UFC, MMA, combat sports – whatever you wanna call it, at the end of the day, it’s a GAME.
Just like any video game or sport, there are rules. Rules both fighters have to follow, like it or not, to keep things fair and protect everyone involved.

So what are those rules in UFC? Let’s break it down in this post.

👁 Eye Pokes – The Accidental (or Not) Weapon

Nobody wants to get poked in the eye – we’re talking about one of the most vulnerable spots on the human body. A clean shot to the eye can cause serious damage, mess up your vision, or even end a fighter’s career. That’s why eye pokes are illegal in the UFC.

But here’s the crazy part: it’s still one of the most common fouls in the sport.

Why? Simple. Fighters keep their hands open to measure distance, block strikes, or feint; and sometimes, those fingers are aimed right at the opponent’s face. One wrong move, and accidental eye poke. Some get warnings. Some lose points. Some fights even end in no-contests or DQs because of it.

And if we’re talking about infamous eye pokers, one name always comes up: Jon Jones. Whether it’s habit, strategy, or just bad hand placement, he’s been caught doing it so many times that fans started joking he’s the Eye Poke GOAT – like it’s part of his fight style.

Eye pokes aren’t just annoying. They’re fight-changers. And even though they’re illegal, they’re still part of the chaos that comes with the game (accidently).

🎱 Groin Strikes – The Other “Accidental” Weapon

Another weak spot, another illegal move, and yeah, this one hurts different. Bet every guy reading this has taken one to the jewels before and instantly yelled, “MY F***ING BALLS!” 😵‍💫 No questions asked, groin strikes are banned in the UFC.

And before you ask – yes, it’s illegal for women too. Ain’t nobody tryna get smashed in the sensitive zone. A well-placed shot down there can stop a fight, mess you up bad, end a career, and… possibly your “future generation” too 😬. Worst part? A doctor might walk into the cage to check your lil’ child in front of a full arena. You don’t want that smoke, trust me.

But just like eye pokes, this still happens a lot (usually accidental). Maybe it’s a body kick that slides a little too south, or a knee in the clinch that lands wrong. Either way, fighters get dropped, time gets paused, and things get awkward real fast.

One of the worst I’ve seen? UFC 294 – Victor Henry vs. Javid Basharat. Henry ate a brutal low blow, couldn’t continue, and the fight ended in a no contest. Same card had Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker end in a no contest too, from another illegal strike, which I’ll break down next. That whole event was straight cursed.

Wait, also there was Jorge Masvidal scored a record for fastest KO of UFC, and groin shot :))

🦵 Kicks & Knees to a Grounded Opponent – The Game-Changer Strike

Like I just mentioned – Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker at UFC 294 ended in a no contest because of this exact foul. Ankalaev landed an illegal knee straight to Walker’s head while he was grounded. And the worst part? When the doctor asked Walker where he was, the man said, “A desert.” Bro… what??

Let’s be real: kicks and knees hit different. A punch might rock you, but a clean head kick or flying knee? That’s lights out. That’s why these strikes are forbidden when your opponent is on the ground, or even partially grounded.
This ain’t a soccer match, and you’re not Cristian Ronaldo screaming “SIUUU” after landing a ground kick.

So what counts as “grounded“?
Basically, if any part of your body other than the soles of your feet is touching the canvas, like a knee, hand, your butt, even a hand finger, you’re considered grounded. And that makes head kicks or knees illegal.

Now, here’s where things got tricky:
Before 2019, fighters could just drop a fingertip to the mat and be considered grounded. Some used it like a cheat code to dodge legal strikes. So the Unified Rules of MMA were updated:

🔄 2019 Rule Update:

“To be grounded, a fighter must have both hands (palms/fists) or any other body part touching the canvas, not just fingertips.”

📅 2025 Latest Version:

“A fighter is grounded if any part of the body besides the soles of the feet is touching the mat AND:
– They have two hands (palms/fists) on the ground
– OR any other part of the body is down (knee, butt, etc.)”

And yeah, this rule has decided fights.
Case in point: Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling
This is the first case when champion lost his belt by an illegal move. Yan was piecing Aljo up for most of the fight, straight dominance. But in a split-second misread, he threw a knee while Sterling’s knee was still grounded. Boom. Fight over. Yan was disqualified and lost the title.

