Is Vaseline just a carry over from boxing? Is it really necessary in MMA?

[BIBIANO]

I'm no boxing historian, but, my guess is Vaseline makes sense in boxing because of the large gloves and the volume of face punches. In MMA, where fighters wear small gloves, there is a significantly lower volume of punches to the face. Also, a lot of the strikes in MMA don't involve the fists.

If any of this makes sense, is the use of Vaseline justified in MMA?

With that being said, how much would the Jiu Jitsu game change in MMA (especially in later rounds) if fighters couldn't use Vaseline?


Hi everybody and stoked to be back on the forum, I love this place.

Thanks All

Viviano

[Eddie Bravo]

Totally just mindlessly carried over from boxing. Vaseline and grappling don't mix, only in west Hollywood does it make sense.

[Sean Marshall]

Would be nice if there was a percentage of cuts chart with and without Vaseline, used before the fight anyway. For during the fight Im not sure what they would use to close up cuts. Whie training Ive seen some super light elbows cut people right open like a razor. Not sure how much Vaseline wouldve helped though

[ScottRay]

Carried over from boxing. For sure. The problem is the folks in suits see it as a safety device, in the same category as cup and mouthpiece.. We could never convince them it needs to go. I totally agree it needs to go. But what it will take is to be in with a group of rules like: no standups, or starting the round in the same position you ended last round.

With that said, they have a valid argument. Vaseline reduces cuts, but in a sport that is all punching it was needed. Mma is much different. Ban the Vaseline!