Rickson Gracie’s New MMA Organization Has Some Interesting Rule Changes

[Crunchie]

http://www.cagepotato.com/rickson-gr...-rule-changes/

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Vale Tudo legend Rickson Gracie is partnering with a new MMA organization in Brazil, y’all, and he’s putting his own unique stamp on the format and rules. Some are new ideas, many are ones tried before and at least one is just kinda weird.

Our friends over at GracieMag have the full story on the new Mestre do Combate, debuting November 22nd. Below we have some of the highlights.

Teams - Rickson’s organization will use a team format of some sort, akin to what the now defunct IFL used.

Rounds - There will just be two, like in the old Pride non title bouts. The first round will be ten minutes and the second will be five.

Cannot be saved by the bell - So this is interesting. “Fighters will not have the luxury of being saved by the bell: if a submission hold is in place when the bell sounds, they will have to defend or tap out first for the fight to end,” GracieMag reports. What do you think of this rule, nation? I think its a compelling idea, even if it could lead to some messy and uneven arbitrary implementation.

“Judges’” decision - Speaking of potentially messy and arbitrary, “in the event of a fight ending without a submission or knockout, the decision-making system is a curious one: the referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy has one vote, Master Rickson has another, and the audience watching at the venue or over television has a tie-breaking vote.”

Ok, so let us linger on this one for a moment. Being partial to everything Rickson, I don’t have a fundamental problem with him serving in a judging capacity for MMA fights. The guy knows what he’s looking at and he’s certainly more qualified than most current MMA judges. However, his exact role with the organization has not really been publicly specified and there could be issues there. Is he a promoter? Is he a part owner? Is he both? In either case, I’m not sure how I feel about a promoter or organization executive deciding who has won fights, because they could easily be compelled, even if subconsciously, to vote for the more marketable fighter since that fighter might make them more money.

Also, what are the criteria that Rickson, McCarthy and the fans are supposed to use to judge? Oh yeah, having the ref score a fight is a horrible and dangerous idea.

From conversations I’ve had with top refs in the past, I’m rather surprised that McCarthy would even agree to doing this. From what I understand, refs have their hands full just making sure fighters are safe and keeping to the time and rules. If McCarthy is to cast a judging vote to a fight he has just refereed it certainly seems like he’d then have to either

A.) Divert some of his attention from rule enforcement and safety to thinking about who is winning, or

B.) Keep his full attention focused on safety in the ring, in which case he’d probably not have a great idea of who won the fight immediately after.

How, exactly, will fans vote? Will it be a majority thing and they all have two buttons attached to their seats so they can choose who they thought won? Or will it be like a college open mic night where applause is used to determine the winner. In which case, will there be a decibel meter to determine who, exactly, received the louder applause or will some person decide who had more support? If the latter, who will that person be? [Ed. Note: Possibly via text message voting, but who actually takes part in text message voting at stadiums? Other than me that one time fans were asked which ethnic stereotype will run around Miller Park in a sausage costume fastest, for obvious reasons. Don't judge me.]

Weight - So yeah, Mestre do Combate will have same day weigh ins. The idea is to discourage harmful weight cutting by fighters and to encourage to fight at their natural weights. Love the concept, hope it works. Amateur wrestlers have to weigh in the same day as competition and they still cut a lot of water weight often times.

Elbows - No elbows. Sorry, that sucks. A real Jiu Jitsu practitioner needs to ultimately learn how to deal with the different range and angles that elbow strikes pose on the feet and on the ground. At least professional MMA fighters should learn how to.

[Narbegesicht]

elbows don't seem to end fights through cuts all that often anymore. remember how for a while there would always be a fight or two stopped from cuts... or maybe it doesn't happen anymore cause kenny and david lauazo are retired

[Beanflicker]

Rickson is borrowing from boxing a bit with his new rules. The "cannot be saved by the bell" rule is awful and will be very messy in it's application to MMA imo.

The ref one borrows from old school boxing where they had 2 judges and the ref was the third card. It's a stupid idea for the obvious reason that being an MMA ref is hard enough, requiring your full concentration. They shouldn't be further tasked with trying to figure out who's scoring more points as well.

[Beanflicker]

As bad as the judging idea sounds, I have no doubt they will get the correct winner more often than the fucking jokers who judge MMA fights.

