Outside Source
The UFC currently doesn’t allow stomps, kicks and knees to the head of a grounded opponent. While Pimblett (23-3) understands that stomps are illegal, he would prefer that soccer kicks and knees to the head of a grounded opponent be legalized. “The Baddy” wants fighters to be punished if they shoot a lazy takedown to get some rest.
“Soccer kicks and knees to the head of a grounded opponent,” Pimblett recently told Tom Aspinall. “… I don’t agree with stomping because your head’s got nowhere to go, but a soccer kick where someone’s sitting in guard and you can move the legs and kick them there, and knees to the head of the grounded opponent, so if someone shoots a sloppy takedown just to get a break, you should be able to knee them in the head.”
While knees to the head of a grounded opponent are illegal in the UFC, they are allowed in ONE Championship. Former UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson has always been a strong advocate of legalizing knees to the head of a grounded opponent. Johnson’s wish was fulfilled when he joined ONE Championship. Johnson ironically suffered his only loss in the promotion against Adriano Moraes via a knee to the head while he was grounded. However, “Mighty Mouse” avenged the loss twice to win a trilogy before retiring.
Paddy Pimblett says he would legalize knees to grounded opponents if he could change one rule 👀🤯
“I don’t agree with stomping because your head’s got nowhere to go, but a soccer kick where someone’s sitting in guard and you can move the legs and kick them there, and knees to… pic.twitter.com/lOhsrsjYI8
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 5, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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