Most people love violence but hate seeing a brave fighter sustain serious harm. A few lumps are okay. Maybe even a broken bone here and there. But brain trauma is nothing to fuck around with.
Yeah, punches/kicks/knees to the head cause a lot of damage too. But if a fighter is in a position to score head stomps and kicks, it's very safe to say that the other fighter isn't in the fight. Allowing them only gives a victorious fighter the chance to exaberate(sp?) the wounds of a defeated opponent.
Really, when have you ever seen a back and forth fight where either guy scores consistantly with these strikes?
I think the problem here is that it LOOKS like the stomper will turn the stompee's head into a pancake.
To my knowledge that has never happened - the skull is remarkably resilient.
I don't have a problem with having, or not having headstomps, knees-to-head, soccer kicks etc. I don't think they really affect the action too much either way.
EDIT: Isn't this the kind of thing that should just be up to the fighters? I wonder what how the pros feel about these rules.
"But brain trauma is nothing to fuck around with. "
When have you ever seen a serious injury resulting from a headstomp or football kick? By having it allowed you force the guy on the bottom to defend against it. In the UFC if I miss a shot I can just stay on one knee and not worry about the consequence, or turtle in front of you not worried about knees.
"But if a fighter is in a position to score head stomps and kicks, it's very safe to say that the other fighter isn't in the fight."
Not so, as stated above, by having them allowed you force people to really work positions in a natural way, you don't give them a safe zone in what should be a bad position.
"Allowing them only gives a victorious fighter the chance to exaberate(sp?) the wounds of a defeated opponent."
Not at all, allowing them avoids false safe zones and being able to get the other guy DQed by touching down.
"Really, when have you ever seen a back and forth fight where either guy scores consistantly with these strikes?"
Where have you seen a back and forth match where either guy hits fully locked submissions? Where have you seen a back and forth match where someone scores consistantly with head kicks from standing?
It's rare but it happens, that's the whole point of MMA, there are strikes and subs that you can get that will end the match in a hurry.
i love head stomps and soccer kicks . they are a part of fighting , what moves are gonna be banned next and then how will we know who the real best fighters in the world are
I dunno, every time I saw a guy in position to land a few stomps the downed guy just rotated his head away from his opponents feet or otherwise just got the hell out of there.
Also striking after the KO is something common in a fight. Sometimes a few punches can land before the ref jumps in. Many times I've seen Vanderlei KO a Japanese dude and then go in for the head stomp. At least with the knee to the head they have to first get to the ground and line up the knee, allowing a ref ample time to stop it.
Ultimately it should be left up to the fighters. I have my concerns but I can't feel sorry for a guy who gets injured by rules he agrees to.
"Shogun vs Minotoro = thing of beauty
Will never be matched by any fight on US soil, as long as those gay rules hold the fighters back "
You have stomped and squashed the correct.
That was a thing of beauty. MMA rules in the US wouldnt allow such a display of skill.
I admit I hate it when there are stomps against defenseless opponents (think Baroni vs Minowa, Shogun vs Matsui) but those are the REFS fault for not stepping in.
One thing is for sure, I would be THRILLED beyond belief if the athletic commissions in the US would allow knees to the head to a downed fighter, and KICKS TO THE HEAD BETWEEN TWO DOWNED FIGHTERS!!!!! It would be bring back upkicks and more action on the ground. Fighters wouldnt just sit in the guard or go for a sub without exposing themselves to a good kick.
As it is now, most fighters standing over their opponent just dive in the guard witha punch and throw small elbow shots. Boring. All the soccer kicks CroCop tried to throw at Minautora were great. And Mino defended well ... and WON. MMA is not kickboxing + BJJ. It's MMA!!!