RULES FOR THE PROPER CONDUCT OF PROFESSIONAL MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CONTESTS IN VICTORIA

Contents

1.PURPOSE

2.DEFINITIONS

3.WEIGHT DIVISIONS

4.WEIGH-IN

5.THE SAFETY ENCLOSURE

6.PROMOTERS

7.CONTESTANTS

7.1General requirements

7.2Contestant attire

7.3Jewellery

7.4Hand wraps

7.5 Gloves

7.6 Ankle wraps

8.TRAINERS

9.TIMEKEEPERS

9.4 Timekeeper equipment

9.5 The role of the timekeeper

10.MEDICAL PRACTITIONER

10.2 Pre-Contest examination

10.3 During contests

10.4 Post-Contest examination

10.5 Medical equipment

10.6 Authority to stop a contest

10.7 Non-fight periods

11.REFEREE

11.2 Referee attire

11.3 Duties of a referee before a bout commences

11.4 Duties of a referee during a bout

11.5 Powers of a referee

11.6 Stopping the contest

11.7 Consulting the Medical Practitioner

12.JUDGES

12.1 Judge attire

12.2 The role of a judge

13.SCORING

13.1 Points

13.2 Judges’ decisions

13.3 Official outcomes

13.4 The decision is final

APPENDIX 1

APPENDIX 2

APPENDIX 3

APPENDIX 4

APPENDIX 5

1.PURPOSE

1.1The purpose of these rules is to supplement the requirements of the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Act 1985 and the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Regulations 2008that apply to professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) contests in Victoria.

1.2These rules are issued by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board of Victoria in the interests of safety and integrity of professional MMA in Victoria.

1.3MMA is full contact combat sport carried out both standing and on the ground that allows a wide range of fighting styles.

2.DEFINITIONS

2.1approved shorts means board shorts or other shorts approved by the Board.

2.2the Board means the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board as defined in section 14 of the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Act 1985.

2.3a foul means any of the following:

  1. butting with the head;
  2. eye gouging of any kind;
  3. biting;
  4. hair pulling;
  5. fish hooking;
  6. groin attack of any kind;
  7. putting a finger into any orifice or to any cut or laceration on an opponent;
  8. small joint manipulation;
  9. striking to the spine or the back of the head
  10. striking downward using the point of the elbow
  11. throat strikes of any kind including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea;
  12. clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh;
  13. grabbing the clavicle;
  14. kicking the head of a grounded opponent;
  15. kneeing the head of a grounded opponent;
  16. stomping on any part of the body of a grounded opponent;
  17. kicking to the kidney with the heel from the guard position;
  18. spiking an opponent to the canvas on his/her head or neck;
  19. attempting to throw an opponent from the safety enclosure;
  20. holding the shorts of gloves of an opponent;
  21. spitting at an opponent;
  22. engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent;
  23. holding the fence;
  24. using abusive language in the safety enclosure;
  25. attacking an opponent on or during the break;
  26. attaching an opponent who is under the care of the referee;
  27. attacking an opponent after the horn has sounded the end of the round;
  28. intentionally or consciously dropping the mouthpiece
  29. faking an injury;
  30. flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee; and or
  31. timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent,
  1. promoter means any person who promotes a professional contest.
  2. promotion means an event consisting of one or more professional contests and includes any preliminary arrangements in connection with such an event.
  3. recorder means a member of the Combat Sports Unit or a delegate appointed by the Unit who records the judges’ scores and provides final results to the announcer.
  4. judge means a person who determines the points scored by each contestant in a professional contest and appointed by the Board.
  5. referee means a person who controls, or exercises any form of control, over the conduct of professional contestants during a professional contest and appointed by the Board.
  6. match-maker means a person who acts on behalf of a promoter to arrange professional contests between particular professional contestants.
  7. seconds means a licensed trainer.
  8. timekeeper means a person who measures time with the assistance of a clock or stopwatch for the purposes of signalling the beginning and end of a round of a professional contest and appointed by the Board.
  9. trainer means a person who supervises the training or instruction of a professional contestant or who accompanies a professional contestant in the safety enclosure to give advice or assistance during a professional contest.

