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BIG HOUSE BOXING AND MMA
AMATEUR MMA FIGHT RULES

1: The Fighting area
 The fighting area canvas shall be 22 feet by 22 feet (18 feet by 18 feet inside ropes). The fighting area canvas shall be padded in a manner as approved by the promoter, with at least one-inch layer of foam padding. Padding shall extend beyond the fighting area and to the edge of the platform.

2: Stools

(a) An appropriate number of stools or chairs, approved by the promoter shall be available for each contestant's seconds. Such stools or chairs shall be located near each contestant's corner and are not permitted in the ring at any time.

(b) All stools and chairs used must be thoroughly cleaned or replaced after the conclusion of each bout.

3: Equipment

For each bout, the fighter's corner shall provide a clean water bucket and a clean plastic water bottle, approved ice bag and white towels.
No application of oil, ointment, spray, massaging cream, hair cream, or any other substances is permitted to any part of the fighter's body before and during the fights. The discovery of any of these substances will result in a disqualification.
 
Vaseline will be applied to the face prior to the fight by the attending physician and or referee/inspector.

4: Specifications for bandages on mixed martial artist's hands

(a) In all weight classes, the bandages on each contestant's hand shall be restricted to soft gauze cloth and surgeon's tape.

(b) The bandages shall be evenly distributed across the hand.

(c) Bandages and tape shall be placed on the contestant's hands in the dressing room.

(d) Under no circumstances are gloves to be placed on the hands of a contestant until the approval of the inspector is received.

5: Mouth Pieces

(a) Contestants are required to wear a mouthpiece during competition. The mouthpiece shall be subject to examination and approval by the attending physician and or referee/inspector.

(b) A round cannot begin without the mouthpiece in place.

(c) If the mouthpiece is involuntarily dislodged during competition, the referee shall call time, clean the mouthpiece and reinsert the mouthpiece at the first opportune moment, without interfering with the immediate action.
(d) Throwing a mouthpiece after a match (or at any time), will result in an immediate disqualification. This is a serious health risk and will not be tolerated under ANY circumstance.


6: Protective Equipment

(a) Male mixed martial artists shall wear a groin protector of their own selection, of a type approved by the Inspector/Referee or Promoter.

(b) Female mixed martial artists are prohibited from wearing groin protectors.

(c) Female mixed martial artists shall wear a chest protector during competition.

7: Gloves and Headgear
(a) The gloves shall be in new/good condition or they must be replaced. If there is any evidence that the gloves have been tampered with, they will be refused and must be replaced.

(c) All contestants have the option of wearing headgear and must be approved by Inspector/Referee or Promoter.

Approved Glove Types and Sizes:
General MMA: Glove Size 5 oz       Type : 100% Leather- Combat Sports, Title or Everlast.
Striking: Glove Size 12 oz     Type : 100% Leather- Combat Sports, Ringside, Title or Everlast.
Striking & Kicking: Glove Size 12 oz     Type : 100% Leather- Combat Sports, Ringside, Title or Everlast.


8: Apparel

(a) Each contestant shall wear clean, undamaged mixed martial arts shorts, biking shorts, or kick-boxing shorts subject to approval by the Inspector/Referee or Promoter.

(b) Fighting Shoes are allowed during certain competitions and must be approved by Inspector/Referee or Promoter. .

9: Appearance

(a) Hair shall be trimmed or tied back in such a manner as not to interfere with the vision of either contestant, referee or cover any part of a contestant's face.

(b) Jewelry or piercing accessories are prohibited during competition.

10: Round length
(a) Each non-championship mixed martial arts contest shall be three rounds, with a one minute rest period between each round.
Round 1: 5 minutes
Round 2: 3 minutes
Round 3: 3 minutes

(b) Each championship mixed martial arts contest shall be five rounds, of five minute duration, with a one minute rest period between each round.

11: Stopping a contest

(a) A referee and or ringside physician are the sole arbitrators of a bout and are the only individuals authorized to enter the fighting area at any time during competition and authorized to stop a contest.
(b) A Fighters corner can submit for him/her by throwing in a towel.


12: Judging

(a) All bouts will be evaluated and scored by three judges.

(b) The 10-Point Must System will be the standard system of scoring a bout. Under the 10-Point Must Scoring System, 10 points must be awarded to the winner of the round and nine points or less must be awarded to the loser, except for a rare even round, which is scored (10-10).

(c) Judges shall evaluate mixed martial arts techniques, such as effective striking, effective grappling, control of the fighting area, effective aggressiveness and defense.

(d) Evaluations shall be made in the order in which the techniques appear in (c) above, giving the most weight in scoring to effective striking, effective grappling, control of the fighting area and effective aggressiveness and defense.

(e) Effective striking is judged by determining the total number of legal strikes landed by a contestant.

