UFC legend Michael Bisping demands MMA rule changes that would drastically change the sport

Michael Bisping has demanded not one but TWO MMA rule changes following a controversial moment during last weekend's UFC card.

Nassourdine Imavov edged out Roman Dolidze by majority decision in the main-event of UFC Fight Night 235.

Imavov was docked a point by referee Herb Dean for kicking Dolidze while he had his hand on the canvas, which technically classed him as a downed fighter.

The moment during the middleweight showdown frustrated Bisping, who wants to see that rule changed right now.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "Imavov has him in a body lock, and what’s Dolidze doing? He’s playing the game and putting his hand down on the Octagon canvas and you can’t hit him now because he’s a downed opponent.

“Just recently there was a lot of talk from the California State Athletic Commission that that was going to be changed, with immediate effect I thought but it turns out not yet.

"The new rule is going to be, outside of hands or feet, if any other part of your body is on the canvas then you will be a downed opponent.

"If it’s just your hands or feet, then you are not downed - and therefore fair game. You can attack, kick you in the head or knee you in the head. This is such a stupid rule.

"Opponents would touch the ground and then get lifted off and get hit, again it’s blurred lines and makes it very easy to fall foul.

"The big thing here is that nobody in a real life fight situation, if they are in the middle of a fight, is going to lean on the ground.In a fight situation, you are going to get cracked. You are going to get demolished. No man alive leans on the ground and says ‘I’m alright here sausage’.

"In a street fight, you are going to get butchered. Simple as that. That rule needs to go straight away.

"Imavov kicks him in the face and has a point taken off him, it doesn’t really matter as he dominated the fight.

"That rule change needs to come into effect right now to stop circumstances like this from happening."

While on the subject of rule changes, Bisping then suggested to bin the 12-6 elbow rule, which is a downward elbow strike.

The move is currently prohibited in MMA, but the former UFC middleweight champion wants that rule changed to allow the strike in competition.

Jon Jones famously landed a 12-6 elbow on Matt Hamill, resulting in a disqualification loss - the only blemish on his professional MMA record.

Nassourdine Imavov docked a point by Herb Dean. Image: Getty

Bisping added: "Also on the docket for the rule changes is the 6-12 elbow. I’m surprised that hasn’t already changed.

“The story goes, back in the day as Joe Rogan said on his podcast, the Athletic Commissions when they were coming up with the unified rules of mixed martial arts they saw a martial artist smashing sheets of ice with an elbow like that [12-6]. And they were like 'oh my god, we have to change that'.

"But you look at an elbow standing where you can use your full bodyweight and generate torque from your legs and hips and generate real force. The elbow can be way more powerful.

“That will be changed as well as the downed opponent rule also. It can’t come soon enough... change the f**king rule."

Topics: UFC

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

@NasJabbar