At UFC 314, commentator Joe Rogan made headlines by advocating for a significant rule change in mixed martial arts (MMA) after witnessing what he labeled as “clear cheating.” The main event featured Alexander Volkanovski reclaiming the UFC featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Diego Lopes. Meanwhile, Paddy Pimblett made a notable impact by defeating Michael Chandler in the co-main event, securing his place in the lightweight top 10 rankings.
However, the event wasn’t without its share of controversy. During the preliminary fights, Yan Xiaonan faced off against Virna Jandiroba in the women’s strawweight division. Jandiroba won decisively, but the match was marred by an incident where Xiaonan received a warning for grabbing Jandiroba’s face to halt a takedown in the closing moments.
Rogan, known for his candid commentary style, did not hold back in his criticism of Xiaonan’s actions, referring to them as “obvious, long-term cheating.” He proposed a proactive solution to curb such illegal maneuvers by suggesting automatic point deductions for offenses like fence grabbing and eye pokes.
Despite Rogan’s passionate plea, the UFC chose to dismiss the proposed rule change, opting to stick with the existing protocol that allows referees to address fouls at their discretion. This isn’t the first time Rogan has pushed for reform in the sport; he has previously called for eliminating weight cuts in MMA, advocating for the introduction of additional weight classes to enhance fighter safety and fairness. Unfortunately, this proposal also failed to gain traction, leaving weight cuts as a prevalent aspect of the sport.