(f) Effective grappling is judged by considering the amount of successful executions of a legal takedown and reversals. Examples of factors to consider are take downs from standing position to mount position, passing the guard to mount position, and bottom position fighters using an active, threatening guard.

(g) Fighting area control is judged by determining who is dictating the pace, location and position of the bout. Examples of factors to consider are countering a grappler's attempt at takedown by remaining standing and legally striking; taking down an opponent to force a ground fight; creating threatening submission attempts, passing the guard to achieve mount, and creating striking opportunities.

(h) Effective aggressiveness means moving forward and landing a legal strike.

(i) Effective defense means avoiding being struck, taken down or reversed while countering with offensive attacks.

(j) The following objective scoring criteria shall be utilized by the judges when scoring a round;
1. A round is to be scored as a 10-10 Round when both contestants appear to be fighting evenly and neither contestant shows clear dominance in a round;
2. A round is to be scored as a 10-9 Round when a contestant wins by a close margin, landing the greater number of effective legal strikes, grappling and other maneuvers;
3. A round is to be scored as a 10-8 Round when a contestant overwhelmingly dominates by striking or grappling in a round.
4. A round is to be scored as a 10-7 Round when a contestant totally dominates by striking or grappling in a round.

(k) Judges shall use a sliding scale and recognize the length of time the fighters are either standing or on the ground, as follows:

1. If the mixed martial artists spent a majority of a round on the canvas, then:
i. Effective grappling is weighed first; and
ii. Effective striking is then weighed

2. If the mixed martial artists spent a majority of a round standing, then:
1. Effective striking is weighed first; and
2. Effective grappling is then weighed
3. If a round ends with a relatively even amount of standing and canvas fighting, striking and grappling are weighed equally.

13: Fouls
1. If a combatant fouls his/her opponent during a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts, the referee may warn or penalize him by deducting points from his/her score, whether the foul was intentional or not. The referee may determine the number of points to be deducted in each instance and shall base his/her determination on the severity of the foul and its effect upon the opponent. 
2. When the referee determines that it is necessary to deduct a point or points because of a foul, he shall verbally notify the offender of the penalty to be assessed. This verbal notice can be given while a fight is in progress so as not to stop the immediate action. 
3. The referee shall, as soon as is practical after the foul, notify the judges and both combatants and the corners of both combatants of the number of points to be deducted from the score of the offender. In some cases points may not be deducted until the end of a round and verbal notice will be given to the offender during the round if this is the case. 
4. Any point or points to be deducted for any foul must be deducted in or at the end of the round in which the foul occurred and may not be deducted from the score of any subsequent round.
 List of Fouls
1. Butting with the head
No use of the head as a striking instrument in any form is allowed.
2. Eye gouging of any kind
Intentional use of the fingers, thumb or chin as a gouging instrument will be considered eye gouging.
3. Biting
4. Hair pulling
5. Fishhooking
Any attempt by a fighter to use their fingers in a manner that attacks their opponents mouth, nose or ears, stretching the skin to that area will be considered “Fishhooking”. Fishhooking generally is the placing of fingers into the mouth or your opponent and pulling your hands in opposing directions while holding onto the skin of your opponent.
6. Groin attacks of any kind
7. Intentionally putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
8. Small joint manipulation.
Fingers and Toes are small joints. Wrists, Ankles, Knees, Shoulders and Elbows are all large joints.
9. Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
No direct striking attacks are allowed to the spine or the back of the head. A direct strike is an aimed and executed attack to the area. The back of the head is considered the area of the head between both ears and to the top of the head to the base of the neck.
10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
All elbow strikes are legal except for an elbow that is thrown in a downward trajectory (hand traveling from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock from top or side position). Any elbow thrown with an arc is a legal elbow. The point of the elbow may be used as striking instrument as well as the forearm or the tricep area of the arm.
11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
No directed throat strikes are allowed. Directed throat attacks would include a fighter pulling his opponents head in a way to open the neck area for a striking attack. A fighter may not gouge their fingers or thumb into their opponent’s neck or trachea in an attempt to submit their opponent. All arm chokes such as the Rear Naked, Guillotine, and bar arm are legal.
12. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
13. Grabbing the clavicle also known as the collarbone.
This is viewed as another form of gouging. You may not attempt to use your fingers to gouge into or grab at the clavicle.
14. Kicking the head 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 with hips below the knees where the ropes or opponent is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground the fighter will be considered a downed opponent. A fighter can be kicked to the body when they are on the ground.
 15. Kneeing the head 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 with hips below the knees where the ropes or opponent is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground the fighter will be considered a downed opponent. A fighter can be kneed to the body when they are on the ground.
16. Stomping a grounded opponent.
Stomping a grounded opponent is not allowed. Stomps can only be utilized in the standing position against another standing fighter. 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 with hips below the knees where the ropes or opponent is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground the fighter will be considered a downed opponent
17. Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
18. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
Any throw that has an arc is a legal throw. A fighter may not pick up their opponent, invert them placing the fighter’s feet straight up in the air and their head straight down and pile drive their opponent into the canvas. When a fighter is using a takedown or a throw against their opponent they are allowed to throw their opponent to the ground without worry as to whether their opponents head makes contact with the canvas before another part of their body as long as they have not placed their opponent into the above stated pile driver position.
19. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or ropesd area.
Any fighter who purposely throws their opponent out of the ring shall be disqualified
20. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
A fighter may not control their opponent’s movement by holding onto their opponent’s shorts or gloves. A fighter may hold onto or grab their opponents hand as long as they are not controlling the hand only by using the material of the glove, but by actually gripping the hand.
21. Spitting at an opponent.
22. Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury
23. Holding or jumping onto the ropes.
 A fighter may not hold the ropes at anytime. If the fighter does not let go the referee shall attempt to quickly pull the fighter hand off of the rope. If this does not immediately work the referee can issue a foul against the violating fighter.
24. Using abusive language.
Fighters shall not entice their opponent with abusive language during the ring introductions or during the actual contest. The referee shall give (1) warning to the violating fighter and then issue a foul for every infraction there after.
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
28. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
29. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent,
30. Intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
31. Interference by the corner.
32. No Jumping, sitting or climbing on the ropes
33. No throwing of mouthpiece at anytime (immediate disqualification or reversal of decision)
 (a) Disqualification occurs after any combination of three of the fouls listed in (a) above or after a referee determines that a foul was intentional and flagrant.

