The rules of mixed martial arts have been in development since the early 2000s. Introduced for the standard reason of improving fighter safety and security, these rules quickly became the norm across many mixed martial arts promotions who wished to see their fighters participate for longer periods and perform more consistently. With the addition of Brazilian jiu jitsu and wrestling variations in the sport it became clear that weight divisions and fighter safety are the most crucial aspects for the integrity of promotions, coaches and fighters.

Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts; 

Rounds

There are either 5 or 3 rounds. With each individual round being 5 minutes long. In-between rounds there’s also a one minute rest. Main-cards are usually five rounds, and non-main-cards are usually three.

Judging criteria

The ten point system is used for scoring fights. Mixed martial arts matches are scored by three judges who attempt to score ten to whoever is winning the round with the loser being given less than the upper limit given to the winner. There are subtractions made for penalties and fouls which usually have deductions by 1 or two points depending on the severity. Points are awarded for Effective striking/grappling, Effective aggression, Fighting Area Control, Impact, Dominance and Duration.

As soon as the match ends the judges present their cumulative scores. At this point the presenter announces one of the following based on how they scored the fight.

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

Weight-classes are pretty simple. Some promotions have different variations of this system. If a fighter misses weight they may get penalized for it or even have their fight canceled if their opponent is unwilling to compete with them. It’s not always easy to make weight for fighters, with rigorous water weight reductions and sweating out every excess drop using sauna suits to meet the criteria depending on their weight-class often leaves the fighters hard pressed for words, energy or even sleep.

Fouls 

There are a lot of ways to make a foul in fight sports. Not all methodologies are the same and the reasons are pretty straight forward. However, naturally not all competitions follow the same rules. Some allowing low blows (groin shots) and even kicking and knee-striking the head. Despite that most promotions and organizations have these fouls strictly banned. We recognize these have the highest chance to inflict serious damage. As a result either the brain or enough to prevent a fighter from even continuing their career. Committing fouls can have consequences and penalties from point deduction up to a complete disqualification and a permanent ban. All Potential fouls include:

• 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
• Downward pointing of elbow strikes. (also called 12-6 elbow).
• Small joint manipulation
• Strikes to the spine or back of the head or anything behind the ears. (also called Rabbit punch).
• 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. (also called Soccer kick).
• Stomping an opponent on the ground
• Swearing or offensive language in the cage. (although nobody ever received deductions or disqualifications in fights)
• Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent
• Attacking anyone during an intermission, break or round end
• Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee
• Timidity (excessively avoiding contact, consistent dropping of mouthpiece, or faking an injury)
• Throwing opponent out of the ring/fighting area
• Interference from a mixed martial artist’s cornerman
• Flagrant disregard of the referee’s instructions
• Spiking an opponent to the canvas on their head or neck. (also called a Piledriver)
• Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat

Prohibited Substances

Use of prohibited substances: 

Naturally the unified rules attempt to make martial arts bouts fair. Both fighters deserve that. Hence all illegal drugs, narcotic, stimulant, depressant, or analgesic of any description is strictly prohibited. The consequences of such substances found in an individual can result in immediate disqualification, disciplinary action or even a temporary ban from martial arts bouts for unfair consequences in accordance with the commission licensing the contest.

Detection of prohibited substances: 

For the sake of fair testing both fighters must accept an urinalysis or other laboratory procedure. Inability or refusal to take part in such testing often leads to immediate disqualification from the bout and potentially an indefinite suspension from the sport of MMA.

Cage

Back when bareknuckle, freestyle fighting was more a way of life than enjoyment and most mixed martial arts bouts were illegal. A ditch in the ground would do and martial arts has always existed in the underground. However then came a new potential entertainment sport; “Vale Tudo”. Which was a hybrid “Anything Goes” sport from the back alleys of Brazil.

Late in the 1990s, an experiment between some of the legendary Gracie family and Art Davie a marketing executive. Resulted in the creation of the UFC a octagonal caged fighting ring. MMA is often referred to as “cage fighting” in the US as in association with the UFC’s original octagonal caged fighting arena.  Therefore we often see many MMA events worldwide in caged rings.

Many in other places in the world having rings of different shapes and sizes. There are variations on the cage such as replacing the metal fencing with a net, or using a different shape for the area other than an octagon, as the term “The Octagon” is trademarked by the UFC (though the 8-sided shape itself is not trademarked).

The unified rules of mixed martial arts keep us united under the banner of safety and security. They provide all of us mixed martial arts enthusiasts a guideline to practice the sport in a risk and injury free environment. RDX also promotes the very same preservation of our fighters and their opponents. We want to see the longevity of careers as much as we enjoy the ruthlessness of combat. Only through these regulations can we keep moving, improving and evolving into greater fighters, coaches and promoters.