Grabbing is illegal. A point should be taken off after 3 holds at least

[Raonic]

It's excessive clinching that people have a problem with. It's literally against the rules (you're supposed to deduct 1 point for excessiveness) but it's never enforced.

[sargo]

The Golovkin/Lemieux and Gonzalez/Viloria fights were both entertaining. There was boxing, in-fighting, show of defense without the duck and grab, miss then push, run around with the purpose of just running.

Good fights which I hoped were allowed to go on but still good fights.

[No Tomorrow]

I have not. What does he do?

He would slap one of the arms out/down so that who ever was grabbing was in a one-arm clinch.

[Chrismart]

I'd like to see refs be stricter. Too may times a ref will warn and warn but not act on it.

Recently, the Postol fight comes to mind. The ref in the end had to make it really clear it had to stop stop or points would be taken. In the end Postol had to change the way he fought.

[Beercules]

Don't tell that to Andre Ward fans.

[Deevel916]

Some boxers use clinching as part of their strategy and that needs to stop. Its illegal and needs to be enforced more. 3 clinches per round gets a warning. 2 more clinches after the warning in the same round gets a point deducted. I'm talking about reaching out to grab your opponent or hugging them when on the inside to prevent them from hitting you type of clinches.

[786]

Excessive holding should definitely be penalised but it seems that fighters have adopted it as part of their style/game plan. It's interesting seeing Wlad's fights get tougher for him the odd time (usually when he's fighting in the US) refs don't allow too much holding.

[FeFist]

It's kind of funny how people demand that fighters be gladiators, but expect the referee to drop points over clinching. It's also funny that people say MMA is killing boxing, in terms of excitement, but cry about clinching.

When the fight becomes a clinchfest, the referee should get involved and deduct points. However, if you have stepped in the ring, you would realise that some clinching is inevitable. More fighters should learn to fight their way out of a clinch.

[Deevel916]

It's kind of funny how people demand that fighters be gladiators, but expect the referee to drop points over clinching. It's also funny that people say MMA is killing boxing, in terms of excitement, but cry about clinching.

When the fight becomes a clinchfest, the referee should get involved and deduct points. However, if you have stepped in the ring, you would realise that some clinching is inevitable. More fighters should learn to fight their way out of a clinch.

You do know that in MMA, grappling/wrestling requires you to grab your opponent right?

[FeFist]

You do know that in MMA, grappling/wrestling requires you to grab your opponent right?

Yes, that was my point. You have people crying about clinching, but they will happily cream themselves over a sport where grappling is permitted.