can sometimes be brutal and violent, but they are still a sport. The most important thing is to take care of the safety of fighters; therefore, not everything is allowed in the cage. Some moves, which can do some serious damage to the opponent, are banned. In this article, we will tell you about the moves that are illegal in the cage.
Eye-gouging
Everyone knows how dangerous eye gouging can be, but it still happens very frequently. If you are a hardcore MMA fan, you must have seen fighters fighting with their fingers open. Either intentionally or accidentally, striking an opponent’s eye can cause serious damage and potentially change the outcome of a fight. Eye-gouging is punished by a deduction of points and sometimes even disqualification. But usually, they escape punishment when it is something that should be strictly punished.
Hair pulling
Hair pulling can be used in scuffle scenes to completely change the situation. It is very painful and makes the fighter uncomfortable; it is certainly not something that should be allowed in sports. But there were times when the UFC was just starting out and hair pulling was completely legit.
Headbutting
This is the most talked-about illegal move in the UFC. At one time, the headbutt was completely legal inside the cage, but today it is not because hitting an opponent with the head can cause severe head injuries and irreparable damage for life. They are very simple to perform, so if they were allowed in the UFC, we would probably see a lot of serious injuries inside the cage. There is a lot of discussion about whether beheading should be allowed inside the cage, and a lot of people are advocating it.
Biting
Biting is strictly prohibited in the UFC, and it is very clear why this is illegal. A fighter also needs to understand that the referee may not be able to see all of their movements, so they must be alert if they are being bitten during the fight. One very infamous incident is when Mike Tyson bit off Holyfield’s ear.
Rabbit punches
A blow to the back of the head or neck is called a rabbit punch. That area of our body is very unsecured, and striking it can result in some serious and life-threatening injuries and can even be fatal. This technique is widespread in boxing because it involves a lot of head movement. In MMA, this happens less frequently, usually when a fighter climbs on the opponent’s back and has access to that area. The referee has to be very careful when noting punches to the back of the head because they are difficult to spot.
Pile Driving
Pile driving is to hurl an opponent over the head or neck onto the canvas. This is often seen in WWE but is illegal in MMA because there is intent to injure the opponent. Pile-driving can cause serious damage to the spinal cord. In MMA, this happens often. One of the examples is Rose Namajunas, who lost her UFC strawweight belt. It was a controversial fight, but the move was legal.
Fish-hooking
Fish-hooking is when a fighter inserts his fingers inside an opponent’s mouth or nose and pulls and tears. This is a completely anti-sport move, and it is clear why it is not allowed. Luckily, this rarely happens inside the octagon. One of the famous fights was between Bryan Caraway and Erik Perez, where this move was seen. Bryan fish-hooked his opponent.
12-6 elbows
12-6 elbows are elbow strikes that start directly above and go straight down. This can cause some serious injury to the opponent’s head, so that’s why it is considered illegal. This move can result in disqualification. When Jon Jones was fighting his fourth bout in the UFC, he faced Mark Hamill, who gave him his first and only loss. Jones completely dominated Hamill in the match, but he landed elbows on him, which resulted in Jones being disqualified.
Small joint manipulation
Small joint manipulation means twisting, pulling, and breaking the opponent’s fingers and toes. It is not allowed. If it were permitted, MMA fans would probably see fewer combatants fighting.
Groin attacks
Like a blow to the head, a blow to the groin is almost always accidental. It is not uncommon for a fighter to land a leg kick that ends up landing in the groin. This is the reason fighters are mandated to wear cups, but even then, getting kicked in the groin can cause some serious pain. A fighter gets five minutes to recover if he is hit in the groin. If he is unable to recover in that time, the fight ends in a disqualification or no contest.
Holding Shorts/Gloves
It is illegal to grab or hold an opponent’s shorts or gloves during clinches and grappling exchanges. Although there is no unwanted danger, holding shorts or gloves can cause discomfort to an opponent and give some advantage to the other fighter, so it is restricted. Grabbing the cage is also illegal. The referee usually only issues a verbal warning for these, but occasionally he may give a point deduction for these activities.
Also Read:- Dillon Danis vs. Logan Paul: know Date, time & more
