Long-time UFC commentator, Joe Rogan, has proposed a bizarre new rule change in MMA, stating that the current ruleset is advantageous for strikers and wrestlers.
The MMA ruleset is a difficult thing to grasp, especially as different States adopt different rules. UFC commentator, Joe Rogan, though is suggesting a change to the unified rules of mixed martial arts.
Recently, the judging criteria has been made more clear to the fighters and fans, with damage being the number one thing scored, and control time coming beneath that.
Rogan, however, believes the current rule set is too advantageous for strikers and wrestlers, and has suggested a unique change to put grapplers on an even playing field.
Joe Rogan suggests MMA rule change to benefit grapplers
The 56-year-old, whose love for combat sports began when he was 13 and he began training in Tae Kwon Do, has several suggestions to make the fights more even.
“The rules are set up much more for strikers and for wrestlers.” Rogan said on his latest JRE episode with Royce Gracie.
“Say if you’re a jiu-jitsu guy and you’re fighting in the first round and rounds are five minutes long and you take the guy down 4:30 seconds into the fight, you only have 30 seconds to work.
“Even if you’re going to make it rounds, the fight is the fight. I don’t think you should stand people up ever.” Rogan added.
Of course, when a round ends both fighters go back to their corners and the next round begins on the feet, no matter where the last round ended. This is where Rogan has suggested change, stating that the following round should begin where the prior round ended.
“Once a guy takes you down the fight is on the ground. If it’s boring for the audience tough s***. If you’re on the bottom, get up, and if you can’t get up tough s***.
“If the round ends and the new round begins, I think they should start you right back in the same place. I feel like the fight should be a fight, so if it’s five rounds that’s a 25-minute fight. Whatever position you’re in at the end of the first round, that should be where you begin in the second round.” Rogan suggested.
Royce Gracie offers his opinion on Rogan’s suggestion
Guest on his show, Royce Gracie offered his opinion to Rogan’s suggestion and even came up with a rule change of his own.
“I’m in favor of doing one round straight through.” Gracie suggested. The UFC commentator responded by suggesting there be no time limit to fights, which the Brazilian shut down.
“No time limit is not good for TV. One 15-minute round, that’s it. One 15-minute round straight through.” Gracie added.
Pride Fighting Championships used to adopt a similar rule, as the opening round of Pride FC fights used to be 10 minutes long, and if on the rare occasion, it went to the judges, the fight was scored on the entire fight, not round by round.