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Why The Eye Gouge Should Be Legal in the UFC: The Next Evolution of Combat Sports
- Austin Jones
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
Why The Eye Gouge Should Be Legal in the UFC: The Next Evolution of Combat Sports
In the ever-evolving world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), innovation is the key to keeping things fresh, exciting, and downright brutal. We’ve seen ground-breaking fights, devastating knockouts, and submission maneuvers that defy the laws of physics. But now, we must ask ourselves—what’s next? What new, daring, and completely unhinged element can be added to the UFC to spice things up? The answer is simple: the eye gouge.
"It's Just a Natural Part of Fighting, Right?"
Why should a fighter be restricted by petty rules like "no eye gouging"? After all, the sport is designed for two people to punch, kick, and grapple until one is either knocked out or tapped out. But, heaven forbid, they get their fingers anywhere near the opponent’s oculars. It's like saying you can go to war, but no grenades, no tanks, and please keep it polite!
Eye gouges—those infamous, cringe-worthy maneuvers that often get fighters penalized or disqualified—should be brought out of the shadows and into the mainstream. Let’s be real, this is the UFC, not a Sunday brunch at a nice restaurant. Let’s take the gloves off (both literally and metaphorically), and let’s get real with each other. After all, if you’re not risking permanent blindness for the glory of combat sports, are you really even trying?
The Ultimate Mind Games
Imagine the psychological warfare at play. Fighters already get inside each other's heads with trash talk, pressure, and stare-downs. But now, add the looming fear of an eye gouge at any moment. Imagine the mental gymnastics involved: “Is he going for a punch, or is he about to throw his fingers into my eye sockets?” It would make the intensity of the stare-downs at weigh-ins look like a high school prom date.
The mind games would go to a whole new level. Fighters would be walking into the cage wondering, Is my opponent going to try and blind me? It’s not just about winning anymore. It’s about survival.
A Fairer Fight for the Less Skilled
Not everyone is born with a world-class ground game or a knockout power that could flatten a brick wall. But not everyone has a finger flexible enough to poke an opponent's eye out with the grace of a ballerina either. Eye gouges level the playing field for those fighters who may not be as technically proficient but are great at finding their way to the sweet spot in an opponent's face.
Let’s be honest—there’s no better equalizer than a good old-fashioned eye gouge. No need to worry about takedowns or submissions when all you need is a quick jab to the peepers. Let’s give those scrappy underdogs a chance.
Say Goodbye to “Safety” Concerns
Who needs "safety" in combat sports anyway? Just think of the storylines it would create. Fighters would enter the Octagon with dark, mysterious sunglasses (or, better yet, eye patches) to conceal their post-fight war wounds. Forget about “protecting the fighters”; this is ultimate fighting—it’s about making every match feel like the final scene in a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Sure, people might argue that eye gouging could lead to serious injuries. But come on—when was the last time you heard anyone complain about a fighter having their nose permanently reshaped or an arm nearly dislocated? We watch UFC for the spectacle, the blood, and the violence. Why stop at safety when you can turn every match into a life-or-death struggle?
Eye Gouging as a Strategic Tool
If eye gouging were legal, think about the strategic implications. Fighters would develop a whole new game plan. The classic jab, cross, hook? That’s old school. The new knockout punch could involve a well-timed thumb into the orbital socket. Fighters would spend entire training camps learning how to hit a perfect gouge, while coaches would craft intricate drills that include finger flexibility training and precise finger-aiming techniques.
Who needs to work on their cardio when all you need is a well-timed poke in the eye to score a TKO victory? That’s efficiency!
Fan Reactions: The Real Winners
Let’s not forget the fans. Oh, the fans. The sound of a fighter’s finger slipping into an opponent's eye socket would be enough to send the crowd into a frenzy. It would be the modern-day version of the gladiators facing lions, except the lions are unprepared and have no idea they’re about to get their eyes gouged out.
Plus, the memes. The memes would be endless. "Another one bites the cornea!" "When in doubt, gouge it out!" The internet would explode with humor and horror, all at the same time. It’s a content creator’s dream.
Eye Gouging—The Future of UFC?
To summarize, legalizing eye gouges in the UFC would bring much-needed excitement, strategy, and spectacle to the sport. Forget about boring rules and regulations—this is about taking the sport to the next level of insanity. Fighters would need to think on their feet, adapt to an entirely new level of mental and physical warfare, and maybe, just maybe, leave the Octagon a little less sighted but a whole lot more legendary.
UFC, it’s time to embrace the chaos. It’s time to let the eyes—and the fighters—be gouged.
Disclaimer: FIGHT.TV does not endorse eye gouging. We merely enjoy exploring the hypothetical. Keep it safe, folks.
