[Goober Taylor]

It's about time that the unified rules are modified to fit with the expectations of the modern MMA fan. Since the introduction of MMA to millions of new fans in 2005 (aka. TUF noobs) and now with a more recent introduction of MMA to millions of new fans in 2008 (aka. Elite noobs), fans are expecting exciting, stand-up wars. They boo when fights hit the ground, and most of the time for good reason.

Wrestling has become the dominant style of most MMA practitioners, mainly because it's so easy to win a fight on points by getting just 2 or 3 takedowns in a fight and not doing much else. The "lay and pray" style is so effective that you even see champions such as Georges St. Pierre and Sean Sherk utilize it. GSP has lay and pray'd his way to victories over BJ Penn and Josh Koscheck. In both fights, GSP did almost no damage to his opponents....instead he chose to simply take his opponents to the ground and essentially dry hump his way to victory.

I propose a rule change to the unified rules: takedowns no longer award points to a fighter. You get ZERO credit for taking your opponent to the floor. You must actually do damage or attempt submissions to gain points.

Also, you must improve position to gain points. Laying in someone's full guard for an entire round should not win you a round. If your opponent was trying for submissions, he should be awarded the round. If the opponent never mounts any offense, then it should be scored a 10-10 round.

Once some of these lay and pray artists like GSP and Sherk start getting losses and draws on their records, maybe they will start trying to finish fights.

[Goober Taylor]

ttt.

[juggo]

Takedowns should still count something as far as control. If a guy can't stop a takedown to save his life and isn't being effective on bottom, that's on him.

But yes, a greater emphasis on damage and submissions is necessary for US judges. Just because a fighter is on his back doesn't mean he's losing, far from it. A wrestler sitting in the guard of a BJJ player can work in the bottom fighter's favor, it can be an advantageous position for him. US judges need to understand that point.

Knees to the head on the ground would also go a long way in eliminating LnP, both in that it makes wrestlers pay for failed shots and it gives them another big weapon once they do control their opponent on the ground.

[Terere]

No.

Takedowns should count, because of what juggo told you... and if the guy on the bottom does not have a good enough guard to mount offense or stand up.. well, he will lose

[Systemanoob]

Who gives a shit. Wrestling is a more dominant style, deal with it. Learn to sprawl or learn being on your back is not good, no matter how much your BJJ instructor says it is.

It's the equivalent for wrestling coaches to say give up your back.

[Gunny]

This is a fairly clever troll job. TS is stirring the pot a bit with this one and I like it.

[Goober Taylor]

Originally Posted by Gunny

This is a fairly clever troll job. TS is stirring the pot a bit with this one and I like it.

I do like stirring up shit.

[Lewsauce]

Originally Posted by Goober Taylor

It's about time that the unified rules are modified to fit with the expectations of the modern MMA fan. Since the introduction of MMA to millions of new fans in 2005 (aka. TUF noobs) and now with a more recent introduction of MMA to millions of new fans in 2008 (aka. Elite noobs), fans are expecting exciting, stand-up wars. They boo when fights hit the ground, and most of the time for good reason.

Wrestling has become the dominant style of most MMA practitioners, mainly because it's so easy to win a fight on points by getting just 2 or 3 takedowns in a fight and not doing much else. The "lay and pray" style is so effective that you even see champions such as Georges St. Pierre and Sean Sherk utilize it. GSP has lay and pray'd his way to victories over BJ Penn and Josh Koscheck. In both fights, GSP did almost no damage to his opponents....instead he chose to simply take his opponents to the ground and essentially dry hump his way to victory.

I propose a rule change to the unified rules: takedowns no longer award points to a fighter. You get ZERO credit for taking your opponent to the floor. You must actually do damage or attempt submissions to gain points.

Also, you must improve position to gain points. Laying in someone's full guard for an entire round should not win you a round. If your opponent was trying for submissions, he should be awarded the round. If the opponent never mounts any offense, then it should be scored a 10-10 round.

Once some of these lay and pray artists like GSP and Sherk start getting losses and draws on their records, maybe they will start trying to finish fights.

See Timmeh riding out decisions with jabs and not trying to finish fights.

You're funny.

[ROBOTchicken]

TD'S should count but only if literally nothing else happens

[Sharkk]

No. Takedowns count for points. Controlling your opponent counts for points. If you're getting sat on, it's your task to come up with some good offense from the bottom, otherwise you will lose.