sgtStones

I'd like some opinions on finger-in-the-eye situations, especially on the ground.

Often I see fighters in top-position just putting their open hand in the face of their opponents, seemingly just hoping for an "accidental" eye poke. It's legal, of course, but I think it shouldn't be.

Same goes for open palm jabs and reach finders. there should be a point reduction after 2 warnings max.

I see eye poking as a more fight-threatening problem than low blows and I think there should be a few rules that reduce the risk of them happening.

Joabbuac

I dont like how Jon Jones backs up with his open hand...there is nothing in the rules against it but there really should be...

Sports_Nerd

Reaching out with an open hand is a legitimate technique, it has other benefits besides "hoping for an eye poke." It helps to gauge range and baffle your opponent.

Sticking your fingers into your opponent's face from top position is something else Jones (among others) does, and I agree it's problematic. How would you go about phrasing the rule though? no touching your opponent's face from the top? That won't work. they need to be able to try and create space for GnP. No use of an open palm makes no sense either.

Joabbuac

It has the same benefits as a closed fist, the way Jones does it you have a 50% chance take a poke in the eye just to get close.

John8204

50% of the time I hear statistics like that are wrong 100% of the time.

sgtStones

Well I agree that coming up with a rule could be tricky. And I'd prefer there be no changes than some poorly conceived rule that threatens the appeal of the sport.

Here is how I would go at it though:

- Hand in the face is fine, but the fingertips just can't be over or near the eyes of the grounded opponent. You could still put the pawn over the eyes and grab the side of the head for instance.

- Or you could just penalize a finger in the eye with a point reduction immediately - that way fighters would have to regulate themselves in how much or if at all they want to use techniques of this sort

Now keep in mind that I have like a negative ammount of mat experience, so practitioners of the sport (and everyone else for that matter) could possibly disagree strongly with these restrictions

Hammerlock2.0

You can't really make a rule out of this. It's obvliously a dirty move to put your hand in your opponent's face and same goes for covering his mouth but what are you going to do? In the end it's a fight, no ping pong match.

__________________

John8204

No_Mercy

They have to treat it as a point deduction. No warnings. One finger to the eye will change the fight dramatically. You can't see...your eyes are stinging and your brain isn't registering as sharp as it should be.

Second eye poke is disqualification...done!

Koscheck is notorious for that. It's a dirty tactic.

__________________
Marcus Aurelius: Tell me again, Maximus, why are we here?
Maximus: For the glory of the Empire, sire.

Baked, not fried... the healthy choice.

HexRei

Yeah, but making it illegal it would make techniques like grabbing your opponents head and holding it still to drop strikes impossible. Basically the ref just needs to be on that action and looking at the hands and eyes, which is actually what he should be doing ANYWAY.

__________________
His helmet was stifling, it narrowed his vision. And he must see far. His shield was heavy. It threw him off balance. And his target is far away.