Official Mixed Martial Arts Rules

OFFICIAL MIXED MARTIAL ARTS RULES

WEIGHT DIVISIONS

Strawweight (106 lbs.-115 lbs.)

Flyweight (116 lbs.-125 lbs.)

Bantamweight (126 lbs.-135 lbs.)

Featherweight (136 lbs.-145 lbs.)

Lightweight (146 lbs.-155 lbs.)

Welterweight (156 lbs.-170 lbs.)

Middleweight (171 lbs.-185 lbs.)

Light Heavyweight (186 lbs.-205 lbs.)

Heavyweight (206 lbs.-265 lbs.)

Super Heavyweight (265 lbs.-over)

ROUNDS

Every round is three (3) minutes in duration with a one (1) minute rest period in-between rounds. Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals are all scheduled for two (2) rounds. In case of a draw, there will be an additional "Tiebreaker" round scheduled for one (1) minute and thirty (30) seconds. Final match is sanctioned for a maximum of three (3) rounds. There will be a fifteen (15) minute break before the final match.

ATTIRE

All fighters are required to wear a protective headgear issued only by Fist MMA during competition, and must fight in approved fight attire, and without any footwear. Shirts, gis, rash guards, or long pants are for approval. Fighters with any printed materials that have a derogatory remark are strictly prohibited. Fighters must use approved MMA gloves issued only by Fist MMA that allow fingers to grab for grappling. Hand wraps are compulsory. A mouth guard and a groin guard are mandatory before being allowed to enter the cage. Fighters are required to wear shin guards issued only by Fist MMA. Refusal to any of the above will result to a disqualification.

VASELINE

Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly) if applicable, can only be applied on the face that is prone to cuts such as the eyebrows and cheeks. It must not be applied on the forehead, chin, neck, nape, body, or any areas of the arms and legs. Fighters are also required to clip their fingernails and toenails to avoid cuts and scratches during the fight.

CORNERMEN

Each fighter is required to have a maximum of two (2) cornermen only. Cornermen are required to obey the referees and officials, and must stay in their fighter's corner at all times. During in-between rounds, two (2) cornermen are allowed inside the cage, and are required to keep their fighters dry before the next round. Cornermen are expected to observe proper conduct and avoid the use of foul language towards the referees, officials, and opposing team, and must not interfere during competition, otherwise, a violation may result to a warning, point deduction, or disqualification of their fighter (Fouls #30). For safety issues, cornermen are strictly required to bring a towel for their fighter, or else, their fighter won't be allowed to enter the cage to compete.

WAYS TO WIN

01. Knock Out (KO)

As soon as a fighter becomes unconscious due to strikes, his opponent is declared the winner. As MMA rules allow ground fighting, the fight is stopped to prevent further injury to an unconscious fighter.

02. Referee / Doctor Stops Contest-Technical Knock Out (RSC / DSC-TKO)

The referee or doctor may stop a match in progress if:

- A fighter becomes dominant to the point where the opponent is unable to intelligently defend himself from attacks, which may occur as quickly as a few seconds;

- The referee will call for a time out if a fighter's ability to continue is in question as a result of apparent injuries, such as a large cut or injury from a groin strike. The doctor will inspect the fighter and stop the match if the fighter is deemed unable to continue safely. If the match is stopped as a result of an injury from any intentional illegal technique by the opponent, a "Disqualification" will be issued. However, if the match is stopped as a result of an injury from any unintentional illegal technique by the opponent, a "No Contest" will be issued instead. The fighter who acquires a groin strike is allowed to rest for a period of three (3) minutes only.

03. Corner Stoppage

The fighter's cornermen may announce defeat on the fighter's behalf by throwing in the towel during the match in progress or between rounds.

04. Retirement

If a fighter feels unable to continue after the conclusion of a round, he may inform or have the cornermen inform the referee that he forfeits the match to his opponent. In the case that a victorious fighter can no longer continue the tournament, his defeated opponent will become his replacement for the succeeding matches.

05. Submission

A fighter may admit defeat during a match by:

- A tap on the opponent's body;

- A tap on the mat or canvas;

- Verbal announcement.

06. Technical Submission

A referee may intervene and call a stop to the contest when:

- A fighter appears to be unconscious from a grappling hold;

- A fighter appears to have suffered a serious injury from a grappling hold.

07. Judge's Decision

If the match goes the distance, then the outcome of the bout is determined by three (3) judges. The ten-point must system is in effect for all fights. Three (3) judges score each round, and the winner of each receives ten (10) points, the loser nine (9) points or less. If the round is even, both fighters receive ten (10) points. Scorecards will be handed out to the cage marshals to be given to the authorized personnel for tallying.

a. Unanimous Decision: If all three (3) judges on the panel scores a bout unanimously in favor of one (1) fighter;

b. Split Decision: If two (2) judges on the panel scores a bout in favor of one (1) fighter, with one (1) judge scoring the bout in favor of the other;

c. Majority Decision: If two (2) judges on the panel scores a bout in favor of one (1) fighter, with one (1) judge scoring the bout a draw;

d. Draw: If all three (3) judges on the panel scores a bout unanimously in favor of neither fighter;

e. Split Draw: If one (1) judge on the panel scores a bout in favor of one (1) fighter, the second in favor of his opponent, and the third in favor of neither fighter;

f. Majority Draw: If two (2) judges scores the bout a draw, with one (1) judge scoring the bout in favor of one (1) fighter.

