Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/MMA-Bill-Passes-Through-Connecticut-House-of-Representatives-52335

Bao Ligao  Josh Barnett  David Baron  Phil Baroni Don Barr

But a problem came up at a fight in Brazil that even the most prescient commission couldn’t have expected. At WOCS 25 in Brazil, a staff member used glue to fix a hanging decal from a fight banner as staff worked on Carlo Alberto Lobo after the second round of his bout with Marcos Nene. The glue dripped onto Lobo’s eye. Thinking it was the Vaseline that is applied to a fighter’s face to discourage cuts, he rubbed it and ending up gluing his eye shut.

Fight staff worked like crazy to open Lobo’s eye back up, but it didn’t work. The fight was stopped. The crazy part? They had to go the scorecards and Lobo still won.

Thanks, Middle Easy.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/brazilian-fighter-gets-eye-glued-shut-during-bout-215234756.html

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah 

Vitor Belfort  Robert Berry David Bielkheden Michael Bisping  Dan Bobish

UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre stopped by the “UFC Tonight” studio and talked about the challenges he sees on the horizon. While everyone is clamoring for an Anderson Silva-Georges St-Pierre bout, he thinks there are still plenty of challenges for him to tackle at welterweight. And as he’s claimed many times, St-Pierre said a move up to fight Silva at middleweight would have to be a permanent move because he doesn’t want to cut back down. GSP also talked about his new book, his week of Hollywood glamor, and the reasoning behind that hair. Check it out.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/georges-st-pierre-says-still-challenges-170-lbs-131440236–mma.html

Josh Hendricks Ed Herman Heath Herring Branden Lee Hinkle Tank Abbott

One reader thinks fighters should have to take more responsibility for when certain kind of strikes go awry.

Fine Michael Bisping for sure. You shouldn’t be allowed to throw a punch with your index finger extended and say sorry, it was an accident. When there is a disincentive to pawing at each others’ faces openhanded they will stop doing it and eye pokes will go down. — Knowa Metcalf

Bisping’s eye poke is what ended his bout with Alan Belcher. Fining athletes to change their behavior has a precedent. The NFL has levied fines for certain types of hits, though inconsistency in enforcement has been a problem.

Changing up the equipment used in fights could also be a solution.

It’s simple, extend an individual finger pad with a slightly cupped angle to it that still allows the fingers to be open and closed, but the tips of the fingers would be slightly covered and the hands would not open 100%… But more like 90-95%, thereby reducing the ability for the fingers to completely extend and poke the opponent in the eye. Finger straps would hold the pads to the fingers. — Michael Carter

As far as eye pokes, the best solution may not be in the gloves but rather in the design of an ultra thin goggle. Something that won’t interfere with sight, can be vented to avoid fogging, but also very streamlined and as unobtrusive as possible. — Al Lamp

But inadvertent eye pokes, like groin shots, are going to happen.

I see eye pokes like I see groin shots, they are gonna happen. Designing a different glove may help a little, but even boxers get thumbs in the eyes and their whole hand is covered. I say treat eye pokes as a foul, a warning on the first one and take points away for any after the warning. Give the person who got poked 5 minutes to recover just like a groin shot. If they dont recover then stop the fight after a doctor looks at it. — Bruce Leighty

Like every other problem that comes up in a sport where two people are fighting each other, eye pokes will likely never go away completely. Being open to innovation will help MMA reduce this annoying way to end fights.

Thank you to everyone who responded. You can join in the fun by liking Cagewriter on Facebook.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/fix-eyepokes-cagereaders-weigh-155318245.html

Karn Grigorian Karen Grigoryan Kendall Grove Clay Guida Jason Guida

Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Anthony-Birchak-Outlasts-Ryan-Benoit-in-Barnburner-Main-Event-at-MFC-37-52399

Mike Brown  Junie Browning Paul Buentello  Josh Burkman  Mikey Burnett 

Clay Guida Jason Guida Melvin Guillard Cody Guinn Jorge Gurgel

One reader thinks fighters should have to take more responsibility for when certain kind of strikes go awry.

Fine Michael Bisping for sure. You shouldn’t be allowed to throw a punch with your index finger extended and say sorry, it was an accident. When there is a disincentive to pawing at each others’ faces openhanded they will stop doing it and eye pokes will go down. — Knowa Metcalf

Bisping’s eye poke is what ended his bout with Alan Belcher. Fining athletes to change their behavior has a precedent. The NFL has levied fines for certain types of hits, though inconsistency in enforcement has been a problem.

Changing up the equipment used in fights could also be a solution.

It’s simple, extend an individual finger pad with a slightly cupped angle to it that still allows the fingers to be open and closed, but the tips of the fingers would be slightly covered and the hands would not open 100%… But more like 90-95%, thereby reducing the ability for the fingers to completely extend and poke the opponent in the eye. Finger straps would hold the pads to the fingers. — Michael Carter

As far as eye pokes, the best solution may not be in the gloves but rather in the design of an ultra thin goggle. Something that won’t interfere with sight, can be vented to avoid fogging, but also very streamlined and as unobtrusive as possible. — Al Lamp

But inadvertent eye pokes, like groin shots, are going to happen.

I see eye pokes like I see groin shots, they are gonna happen. Designing a different glove may help a little, but even boxers get thumbs in the eyes and their whole hand is covered. I say treat eye pokes as a foul, a warning on the first one and take points away for any after the warning. Give the person who got poked 5 minutes to recover just like a groin shot. If they dont recover then stop the fight after a doctor looks at it. — Bruce Leighty

Like every other problem that comes up in a sport where two people are fighting each other, eye pokes will likely never go away completely. Being open to innovation will help MMA reduce this annoying way to end fights.

Thank you to everyone who responded. You can join in the fun by liking Cagewriter on Facebook.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/fix-eyepokes-cagereaders-weigh-155318245.html

Takanori The Fireball Kid Gomi Akihiro Gono Gabriel Gonzaga Lyman Good Gary Goodridge

Anthony Pettis has shown off his acrobatic ability in fights. The former WEC lightweight champion is still remembered for his kick off the cage that clinched his win over Benson Henderson. Now, imagine what he can do with capoeira training? Pettis has been training in Brazil, and as shown in the video above, has picked up some skills from the Brazilian martial art that mixes acrobatics, dancing and fighting.

He’ll fight Jose Aldo in August for the UFC featherweight belt. Do you think we’ll see him pull out any of these tricks at UFC 163? Speak up on Facebook or on Twitter.

Thanks, MMA Fighting.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/watch-anthony-pettis-show-off-capoeira-skills-131520511.html

Jon Fitch Kenny Florian Jesse Forbes Xavier Foupa Pokam Hermes Franca

Ed Herman Heath Herring Branden Lee Hinkle Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe