When is MMA not MMA?

Fist of Fury · 06-05-2006, 09:27 PM

For you, what defines MMA and what would it take for you not to call a fighting organization MMA?

The reason I ask is because of the different rules between the different organization. For example, Pride allows kicks to a downed opponent, UFC allows elbows to some degree, etc. I found myself asking this question when watching the recent IFL broadcast of FSN. With no kicking or elbowing a downed opponent, whenever the fight went to the ground I found myself saying "drop elbows on him!.........oh wait, they can't." That can really limit your ground and pound ability. If the g'n'p ability is limited, fighters are more likely to take the fight to the ground knowing they can hold on to the back of the head and really prevent the other guy from winding up and throwing punched when elbows would be effective. I think that this favors wrestlers, bjj, and other ground disciplines. Is it truely MIXED martial arts if one aspect of the fighting game is limited. I don't want to sound like a blood thirst brute, and I know it is for the fighters own safety, but where would you say the line is?

rapidresults · 06-06-2006, 12:53 PM

I see what you are saying about the IFL and them not being able to throw elbows on the ground or even standing up. The main reason why the IFL took elbows out is due to cutting which would take a fighter out of fighting for weeks and since they pay their fighters a salary they dont want that plus the reason that a fighter can be winning the whole fight and the other fighter might get a good elbow in which leads to a cut and the fight is over.