08. Forfeit

A fighter or his representative may forfeit a match before the competition. But if a winning fighter decides to discontinue, the fighter he defeated will become his replacement. If his replacement also decides to forfeit, the following match will declare its fighter as winner via default.

09. Disqualification

A warning will be given when a fighter commits a foul or illegal action or does not follow the referee's instruction. Three (3) warnings will result in a disqualification. Moreover, if a fighter is injured and unable to continue due to an intentional illegal technique from his opponent, the opponent will be disqualified.

10. No Contest

In the event that both fighters commit a violation of the rules, or a fighter is unable to continue due to an injury from an unintentional illegal technique from his opponent, the match will be declared a no contest.

FOULS

01. Headbutting. No use of the head as a striking instrument in any form is allowed;

02. Eye gouging of any kind. Intentional use of the fingers, thumb, knuckles, or chin as a gouging instrument will be considered as eye gouging;

03. Biting;

04. Hair pulling;

05. Fish-hooking. Any attempt by a fighter to use their fingers in a manner that attacks their opponent's mouth, nose, or ears, stretching the skin to that area will be considered fish-hooking. Fish-hooking generally is the placing of fingers into the mouth of your opponent and pulling your hands in opposing directions while holding onto the skin;

06. Groin attacks of any kind;

07. Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent;

08. Small joint manipulation. Fingers and toes are small joints. Shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles are all large joints. Bicep lock and heel hook are also illegal;

09. Striking to the spine or the back area of the head. No direct striking attacks are allowed to the spine or the back area of the head. A direct strike is an aimed and executed attack to the area. Striking the top of the head is also not allowed;

10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow. All elbow strikes are illegal and must not be used as a striking instrument;

11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea. No directed throat strikes are allowed. A fighter may not gouge their fingers or thumb into their opponent's neck or trachea in an attempt to submit their opponent. All types of neck cranks such as side control-headlock, crucifix-neck crank, or can opener are illegal;

12. Clawing, pinching, or twisting the flesh;

13. Grabbing the clavicle. This is viewed as another form of gouging. Fighters may not grab the clavicle area while standing with the use of their thumb, whereas holding onto the trapezius muscle for a clinch or pull guard attempt;

14. Kicking the head and body of a grounded or downed opponent. A downed opponent is any fighter who has more than just the soles of their feet on the ground. If a fighter is caught in a crouched position where the fence is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground, the fighter will be considered a downed opponent. However, a standing fighter may kick his opponent's leg that is grounded, and a grounded fighter may also kick his opponent's leg that is standing, but never on the head or body;

15. Kneeing the head of a standing opponent or kneeing the head and body of a grounded opponent. A downed opponent is any fighter who has more than just the soles of their feet on the ground. If a fighter is caught in a crouched position where the fence is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground, the fighter will be considered a downed opponent. Only knee strikes to the body while fully standing are allowed;

16. Stomping a standing or grounded opponent, and any direct strikes to the kneecap;

17. Kicking to the kidney with the heel from any position on the ground;

18. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck. Piledriver or any techniques that would cost injuries to the head or neck to the canvas are not allowed;

19. Throwing an opponent out of the fenced area. Any fighter who purposely throws their opponent out of the cage shall be disqualified;

20. Holding or grabbing the headgear, gloves, fight short, or shin guards of an opponent. A fighter may not control their opponent’s movement by holding or grabbing onto their opponent's protective gear and attire;

21. Spitting at an opponent;

22. Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent;

23. Holding the fence. A fighter may put their hands on the fence and push off of it at anytime. However, if a fighter's fingers go through the cage and grab hold of the fence and start to control either their body position or their opponent's body position, the referee shall issue a warning to the fighter to let go of the fence. If the fighter does not let go, the referee is authorized to quickly pull the fighter's hand off of the fence. If this does not immediately work, the referee shall issue a foul against the violating fighter;

24. Using abusive language in the fenced area. Fighters shall not entice their opponent with abusive language during the introductions or during the actual fight. The referee shall give one (1) warning to the violating fighter and then issue a foul for every infraction thereafter. Shouting at an opponent as a violation is upon the referee's discretion;

25. Attacking an opponent on or during the break;

26. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee;

27. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of fight;

28. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee;

29. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthguard, or faking an injury;

30. Interference by the cornermen.

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- Smoking is strictly prohibited.

- Alcoholic Beverages are prohibited.

- Betting or Gambling is not allowed.

- Professional Video Cameras are not allowed.

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FIST MMA FIGHTER'S REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:

- All Fist MMA Fighters (Male) must be eighteen (18) years old and above to compete.

- All Fist MMA Fighter Applicants must pay a Registration Fee of P150.00.

- All Fist MMA Fighters must sign a Fist MMA Waiver and Legal Release Form.

- Qualified Fighters are all required to attend the General Assembly & Official Weigh-In.