3.WEIGHT DIVISIONS

3.1Weight divisions are the currentlyrecognised weight divisions for professional male and female MMA contestants in Victoria, as set by the Board.

3.2Weight classes are defined in maximum allowable kilograms.

3.3The current weight divisions for professional male and female MMA contestants in Victoria are listed in Appendix 1.

4.WEIGH-IN

4.1There will be one official weigh-in unless otherwise approved by the Board.

4.2The weigh-in will be held no more than 24 hours before the scheduled start time of the promotion unless otherwise approved by the Board.

4.3If any bout of a promotion is postponed for more than 24 hours after the original scheduled date, all contestants for those bouts postponed must weigh in again.

4.4Scales

  1. The scales used for weigh-ins shall be provided by the Board.
  1. A fight will not be allowed to proceed if the weight difference between matched contestants is as follows:
  2. In title fights, the contestants must weigh no more than that permitted for the relevant weight division, see Appendix 1.
  3. In non-title fights, there shall be allowed a 453.592 gram weigh allowance.
  4. Contestants are allowed two hours after the official weigh-in commencement time to make the required weight and are allowed any number of times on the scales during that time.
  5. If a contestant is unable to make the agreed weight, the trainer of that contestant’s opponent may accept or refuse the bout at their sole discretion.
  6. For a title fight, if the title holder fails to make the weight after the allowed two hours, the fight can proceed as a non-title contest.
  7. If the challenger fails to make the weight after the allowed two hours the fight can proceed with the following ramifications:
  8. If the titleholder wins, the titleholder retains the title; and
  9. If the challenger wins, the title will be declared vacant and the challenger cannot claim the title.
  10. If the contest is for a vacant title and one of the co-challengers fails to make the weight, the contest will go forward as a championship contest, however, only the boxer who has made the weight can win the title if he/she wins the contest.

5.THE SAFETY ENCLOSURE

5.1All professional MMAcontests in Victoria must be conducted in a safety enclosure.

5.2Specifications of the safety enclosure

  1. The safety enclosure used in MMA contest in Victoria must meet the following requirements:
  1. have six, eight or ten equal sides.
  2. be between 6.01 and 9.75 metres wide
  1. Fence posts must:
  2. be made of metal;
  3. be no more than 15.24 centimetres in diameter;
  4. extend from the floor of the building to a minimum height of 1.47 metres above the floor; and
  5. must be properly padded in a manner approved by the Board
  6. The fencing used to enclose the area must be made of a material that will prevent a contestant from falling out or breaking through the fenced area;
  7. Any metal portion of the fences area must be covered and padded in a manner approved by the Board and must not be abrasive to the contestants;
  8. The fenced area must have two entrances, positioned on opposite sides of the contest area; and
  9. There must not be any obstruction on any part of the fence surrounding the area in which the contestants are to be competing.
  10. The platform
  11. The platform where the contest takes place must:
  12. be padded with a closed cell foam; and
  13. have a layer of padding at least one inch thick
  14. The padding must be covered with a non-slip canvas or similar material tightly stretched and laced to the platform.

6. PROMOTERS

6.1The promoter must ensure compliance with all of the conditions on their promotion permit.

6.2The promoter must also ensure the following:

  1. That the safety enclosure complies with the specifications outlined herein;
  2. Proper steps are provided for contestants to enter the safety enclosure;
  3. The contestant’s corners are marked red and blue or otherwise approved by the Board;
  4. All contestants are registered;
  5. All trainers hold a current trainer’s licence;
  6. That there is no more than four Seconds in a contestant’s corner at any one time;
  7. Safety enclosure-side security is maintained;
  8. The lighting is adequate for the conduct of the contest;
  9. A bucket is placed in each contestant’s corner;
  10. A spinal board is kept safety enclosure-side;
  11. Sufficient number of clean buckets are available for the use of the contestants;
  12. Any water or liquid spilt is wiped up between rounds; and
  13. Stools are available for contestants between rounds.

