Edson Barboza
Muay Thai-based Brazilian UFC lightweight, 8-0
YES
I really think that knees to the head of a grounded opponent should absolutely be permitted. Honestly, I think that elbows on the ground more often cause greater damage than knees, not to mention they’re harder to defend. I think adding knees on the ground would be a big help to fighters like me, who use their knees a lot on the feet. I’m already so accustomed to using my knees, that I would certainly welcome the opportunity to use them when fighting on the ground. By eliminating knees on the ground, you’re giving an advantage to wrestlers by taking away one of the striker’s best tools. Why not make sure everyone can use every possible technique available to them?
Alex Davis
Manager to top Brazilian fighters like ‘Bigfoot’ Silva and Rousimar Palhares
NO
I think that the rules as they are written now are very correct and should stay that way. Knees are pointed, and when they’re used on a grounded opponent, they carry gravity with them. The legs are the heaviest limbs on the body, and the damage caused by a well-placed knee to a downed opponent is more then what is needed to simply win an MMA fight and can be very dangerous. Let’s remember Mark Coleman vs Allan Goes (Pride 13, 2001). Allan had severe problems for quite some time after that fight. Ricardo Arona vs Kazuski Sakuraba (Pride: Critical Countdown 2005) was one of the most brutal maulings ever in MMA. Trying to create exciting fights is just not a justifiable reason for allowing that much injury, in my opinion.
What you had to say on the matter ...
YES
“Yes they should. Kicks and stomps are understandably prohibited but knees are a valid defense to takedowns and stalling!”
@PERRY_J
NO
“I’d say no, too many variables to control like where they can/can’t hit. One bad knee to wrong area and sport/fighter suffers.”
@ROBERTSCOTT11
YES
“For sure. It makes the ground game more exciting and in the times of Pride FC no one was seriously injured by them!”
@TWANHAMMERS
NO
“It’s only a couple of years ago that our sport was seen as a freak show for barbarians, let’s not rock the boat now.”
@TUNNELLING LUKE
