A case for yellow cards in the UFC. Kimbo vs. Alexander. Opinions?

In Japanese mixed martial arts organizations, Pride had them, Dream still does, if a fighter or fighters intentionally stall the action, make no attempt to initiate an offensive attack, make no attempt to damage the opponent, or in general make no attempt to WIN, they are issued a yellow card.

A yellow card is a penalty card meant to be taken as a warning. If you're issued a yellow card, 10% of your purse is deducted. If you receive three yellow cards over the course of a fight, you're disqualified.

I believe that there's now a case that yellow cards need to be implemented by the UFC. Let's take Kimbo Slice vs. Houston Alexander as a SHINING example.

I'll get straight to it, Houston Alexander was fleeing the entire fight. He threw weak lead leg kicks and circled the Octagon as if he were going for laps. When Kimbo attempted to initiate a stand up exchange, Alexander threw one, possibly two techniques, and retreated.

He made no attempt to 'win' that fight. He made no attempt to inflict damage. He made no attempt to fight. He is a professional FIGHTER. Is there any excuse for this?

He should have been yellow carded two minutes into the first round.

I know what arguments to expect. He was following a game plan. He knew Kimbo had a bad knee, and he was trying to weaken the legs to move in for the kill. A valid argument. However, if he were trying to weaken the knee he should have varied his attack, threw more than a lead leg kick with NO power behind it, and initiated at least SOME of the action. Feint Kimbo out, try to get him to cross his feet, cut an angle and attack hard. He could have done SOMETHING. There is no strategy in blatantly running away. Another valid argument would be that he didn't want to stand toe to toe and trade with Kimbo. Who would want to do that? It's not smart. But there are things you can do. If you're so afraid of engaging that you flee the entire fight, don't accept the fight. Use footwork, attack when an opening presents itself, if you don't feel an opening is present, create one! Kimbo is not a master with his footwork, nor is he a master strategist. Something could have, and should have, been done.

Now I don't place all of the blame on Houston, Kimbo could have been doing a lot more himself. Kimbo had an AMAZING second round. He showed a lot of good, well rounded skills. Still, he could have cut an angle and threw hands, he could have stalked Alexander, cut off the ring, put him against the cage and engaged. He did a few times. It wasn't perfect, but he tried. HOW DO YOU FIGHT SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T WANT TO FIGHT? Even so, Kimbo should have been issued a yellow card as well.

Now I know there might be complications in getting the approval of various state athletic commissions, but it's not un-doable. There is an argument for the practice.

As for those who think strategy goes out the window and yellow cards just encourage brawls, look at Dream. If you've watched Japanese MMA, you know that yellow cards do not devolve all fights into bar room brawls. There are a number of very strategic fighters who work fine with the yellow card rule in place. (Shinya Aoki for example.)

No one should have to watch two guys circle stupidly around the cage for 9 minutes out of a 15 minute fight.

So what are your opinions? Do you at least believe the option should be considered?

I realize a lot of these fighters aren't making a lot of money, but when it's blatant that you're stalling, and it's blatant you don't want to fight, you need to do something.

Again, I'm a fighter myself so I feel I can say this, if you don't want to fight that's fine, just don't fight.

(For the record, I don't believe the fight was fixed. I just don't think Houston wanted anything to do with fighting Kimbo.)