7.CONTESTANTS

7.1General requirements

  1. Contestants must be over the age of 18 to compete in any professional MMAcontest.
  2. At all times during a bout a contestant must wear a mouth guard as fitted by a dentist or an advanced dental technician.
  3. All male competitors must wear an approved groin protector.
  4. Contestants shall use no facial cosmetics and have their hair secured with soft and non-abrasive materials.
  5. A contestant must not commit a foul during a bout.
  6. No contestant will leave the safety enclosure during the rest period between rounds. If this occurs the fight is deemed to be over on the basis that the contestant is disqualified.

7.2Contestant attire

  1. The following items of clothing are prohibited during competition:
  1. Gi
  2. Gi pants
  3. Shirts
  4. Long pants.
  1. All females must compete in a sports bra, fitted lycra, rash guard or equivalent.
  2. No clothing can be comprised of any solid or hard material of any kind.

7.3Jewellery

  1. ContestantS may not wear any jewellery or other piercings accessories while competing in a contest.

7.4Hand wraps

  1. A soft surgical bandage or similar material not exceeding 5 centimetres in width may beworn on each hand.
  2. One layer of adhesive tape no more than 2.5 centimetres in width may be placed on the back of each hand to protect that part of the hand near the wrist but must not extend past the base of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist.
  3. Adhesive tape up to 1.5 metres in length and 2.5 centimetres in width may be used to secure the bandage between the wrist and the knuckles but must not extend past the base of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist.
  4. A thin strip of adhesive tape may be placed between the fingers to help keep the bandages in place
  5. No liquid, powder or any other substance is to be applied to the hands before or after they are bandaged
  6. All bandaging and taping must be performed in the dressing room and be approved and signed off by a Board member or a person delegated by the Board to perform this function.

7.5 Gloves

  1. Contestants must use approved light gloves (4 Ounces) that allows the fingers to grab.

7.6 Ankle wraps

  1. Ankle wrapping is not mandatory.
  2. If used, ankle wrappings must be totally concealed by ankle supports.
  3. For each ankle no more than 5 metres of soft surgical bandage no more than 5 centimetres wide is to be used.
  4. No more than one metre of adhesive tape with a maximum width of 3 centimetres to be used to complete the wrappings for each ankle.
  5. Instep padding can be used but must be approved by a Board member prior to the contest at the promotion.

8.TRAINERS

8.1During any bout each contestant is entitled to four Seconds.

8.2Only one trainer can accompany the contestant to the centre of the safety enclosure during the referee’s instructions.

8.3During the round the trainers must be seated.

8.4Before the round begins, one trainer must remove any towels, buckets, stools, etc. from the platform of the safety enclosure and wipe away all excess water from the platform.

8.5Between rounds only one licensed trainer can enter the safety enclosure and communicate directly to the contestant.

8.6The trainers must remain out of the safety enclosure between rounds.

8.7A trainer may seek to terminate a bout when they consider their contestant to be in difficulty by throwing a towel into the safety enclosure however, the referee will be the final arbiter of the termination of the bout.

8.8Trainers must ensure that no excessive use of grease or any other foreign substance is to be used on the face or body of a contestant.

9.TIMEKEEPERS

9.1A timekeeper must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs whilst officiating.

9.2A timekeeper must not consume alcohol or take drugs while officiating.

9.3Timekeeper attire

  1. A timekeeper must wear the following clothing:
  2. Trousers, long and black coloured;
  3. Collared shirt, long or short sleeved, black or white in colour.
  4. Attire should not feature any distinguishing badges, pockets, names, logos, trademarks, distinctive signs etc. of any kind, except where prior approval of the Board has been granted.
  5. A timekeeper’s license must be displayed at all times.

9.4 Timekeeper equipment

  1. The timekeeper is responsible for providing their own equipment for a contest which comprises:
  1. A clapper
  2. a horn
  3. a stopwatch
  4. a whistle

9.5 The role of the timekeeper

  1. During a contest, the Timekeeper is required to:
  1. sound the bell at the end of each round.
  2. stop the time if a contest has been stopped by the referee by calling “stop”
  3. restart the time when the referee calls “fight” to restart the contest
  4. sound the whistle ten seconds before the end of the one minute rest period between rounds.
  5. advise the announcer to call “Seconds out” and announce the number of the ensuing round before sounding the whistle.

