Should there be Unified Rules?

[Adambomb]

I've been reading a lot of discussion about possibly the UFC and PRIDE having unified rules. My questions are:

1. Should they have unified rules in the first place or should the organizations be allowed to be different?

2. If rules are to be changed, what would you like to see?

Personally I'd just like to see knees and stomps be legal in the UFC and elbows legal in PRIDE. I don't see a reason as to why either should be banned . They're effective weapons that can be used to defeat an opponent.

[The Sundance Kid]

Yes, unified rules are needed, and the only thing that needs to be added is knees to a downed opponent. I think if New Jersey passes them, then the rest will follow suit, hopfully.

[DonFrye]

Unified rules would be a good thing. I don't see how the sport can grow without a unified set of rules and venue (ring/cage just pick one)

[eazye76]

The UFC should allow knees on the ground, that being said, there need to be unified rules. ESPN and other media outlets are a lot more likely to give MMA legit coverage if they play by NSAC rules - Basiclly what Don said.

[Shax]

I whole heartedly disagree with the above posters with regards to knee's on the ground. I think it's in the sports (MMA) best interest to see knee's and soccer kicks remain out of the fight scene. With the explosion of the UFC's popularity over the past two to three years the last thing they need is a serious injury to occur.

There's no realistic way to defend knee's to the head after a successful sprawl. I agree as a fight fan that there needs to be some kind of penalty for a failed take down but the potential for serious injury or death from knee's to the head is just too much. We're talking about bone on bone impact on the top of the skull. You know it's only a matter of time before someone just goes limp in the middle of the octagon and doesn't get up.

In my opinion the rules for scoring need to change a bit, I think a successful sprawl/takedown defense should be worth the same in the judges eyes as a successful takedown. They both require virtually the same amount of skill but as it stands right now, there's no penalty to just shoot and shoot. My two cents on the issue. The UFC can't afford to blow it's new found fame by a death in the octagon due to injury.

[Dan0]

No to unified rules. Like Mike and Mike, what makes them different makes them great.

[lilp86]

I disagree Pride has been allowing knees on the ground for 10 years and theres never been 1 death or serious injury. Knees on the ground are nessecary without them wrestlers and grapplers have a great advantage because they know theres no consiquence(spl) when they shoot for a takedown. Knees to the head even the playin field because once that guy takes a knee to the head hes gonna think twice next time before he shoots. Stomps and hed kicks however I will not miss at all I think they belong more in a street fight then in a ring or cage. Imo they feed the glorified street fight imge that the sport has been trying to shake for years

[Afro]

Knees and axe kicks are necessary, Wrestlers have too many edges with the cage as it is, lets not allow them to turtle up on top of that (wow I sound like I hate wrestlers lol, but I dont)

[smoogy]

Knees and elbows on the ground but no soccer kicks or stomps seems pretty reasonable. And they should institute a rule that says you get deducted a point for grabbing the rope/cage everytime after the first time the ref officially warns you for doing it.

Also, would it be a big deal to allow upkicks from any position?

[Afro]

not allowing upkicks make no sense you cant get enough momentum off ur back to do any serious damage with an upkick

You are allowed to kick a downed opponent to his body right?