In recent years, the popularity of mixed martial arts has skyrocketed, and the ratings of the top tournaments seriously compete with those of boxing championship fights. Fans have loved the versatility and variety of MMA, but one aspect of cage fighting rules irritates many: ground fuss most often causes a buzz of discontent.

It was precisely this minus that was tried to be corrected in the Russian promotion AMC Fight Nights in the spring of 2022 by introducing a time limit for the work of fighters on the ground. However, this rule did not last long – recently an unknown person complained to the statistical resource on MMA about the initiative of the president of the fighting organization, Kamil Gadzhiev, and the league’s fights began to be considered exhibition ones.

The promotion had to bring back the old regulations…

All for the spectacle

Fans of mixed martial arts are mostly divided into two camps: some fans love the art of fighting on the ground, while others prefer the fights of basic strikers. The second camp also includes the president of Fight Nights, Kamil Gadzhiev, who decided after one of the scandalous fights to introduce a rule according to which fighters cannot be on the ground for more than one minute. And it doesn’t matter if they strike or try to get a hold.

The reason for the reform was the fight between heavyweights Yusup Shuaev and Grigory Ponomarev, which took place on March 25 at a tournament in Astrakhan. The referee lifted the athletes to a standing position when Grigory was in the most advantageous position of a full mount for just a few seconds. After the rise, Shuaev knocked out his opponent, and the fans called the work of the referee and the fight itself a disgrace to the domestic MMA.

Photo: © Fight Nights

According to the rules of most other MMA promotions, the judge does not have the right to interrupt the wrestling of athletes on the ground if they are active. However, sometimes it’s impossible to call them active, some masters of grappling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu can “blanket” their opponent throughout the entire fight, only occasionally striking or making sluggish attempts at submission techniques, especially tired at the end of the fight. The judge can raise the fighters to the rack only with obvious passivity. At AMC Fight Nights, spectacular fights are paramount, but the league’s initiative went against the global regulations:

– Some nit wrote to Sherdog (a major MMA statistics portal). And they began to translate our fights into the category of exhibition fights. We are forced to return to the old rule, – Kamila Hajiyeva is quoted by Metaratings.

Thus, a number of past fights under the auspices of AMC Fight Nights did not receive professional status, which frankly spoiled the statistics for the athletes. Hajiyev did not risk the careers of fighters.

Removal of the rule – for the benefit of AMC Fight Nights

After the introduction of a new rule on injustice, it is absolutely expected, said the fighters and coaches, whose trump card is wrestling technique. Ramazan Ismailov, the brother and coach of the famous Magomed Ismailov, also expressed his opinion.

– Now, when they are standing up, the probability of a high-class wrestler to fly into a knockout and miss a blow is greater. This is already unfair, unequal rules. More like pop MMA. Such rules, in my opinion, are suitable for strikers who want to move into MMA, so that they get used to and have a chance to fight wrestlers. He defended himself for a minute – he got up, – Ismailov said in an interview with Metaratings.

But the main disadvantage for the promotion could not be the wrath of the fighters, but a damaged reputation in the global MMA community. Apparently, AMC Fight Nights simply did not expect that Sherdog would deprive their fights of professional status. An attempt to make the fights more spectacular for the delight of the fans went against the global standards. Kamil Gadzhiev wanted to please everyone, but still tore off too much of the rules of MMA, depriving the wrestlers of many advantages.

However, opponents of protracted grappling in MMA should not be very upset – no one canceled the fights in boxing, kickboxing and other martial arts.