10.MEDICAL PRACTITIONER

10.1The medical practitioner is required to complete a professional contest-related medical examination using Form 6 under the Professional Boxing and Combat Sport Act 1985.

10.2 Pre-Contest examination

  1. The medical practitioner is required to undertake a pre-contest examination for each contestant using Form 6, Part A, which must be completed prior to each contestant’s bout.
  2. To allow time to complete pre-contest contestant examinations the medical practitioner should arrive at the venue of the promotion approximately one hour before the first bout.
  3. Pre-contest contestant examination may be completed at the weigh-in if the medical practitioner is in attendance.
  4. An example of Form 6, Part A is shown at Appendix2.
  5. Form 6s will be provided to the medical practitioner by the Board at the promotion.

10.3 During contests

  1. The medical practitioner must sit at safety enclosure-side in a designated place to maximise effective communication with the referee.
  2. The medical practitioner is to provide medical aid to any injured contestant at any time during a bout as is deemed necessary by the medical practitioner.
  3. A contest can only start or continue when a medical practitioner is at safety enclosure-side.

10.4 Post-Contest examination

  1. The medical practitioner is required to undertake a post-contest examination for each contestant using Form 6, Part B at the completion of each bout.
  2. An example of Form 6, Part B is shown at Appendix 3.

10.5 Medical equipment

  1. Themedical practitioner must carry the following equipment to each promotion:
  2. basic medical practitioner’s bag kit;
  3. Disposable gloves;
  4. Gauze swabs; and
  5. Auriscope and Opthalmoscope.
  6. The promoter must provide a spinal board at the promotion.

10.6 Authority to stop a contest

  1. The medical practitioner has the authority to stop a contest.
  2. The medical practitioner must stop a contest if, in their opinion, one or both of the contestants have suffered trauma to the extent that to continue will endanger the health of one or both contestants.

10.7 Non-fight periods

  1. The medical practitioner must include in the post medical examination form if a minimum non fight period should be imposed on a contestant.
  2. The medical practitioner must inform the contestant and his/her trainer of any non-fight period.
  3. The medical practitioner may require a medical clearance before the contestant’s next contest, which is required from the same medical practitioner.
  4. The Board may impose a non-fight period on a contestant as a result of particular fight history.
  5. If a non-fight period is specified by the medical practitioner or the Board, a contestant must not enter any professional contests during this time period.
  6. A non-fight period will begin from the day after the date of the promotion involved.
  7. Non- fight periods are listed in Appendix 4.

11.REFEREE

11.1A referee must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs whilst officiating.

11.2A referee must not consume alcohol or take drugs while officiating.

11.2 Referee attire

  1. A referee must wear the following clothing:
  1. Trousers, long and black coloured;
  2. Collared shirt, long or short sleeved, black or white in colour.
  3. Closed toe, non-slip shoes
  1. Attire should not feature any distinguishing badges, pockets, names, logos, trademarks, distinctive signs etc. of any kind, except where prior approval of the Board has been granted.
  2. The wearing of spectacles by a referee during the progress of a bout is not permitted.
  3. Contact lenses may be worn.

11.3 Duties of a referee before a bout commences

  1. Prior to the start of a bout the referee must:
  1. Give instructions to all contestants in the dressing room;
  2. Inspect the contestants and the gloves to make sure that no foreign substance or substances have been applied to either the gloves or bodies of the contestants to the detriment of their opponent;
  3. Examine each contestant to see if they are wearing a groin guard (if applicable) and mouth guards;
  4. If it is found that a contestant is not wearing a groin guard and mouth guard, prevent the contest from starting until rectified;
  5. Ascertain where the timekeeper, judges and medical practitioner are seated;
  6. Call the contestants together before each bout for final instructions; and
  7. Not allow a contest to commence without a medical practitioner being seated at safety enclosure-side.
  1. The referee may permit a contestant to use a reasonable amount of petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) or similar substance on the contestants face but must not allow such substance to be used on a contestant’s hair, body, or gloves. If deemed to be excessive, the referee may direct the trainer to remove the substance.

11.4 Duties of a referee during a bout