Iconic UFC referee weighs in on rule change he'd like to see in MMA: 'It would make the fight more dynamic'

Yan (right) lands an illegal knee on Sterling. Photo: Reproduction / Twitter

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The creation of the Unified Rules for MMA was a major milestone in the professionalization of the sport in the 2000s. John McCarthy, a retired referee who was involved in the development of these rules, is satisfied with the current set of rules and officiating in MMA. However, he believes there are still changes to be made and advocates legalizing knees to the head of grounded opponents, something currently prohibited.

In an interview with MMA Junkie, McCarthy stated that allowing knees to the head of grounded opponents would make MMA more realistic, strategic and exciting. For the former referee, the current ban allows defensive fighters to use the rules to protect themselves, rather than relying on their technical skills to avoid attacks.

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“To be honest, as a fan of the sport and even as an official, I look at it and think that kneeing someone in the head on the ground – not a goal kick, that’s different – ​​could be effective in a fight. What it can do is prevent the defensive fighter from getting into positions where they could be kneed if it were legal. But they know they can’t, so they use the rules to protect themselves instead of their skills,” McCarthy explained.

McCarthy advocates knees on the ground to make MMA more dynamic

While many argue that kneeing opponents in the head on the ground makes the sport more dangerous, John McCarthy disagrees, stating that there is no significant difference between doing it standing up or on the ground. For him, legalizing this technique would make fights more dynamic, realistic and exciting, in addition to expanding the fighters' offensive tools.

“When you look at it and say, ‘Well, that’s terrible for the fighter,’ what’s the difference between being able to knee someone in the head standing up or being able to knee someone in the head on the ground? There’s no difference,” McCarthy said. “I look at it and I honestly believe that knees to the head should be allowed. It would open up the fight more and make the fights a little bit more realistic and exciting at times. Anytime you give a fighter an offensive tool, it makes the fight more dynamic.”

Knee strikes to the head of grounded opponents have always been a divisive and controversial topic in MMA. Many romanticize the technique, as it was widely used in the now-defunct Japanese organization PRIDE FC. The move is now legal in Rizin and ONE Championship in Asia.