Mixed martial arts rules
Most rule sets for mixed martial arts competitions have evolved since the early days of Vale Tudo. As a result of health, legal, and moral concerns, many different rulesets were created, which give different countries and promotions very different tactics and strategies. Similarly, shoot wrestling organizations, such as Shooto, expanded their rulesets to integrate elements of Vale Tudo into their sport. However, for the most part, fighters accustomed to one rule set can easily acclimate to the others.
The most prevalent rule set in the world being used currently is the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, adopted by all state athletic commissions in the United States that regulate MMA and is used most notably in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Unified Rules are the de facto rules for MMA in the United States, and have been adopted by other promotions and jurisdictions worldwide. Other notable sets include Shooto's, which were the first to mandate padded gloves, and Pride rules, after PRIDE Fighting Championships, which were also adopted by UFC; and most recently the Global MMA Ruleset, a blend of best practices from Asian and non-Asian rules, used by ONE Championship.
Evolution
Some main motivations for these rule changes included:- Protection of the health of the fighters: This goal was partially motivated to clear the stigma of "barbaric, no rules, fighting-to-the-death" matches that MMA obtained because of its Vale Tudo and no holds barred roots. It also helps athletes avoid injuries which would otherwise hamper the training regimens that improve skill and ability and lead to better fights in the future.
- Providing spectacle for spectators.
Headbutts were prohibited because it was a technique that required little effort and could quickly turn the match into a bloody mess. Headbutting was common among wrestlers because their skill in takedowns allowed them to quickly transfer bouts to the ground where they could assault opponents with headbutts while not being required to alter their position. There has been some criticism that techniques banned from MMA, including headbutts, are actually very effective fighting techniques.
Small, open-finger gloves were introduced to protect fists in punches while still allowing for effective grappling. Gloves were first mandatory in Japan's Shooto league, but are now mandatory in matches for nearly every promotion. Although some fighters may have well conditioned fists, others may not. The small bones in an unprotected and unconditioned fist are prone to break when it hits a torso or forehead with power. Gloves also reduce the occurrence of cuts and encourage fighters to use their hands for striking, both of which enable more captivating matches.
Time limits were established to avoid long fights on the ground with little perceivable action. No time limit matches also complicated the airing of live events. Similar motivations produced the "stand up" rule, where the referee can stand fighters up if it is perceived both are resting on the ground or are not advancing toward a dominant position.
Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts
In April 2000, the California State Athletic Commission voted unanimously in favor of regulations that later became the foundation for the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. However, when the legislation was sent to California's capital for review, it was determined that the sport fell outside the jurisdiction of the CSAC, rendering the vote superfluous.In September 2000, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board began to allow MMA promoters to conduct events in New Jersey. The intent was to allow the NJSACB to observe actual events and gather information to establish a comprehensive set of rules to effectively regulate the sport.
On April 3, 2001, the NJSACB held a meeting to discuss the regulation of MMA events. This meeting attempted to unify the myriad of rules and regulations which had been utilized by the different MMA organizations. At this meeting, the proposed uniform rules were agreed upon by the NJSACB, several other regulatory bodies, numerous promoters of MMA events and other interested parties in attendance. At the conclusion of the meeting, all parties in attendance were able to agree upon a uniform set of rules to govern the sport of MMA.
The rules adopted by the NJSACB have become the de facto standard set of rules for professional MMA across North America. All state, provincial, & municipal athletic commissions that regulate MMA have assimilated these rules into their existing unarmed combat competition rules and statutes. For a promotion to hold MMA events in a sanctioned venue, the promotion must abide by the commission's body of rules.
On July 30, 2009, a motion was made at the annual meeting of the Association of Boxing Commissions to adopt these rules as the "Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts". The motion passed unanimously.
Rounds
Every round is five minutes in duration with a one-minute rest period in-between rounds. Non-title matches must not normally exceed three rounds, but the governing commission can grant dispensation for non-title five round bouts, as is usually done for the Main Event in the UFC. Title matches can be sanctioned for five rounds.Attire
All competitors must fight in approved shorts, without shoes or any other sort of foot padding. Shirts, gis or long pants are not allowed. Fighters must use approved light gloves that allow fingers to grab. A mouthguard and groin guard are also required and are checked by a State Athletic Committee official before being allowed to enter the cage/ring. Furthermore, approved leg and chest protectors must be provided by the contestant.Judging criteria
The ten-point must system is used for all fights. Three judges score each round with ten points to the winner and nine points or fewer to the other fighter. In New Jersey, the fewest points a fighter can receive is 7. If the round is even, both fighters receive ten points. Penalty points decided by the referee are deducted from each judge's score for that round for the offending fighter.The Association of Boxing Commissions has published a guideline of what judges in the US should consider most when scoring a round. "Effective striking/grappling" is seen as the primary criterion, with judges also asked to take each round on its own merits rather than consider cumulative impact of strikes. "Effective aggression" is a secondary criterion, followed by cage generalship and dictating the pace of the fight. The ABC also encourages its judges to score rounds 10-8 if a judge feels that one fighter has landed a substantial amount of "impactful" strikes or spent large amounts of time in dominant grappling positions, as "it is absolutely essential to the evolution of the sport and to demonstrate fairness to fighters" that rounds where a fighter controls much of the action are properly scored to reward that fighter.
At the end of the fight, each judge submits their total score for all rounds for each fighter, to determine the result by the following criteria:
- Unanimous decision win: All three judges have the same fighter as the winner.
- Majority decision win: Two judges have one fighter winning the fight and the third judge scores it a draw.
- Split decision win: Two judges have one fighter winning the fight and the third judge has the other fighter winning it.
- Unanimous draw: All three judges score it a draw.
- Majority draw: Two judges score it a draw, and the third judge has a winner.
- Split draw: One judge scores it a draw, and the other two judges have different winners.
Weight classes
Fouls
As set out by the Association of Boxing Commissions:- Grabbing the fence
- Holding opponent's shorts or gloves
- Head-butting
- Biting or spitting at an opponent
- Hair pulling
- Fish-hooking
- Intentionally placing a finger into any orifice, or into any cut or laceration of an opponent
- Eye gouging of any kind
- Groin attacks
- Small joint manipulation
- Strikes to the spine or back of the head or anything behind the ears
- Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea
- Fingers outstretched towards opponent's face/eyes
- Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh
- Kicking and knee-striking the head of a grounded opponent
- Stomping an opponent on the ground
- Spiking an opponent to the canvas on their head or neck
- Swearing or offensive language in the cage
- Throwing opponent out of the ring/fighting area
- Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent
- Attacking an opponent during a break
- Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee
- Timidity
- Interference from a mixed martial artist's cornerman
- Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions
- Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the round
Medical requirements
- Contestants shall complete all pre-licensure medical examinations and tests required by the jurisdiction licensing the contest.
- The jurisdiction licensing the contest shall conduct or supervise all pre-contest weigh-ins and may hold or supervise a rules meeting for all contestants and their cornermen.
- Post-contest medical examination.
- * Immediately following a contest, each contestant shall be given a medical examination by a physician appointed by the commission. The medical examination may include any examinations or tests the commission deems necessary to determine the post-contest physical fitness of a contestant.
- * Any contestant who refuses to submit to a post-contest medical examination shall be immediately suspended for an indefinite period.