Controversy exploded. Fans called Sterling an “actor” for milking it. But let’s be honest, the rules are there for a reason. Aljo didn’t cheat. He protected his health, and by the book, he did nothing wrong. You break the rule, then face the consequences.

🧠 Headbutts – You Expected to Play A Protagonist in a Movie?

This ain’t a movie. You can’t just throw your head at people like you’re John Wick.

Headbutts are 100% illegal in the UFC. Always have been. Why? Because your skull is literally a built-in weapon. It’s one of the hardest parts of the human body. Smashing it into someone’s nose, cheekbone, or jaw? Yeah, that’s a free ticket to a broken face or worse.

Back in the old-school “no rules” MMA days, headbutts were totally legal. Mark Coleman, aka the original ground-n-pound king, used to headbutt people into oblivion. But as MMA evolved from back-alley brawl to global sport, this savage move got the boot.

Even now, though, head clashes still happen, but usually by accident. Think about it: you’re in close, throwing elbows in the clinch, scrambling for top position, and heads collide.
You see blood. But is it from a legal strike or an accidental clash of domes?
Sometimes even the ref doesn’t know right away.

And here’s the thing: intent matters. If you intentionally slam your head forward like a goat on a mission, you’re risking a point deduction, DQ, or no contest, depending on how bad it is. Nobody wants to get flash-KO’d by a skull bash, especially when they signed up for fists, not forehead missiles.
Bottom line? Use your head to think… but don’t throw it.

And sometimes, you can even accidently knock your opponent down with headbutt, like the fight between Kevin Holland vs. Kyle Daukaus, the fight was over when Daukaus choked Holland, but due to the headbutt that knock Holland down previous, the match result turned to No Contest.

🧠 Bonus: A Move That Should Be Illegal (But Isn’t)

This one’s technically legal, but I honestly think it should be banned, just off how freakin’ dangerous it is. One wrong slip and your knee’s gone for a year. I’m talking about the infamous flying scissor takedown, aka Kani Basami ✂️.

If you train grappling, especially Judo, Sambo, or BJJ – you might already be warned about the injury risk is sky-high with this one. And if you’re hearing this name for the first time, let me break it down real quick:

It’s a slick takedown that aims to drag you to the mat and lock in a heel hook. One leg swings in front of your opponent’s waist, the other slices behind their knee – and then you twist your body like a human scissor. ✂️

It’s like trying to cut a string… except the string is your opponent’s knee ligaments. Yeah. That bad.
You rarely see this move in MMA, and honestly, it’s probably because even pro fighters know how wrecked you can get if it goes wrong. But there’s one legendary moment that stands out:

Anderson Silva vs. Ryo Chonan.
Everyone thought Silva was cruising… until bam, Chonan pulls out this insane flying scissor outta nowhere. Silva hits the ground, locked in a heel hook, and taps before anyone in the crowd even knows what happened. Legendary upset.

Moral of the story? Not every dangerous move is illegal, but maybe some should be.

💭 Final Thought

At the end of the day, the UFC might look like pure chaos: fists flying, blood dripping, and bodies hitting the mat; but it’s still a regulated sport, not a street brawl. These illegal moves exist for a reason: to protect the fighters from permanent damage and keep the chaos within rules.

But as we’ve seen, fouls still happen – some by accident, some… maybe not. And when they do, they can flip a whole fight, ruin a career, or cause a wild no contest ending that leaves fans screaming “WTF just happened?”

So next time you’re watching a fight and someone gets poked in the eye or kneed on the ground, remember: behind all the trash talk and knockouts, there’s a rulebook. And breaking it? That can turn a war into a mess.

This is just Chapter 1. There are still more dirty tricks, banned techniques, and wild fouls in the UFC waiting to be exposed.
Stay tuned, we’re just getting started. 💥

If you’re vibing with this breakdown of the dark side of MMA rules. hit that email subscribe, drop a comment, or share this with your fight crew.
Got a crazy foul moment stuck in your head? Let me know, I might feature it in the next chapter.
And if you’re new here, I’m all about MMA deep dives, fight science, and raw storytelling that blends stats, strategy, and chaos.
This is just Round 1. Let’s keep scrapping.

👉 Stay tuned for Chapter 2: More Banned Moves That Could End a Fight (Or a Career).