Rules For Mixed Martial Arts Bouts

By Rod Bourgoine


Every sport has its own unique set of rules, and mixed martial arts is no exception. These rules are there not only to create a fair and balanced way to determine the victor of a bout, but also to protect athletes as much as possible from serious injuries.

While UFC has now been around for 20 years, the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts were not adopted until 2009. Prior to that, state athletic commissions had created their own rules, and various organizations also had their own rules. These unified rules govern all MMA events, not just the ones hosted by UFC. Any professional bout in a state that allows MMA fights typically uses these rules.

There are many different categories of rules, such as determining weight classes for fighters. The men have nine weight classes, ranging from flyweight to super heavyweight. The flyweight is for fighters 125 pounds or lighter, and the super heavyweight fighters must be at least 265 pounds. Women also have weight classes and while the names are similar, the weights are different. For example, flyweights are fighters who weigh 95 pounds or less and female super heavyweights need only exceed 185 pounds.

Each round in an MMA fight lasts for five minutes and fighters have a short break in between each round. For a title fight, there are five rounds of five minutes each. For a non-title fight, you will have just three rounds. There are several ways in which a fight can end. A technical knockout occurs when a referee or a doctor ends the fight in order to protect a fighter who is no longer able to defend himself. An actual knockout occurs when a fighter is unconscious. If both fighters reach the end of the third or fifth round, then the judges decide who wins the fight, much like what occurs in a boxing match.

Submission is another way in which an MMA fight might end, and this is fairly common. A fighter in a submission hold might decide to tap out or the referee also can end the fight if injury seems imminent. A no contest ruling occurs from time to time, although it is far less common. This occurs when one fighter injures another unintentionally using a maneuver that is not allowed by the rules. A no contest also can occur when both fighters break a rule or when a fighter tests positive for a banned substance after a fight has ended. A fighter also can be disqualified if they continuously break the rules during a fight.

While it might seem like anything goes during an MMA fight, there are actually many things that are not legal. For example, eye gouging, head butting and biting are never allowed in a fight. You also are not allowed to strike a person's spine or the back of their head. Fish hooking and groin attacks also are not allowed. These are just a few illegal maneuvers, and you receive a warning if you violate the rules.




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