Do you think there should be more body punches in mma?

Ok in boxing they throw body punches to slow quick opponents or weaken strong punchers. in both cases they take away the hips of the opponent. so wouldn't this be even more valueable in mma because hips are one of the most important aspect of grappling and wrestling. I know you see kicks and knees in the clinch but wouldn't it be a good idea to add body punches. I know this a unpopular oppinion but I think Serra took GSP out of his rythme with effective body blows. I would like to hear what others would like to say about why mabye I'm wrong or maybe ways to incorperate them more

Do you think there should be more body punches in mma?
Hell yes! Great call. I have been saying it for several years now and predicting they will evetually come in, and decent jabs too.





The main reasons being the first guy who does develope a good body shot is going to be hitting guys who are not ready for them.





I guarantee despite what most the guys think about 'long slow cumulative effect', if a guy is not trained to block or take big body shots the effect can be VERY quick- single body blow knockouts happen all the time in the lower ranks for boxing where people of vastly different conditioning come together.





Secondly they dig deeper and are harder to block than knees.





The main reason we have not seen a lot of them is obviously MMA is still developing the striker role.





With the general level of takedown defence now and more importantly the stand up rules if there is no action, there will be greater freedom for punch developement as a result.





They will be very effective up against the cage standing as we are seeing a lot of.
Reply:not really... fights in MMA dont last 12 rounds.... and one good head shot and the fight is over... unlike in boxing when someone gets hurt.. they get a chance to get up, in MMA they get finished... body shots are for the later rounds in boxing.. which never take place in the UFC.. jus my opinion
Reply:Bas Rutten trained fighters better know how to throw a body shot, they learned from one of the best in MMA.





Body punching well isn't that easy. Fine line between a good liver shot and a broken hand (post elbow collision. I think that the clinch game in MMA is somewhat prohibitive of making body shots a workable strategy.But yeah I would like to see more of it.
Reply:Body shots have an accumulative effect. And can slow a fighter down over the long haul. ie Chavez-Taylor. In MMA it can help but a fight isnt long enough to truly reap the benefits of of a good body attack. Second in MMA you have kicking and knees that you can fire from a longer range. And ultimately pay bigger dividends in a smaller span of time like in the three rounds of MMA. And lastly to throw a really effective body shot. It puts you in a procariouse position in proximity to your opponent. It can leave you open for a take down. A counter right snap kick or a Thai clinch follwed by a knee strike up the middle. Dont get me wrong. it can be done. But you have to set it up with jabs. And if you make a mistake or are a little to slow you might be on the losing end of the deal.
Reply:Chuck Liddell went for a body shot, then lost his title to rampage. They do nothing in mma but create an opening for your opponent.
Reply:Melvin Guillard took out Gabe Ruediger with body shots... Maybe that's a bad example but Gray Maynard vs. Rob Emerson and Pete Sell vs. Scott Smith are more recent examples. It's harder in MMA to stand like a boxer and hit effectively to the body. Chuck got KO'd because he jumped out for a body punch. Body shots come on the ground or in the clinch in MMA. Kicks on the other hand are often thrown to the body to hurt/wear down the opponent. See: David Louiseau vs. Charles McCarthy or Keith Jardine vs. Chuck Liddell.





You must have head El Guapo do commentary before, you obviously know how much he loves THE LIVA SHOT!!!
Reply:Yes. I can't understand why more guys arent banging the body when they have top position to soften their opponent up and then make it easier to submitt them. The ribs are always open from the topside mount. Very few throw knees and elbows to body, nothing takes the wind faster from a guy then when his body is being banged up. It makes it harder to breath and move. And when the body hurts the hands drop leaving the head open and those tired arms are easier to lock and finish the fight. You take what ever is open to score and cause damage.
Reply:lets not all forget the first rampage and liddel fight. Liddel was brutally beaten in the side and abdomen area and he had to throw in the towel. Body shots can be more affective from the ground, but they are grossly overlooked in the ufc along with legs kicks. if you take out the abdomen and the legs you have the fight won no doubt.
Reply:because there isn't enough time, if you are trying to stay out and work the body you will be wrapped up and taken down, you need your blows to do damage immediately, AND redirect your opponent.