- Michael Bisping said he had been told by some present-day fighters about how they use Vaseline to their advantage
- “The Count” narrated when did the UFC banned Vaseline during fights
While recapping the five times the UFC was forced to do an instant change in rules, Michael Bisping revealed that some current fighters have told him about how they utilize lubricants such as Vaseline to their advantage days before the actual fight.
MMA fighters are almost certain to get struck in the face during a fight. To avoid having to end the match prematurely due to severe cuts or lacerations, MMA fighters utilize various methods to decrease the likelihood of such an occurrence.
The impact of the opponent’s leather MMA or boxing glove against the face is one of the leading causes of cuts and lacerations in fighting. The fighters apply vaseline to their faces in order to prevent this from happening. The jelly-like substance reduces the friction between the face and the glove, thus decreasing the risk of damage to the skin.
Let that soak in
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Bisping explained how it’s almost impossible to control a fighter in a grapple when they are covered with sweat, oil, or both. In the process, “The Count” divulged that some fighters believe it works when they let the lubricant “soak in” to their body 2 to 3 days before fight night as it makes them a little extra slippery once they begin to sweat inside the cage.
“Trying to control a fighter covered in sweat who’s also applied like a lubricant like a Vaseline, that’s damn near impossible! And that’s why a lot of fighters in the history of mixed martial arts have tried to do [so],” Bisping said.
He continued, “In fact, I’ve been present speaking to people, other fighters where they’ve told me some of their methods. They used to say ‘what I do is I apply Vaseline to my body 2, 3 days before, I allow it to soak in and then afterwards I shower so it feels like there’s nothing there, and then in the fight when you start sweating, it comes out.”
When did the UFC acted on it?
Bisping went on to narrate when exactly did the UFC decided to ban the application of Vaseline during fights. According to the Brit, it was made official by the UFC after the epic rematch between fierce rivals George St-Pierre and BJ Penn at UFC 94.
It can be recalled that GSP’s cornermen applied Vaseline all over his body during breaks and right there and then, Dana White and other organizers noticed it. White was so “furious” about it and it ultimately led to the rule change shortly after the fight.
Since then, lubricant is applied to fighters only before entering the Octagon and it’s done by an official UFC staff.
