5 possible rule changes that the UFC should consider implementing

#4. The UFC should use open scoring with a more flexible 10-point system

Controversial results like Ketlen Vieira's win over Holly Holm might be lessened with an overhaul of the judging system

Perhaps the biggest criticism of the UFC’s current ruleset is the judging system it uses. Not only has the 10-point must system – a hangover from the world of boxing – come under criticism on numerous occasions over the years, but at times it seems like the judges don’t really know what they’re looking for inside the octagon.

One way to fix this could be to replace or alter the 10-point must system, changing it into something more suitable for MMA. For instance, where one knockdown guarantees a 10-8 round in boxing, there are no such rules in MMA.

If there were clearer criteria, then – so a round would be scored in a certain way if one fighter were to dominate on the ground without coming close to a finish, for instance – it’d be much easier for the judges to make the correct calls and not cause controversy as they did this past weekend in the Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira bout.

Open scoring could also help in this sense, as it would allow fighters to know exactly what the judges are thinking and what they need to do to alter their gameplan in order to look for a victory.

As for the judges themselves, perhaps replacing the majority of them with ex-MMA fighters would be an improvement, although that would depend, of course, on whether enough of them would be willing to take this thankless job on.

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#3. The UFC should legalize knees on the ground in certain situations

Should the knee to the head of a grounded opponent really be illegal in the octagon?

The UFC has always attempted to replicate the conditions of a “real fight” as closely as possible, albeit without allowing strikes like groin shots and eye pokes that would even be considered “dirty” in a street fight.

However, when the Unified Rules of MMA were put together some two decades ago, it was decided that one strike that ought to be outlawed due to safety concerns was the knee to the head of a downed opponent.

Allegedly, these strikes were deemed overly dangerous after New Jersey State Athletic board members witnessed a particularly violent finish from former UFC contender Gan McGee using them. However, are they really more dangerous than some of the other strikes used in the octagon?

To be frank, it’s debatable. More worryingly, some fighters have essentially turned this rule into gamesmanship, dropping a hand to the ground to make them a “grounded fighter” in order to avoid taking knees to the head when standing.

The rule also overly favours wrestlers who have found their takedown attempt stuffed by their opponent via a sprawl.

With that considered, perhaps a good alteration to make would be to continue to outlaw knees to the head of a completely downed opponent – i.e. one who is on their back – but allow a fighter to use knees against an opponent shooting for a takedown.

Not only would this make for more exciting fights, but it’d remove a lot of gamesmanship and would lessen the advantage that wrestlers have inside the octagon.

One fighter who would definitely welcome this? Petr Yan, who famously lost his bantamweight title to Aljamain Sterling after being disqualified for such a strike.