(b) Only a referee can assess a foul. If the referee does not call the foul, judges shall not make that assessment on their own and cannot factor such into their scoring calculations.

(c) A fouled fighter has up to five minutes to recuperate if needed.

34.*** Striking a grounded opponent.*** ( Striking Only )
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 with hips below the knees where the ropes or opponent is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground the fighter will be considered a downed opponent.

35. *** Striking & Kicking a grounded opponent.*** ( Striking & Kicking Only )
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 with hips below the knees where the ropes or opponent is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground the fighter will be considered a downed opponent.

14: Position of foul
(a)   While grounded if a bottom contestant commits a foul, unless the top contestant is injured, the fight shall continue, so as not to jeopardize the top contestant's superior positioning at the time. If top contestant needs recovery time the fight will be re-started standing.
1. The referee shall verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.
2. When the round is over, the referee shall assess the foul and notify both corners' seconds, the judges and the official scorekeeper.
3. The referee may terminate a bout based on the severity of a foul. For such a flagrant foul, a contestant shall lose by disqualification. 
(b) While grounded if the top contestant commits a foul regardless of injury the fight will be stood back up.

15: Injuries sustained during competition

(a) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of a LEGAL maneuver is severe enough to terminate a bout, the injured contestant loses by technical knockout.

(b) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an INTENTIONAL FOUL is severe enough to terminate a bout, the contestant causing the injury loses by disqualification.

(c) If an injury is sustained during competition as a result of an INTENTIONAL FOUL and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee shall notify the scorekeeper to automatically deduct two points from the contestant who committed the foul.

(d) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an INTENTIONAL FOUL causes the injured contestant to be unable to continue at a subsequent point in the contest, the injured contestant shall win by technical decision, if he or she is ahead on the score cards. If the injured contestant is even or behind on the score cards at the time of stoppage, the outcome of the bout shall be declared a technical draw.

(e) If a contestant injures himself or herself while attempting to foul his or her opponent, the referee shall not take any action in his or her favor, and the injury shall be treated in the same manner as an injury produced by a fair blow.

(f) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an accidental foul is severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout shall result in a no contest if stopped before two rounds have been completed in a three round bout or if stopped before three rounds have been completed in a five round bout.

(g) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an accidental foul is severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout shall result in a technical decision awarded to the contestant who is ahead on the score cards at the time the bout is stopped only when the bout is stopped after two rounds of a three round bout, or three rounds of a five round bout have been completed.

(h) There will be no scoring of an incomplete round. However, if the referee penalizes either contestant, then the appropriate points shall be deducted when the scorekeeper calculates the final score.

16: Types of Bout Results

The following are the types of bout results:

1. Submission by:
(a). Tap Out: When a contestant physically uses his hand to indicate that he or she no longer wishes to continue; or
(b). Verbal tap out: When a contestant verbally announces to the referee that he or she does not wish to continue
(c). A fighter's corner throws in the towel.