[killemall]

*Insert armbar joke*

[Sub Zero]

elbows don't seem to end fights through cuts all that often anymore. remember how for a while there would always be a fight or two stopped from cuts... or maybe it doesn't happen anymore cause kenny and david lauazo are retired

David Loiseau isnt retired. He cut up a guy with an elbow a couple of weeks ago

[Crunchie]

Although at first I thought having the viewers being a judge a good idea, too many biased people towards favorite fighters would happen.

[ninjabag]

Not able to be saved by the bell is a horrible rule. I like watching someone hold out that armbar or choke for the final seconds, saved by the bell! Good times and edge of your seat.

[nakedrear]

Not able to be saved by the bell is a horrible rule. I like watching someone hold out that armbar or choke for the final seconds, saved by the bell! Good times and edge of your seat.

Prefers another round which may not end in a finish....or even an outright decision....over a finish.

[Nodachi]

what no soccor kicks and stomps!

[LANCE SVRETHRVST]

armbar from mount should be the only way you can win

[Crunchie]

armbar from mount should be the only way you can win

Rickson would compete again and dominate

[ninjabag]

Prefers another round which may not end in a finish....or even an outright decision....over a finish.

If fighters were better at submitting opponents, we wouldn't be talking about finishes ol' chap.
Fighters leave it to the judges not rules. Get in there, defeat that person. end of story.

[oddtopsy]

this is going to turn in Jiu-Jitsu Combate' with Rickson voting for all the bjj guys after every match and people grabbing for kimura's at the :10 mark trying to meek out 15 minute "submission" attempts like Minowaman did to Baroni in Bushido

[Narbegesicht]

Not able to be saved by the bell is a horrible rule. I like watching someone hold out that armbar or choke for the final seconds, saved by the bell! Good times and edge of your seat.

nah i think it's a good idea. look at jones and vitor when vitor had that triangle in. who knows if he could have finished it but it would have been fun to find out.

[Narbegesicht]

this is going to turn in Jiu-Jitsu Combate' with Rickson voting for all the bjj guys after every match and people grabbing for kimura's at the :10 mark trying to meek out 15 minute "submission" attempts like Minowaman did to Baroni in Bushido

i would hope that the ref or whoever is in charge would have better sense than to let a half assed sub go too long. i would imagine that it would be like a "catch" rule where you have a good position not just holding it while the other guy waits you out

[ninjabag]

nah i think it's a good idea. look at jones and vitor when vitor had that triangle in. who knows if he could have finished it but it would have been fun to find out.

Narb, I don't think I have ever disagreed with you, but that is fucking bullshit. We are talking FIGHTERS! could have would have bullshit is out the window. If fighters get a good hold, it's tap time. Bad hold, well, saved by the bell.

I know, it's nice to be a dreamer and think coulda woulda might have, reality is a bitch.

[ninjabag]

Just to add....and not start shit but seriously I have trained many years and everyone who trains knows the difference between "when he does this I move to that" vs "fuck this is tight I cant counter or escape......." and tap.

Not having the ability to hold gloves is a big thing as well, but I will save that argument for later....... thumbs up.

[Manfred]

Having done some reffing in ammy MMA and BJJ/ADCC I can say it is a HORRIBLE idea to have the ref be part of the decision. When I'm reffing, I'm only looking out for safety and fouls, not paying attention to who is winning really. And I certainly wouldn't want that added to my list of things to worry about.

Same day weigh-ins is stupid for combat sports that involve striking. Yes, there are same day weigh-ins for BJJ/ADCC and wrestling, but they aren't taking blows to a dehydrated brain. That is the reason why this was shot down in NJ when someone proposed it a few years ago.

I like ' no saved by the bell' though.

[Narbegesicht]

Narb, I don't think I have ever disagreed with you, but that is fucking bullshit. We are talking FIGHTERS! could have would have bullshit is out the window. If fighters get a good hold, it's tap time. Bad hold, well, saved by the bell.

I know, it's nice to be a dreamer and think coulda woulda might have, reality is a bitch.

a better example would be the shields/mayhem choke. that was sunk, no coulda/woulda on that. if the hold is in, then let the guy escape if not then the guy will get out. as soon as the guy is out of danger, the ref steps in and the round is over. no big deal