2. Technical knockout:
(a). Referee stops bout;
(b). Ringside physician stops bout; or
(c). When an injury as a result of a legal maneuver is severe enough to terminate a bout

3. Knockout by failure to rise up from the canvas.

4. Decision via scorecards:
(a). Unanimous: When all three judges score the bout for the same contestant;
(b). Split Decision: When two judges score the bout for one contestant and one judge scores for the opponent; or
(c). Majority Decision: When two judges score the bout for the same contestant and one judge scores a draw

5. Draws:
(a). Unanimous - When all three judges score the bout a draw;
(b) Majority - When two judges score the bout a draw; or
(c). Split - When all three judges score differently and the score total results in a draw

6. Disqualification: When an injury sustained during competition as a result of an intentional foul is severe enough to terminate the contest, or for any other fouls or instances listed within these rules in which a contestant can be disqualified.

7. Forfeit: When a contestant fails to begin competition or prematurely ends the contest for reasons other than injury or by indicating a tap out or towel being thrown in by his/her corner.

8. Technical Draw:  When an injury sustained during competition as a result of an intentional foul causes the injured contestant to be unable to continue and the injured contestant is even or behind on the score cards at the time of stoppage after two rounds of a three round bout, or three rounds of a five round bout have been completed.

9. Technical Decision:  When the bout is prematurely stopped due to injury and a contestant is leading on the scorecards when two rounds of a three round bout, Or three rounds of a five round bout have been completed.

10. No Contest:  When a contest is prematurely stopped due to accidental injury and a sufficient number of rounds have not been completed to render a decision via the score cards. (Two rounds of a three round bout or three rounds of a five round bout have been completed.)

17. Styles of MMA bouts.

(1.) Striking Only
TECHNIQUES ALLOWED
• Punching - Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut, Body Punches,Spinning Backfist and Superman Punches,
TECHNIQUES NOT ALLOWED
• No Kicking
• No Elbows
• No Knees
• No Throws
• No Takedowns
• No Ground Fighting
PENALIZED ACTIONS
• No Clinching - Intentionally tying-up the opponent's arms in an effort to stop them from punching.
• No Holding - Grabbing the opponent's body in an effort to stop them from attacking or countering.
• No Stalling - Intentionally delaying the action of a contest in any way.
• No Passivity - No retreating or deliberately and profusely refusing to engage, and stalling.

(2.) Striking & Kicking
TECHNIQUES ALLOWED
• Punching
• Kicking
• Knees

TECHNIQUES NOT ALLOWED
• No Elbows
• No Throws
• No Takedowns
• No Ground Fighting
PENALIZED ACTIONS
• No Clinching - Intentionally tying-up the opponent's arms in an effort to stop them from punching.
• No Holding - Grabbing the opponent's body in an effort to stop them from attacking or countering.
• No Stalling - Intentionally delaying the action of a contest in any way.
• No Passivity - No retreating or deliberately and profusely refusing to engage, and stalling.

(3.) General MMA
TECHNIQUES ALLOWED
• Punching
• Kicking
• Elbows
• Knees
• Throws
• Takedowns
• Ground Fighting

PENALIZED ACTIONS
• No Stalling - Intentionally delaying the action of a contest in any way.
• No Passivity - No retreating or deliberately and profusely refusing to engage, and stalling.

18. NO entourages.
ONLY the Fighter and 2 Cornerman will walk to the ring. Like it or not, this is a safety issue (crowd control). It is gone over in depth at the fighter's meeting and you will immediately be disqualified.

Flyweight 125 lb
Bantamweight 135 lb
Featherweight 145 lb
Lightweight 155 lb
Welterweight 170 lb
Middleweight 185 lb
Light Heavyweight 205 lb
Heavyweight 225 lb +

"NOTES & SHOW RULES"
One of our main goals is to make certain this sport is portrayed in a positive manner.  In order for that to happen, you should keep the following things in mind.  We are very serious about the rules.
1.  If you have friends and family who have come to see you fight, please make certain they understand a few key points.
(a)  Do not get out of their seat when you fight.  Stay seated so the other fans can see too.   Nothing is more annoying than paying good money to see a fight, when you can only see half the fight due to the inconsiderate person in front of you.
(b)  Do not come to the ring after a win.  I know it can be exciting, but it can wait until you get out of the spectator's area.
(c)  If they are involved in any sort of "ruckus", they will be asked to leave immediately.  A fight in the crowd is one of the worst things that could happen at a show.
2.  Please demonstrate to the crowd what good sportsmen you are.  No one likes to see "cheap shots when a guy presents his glove for touching", or other things of that nature.
3.  Show you are a winner whether you win or lose.  Congratulate your opponent if he wins.  Tell him how hard he fought if he loses. 
4.  Taunting an opponent after a win may not get you disqualified, but it certainly won't get you asked back to another Big House show.