Official WMMA Rules
 
 

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Professional & Amateur MMA Rules

SECTION 1) STRIKING

A) PARTS OF THE BODY ALLOWED FOR USE IN STRIKING - For the purpose of a True Mixed Martial Arts competition striking is defined as the act of unarmed participants hitting, slapping or causing an impact blow to an opponent with any of the following anatomical weapons: Fists, Open Hand Palm, Open Hand Slap, Wrist, Forearm, Shoulder, Elbow, Knees & Kicks. All of these parts of the body are allowed except for the use of the Head in Head Butting.

Striking is allowed to all areas of the head and body except the following:

- The Back of the Head or Neck

- The Spine

- The Eyes

- The Throat

- The Groin

- Striking With Palm Straight Under The Nose

- Slapping Intentially To The Ears

- No using of the permiter fence or any enclose cage structure to corner or contain a fighter while striking him.

NOTE: ALL FIGHTERS who are pressed against the fence will be "immediately frozen" in place when the Referee yells "Freeze" , Fighters must Freeze Still without any further hostilities or attempts to change the position until the referee can drag the 2 fighters away from the fence or perimter end and then resume the contest by shouting "go". THIS MUST BE CLEAR TO ALL FIGHTERS. These rules have been used in Pride and other MMA events whenever opponents exceed the competition area.

 

SECTION 2) GRAPPLING

All striking in standing grappling and ground grappling is allowed. Striking in the clinch or prior to is also allowed. All throws, take-downs and grappling submission locks are allowed except for the following:

- No grabbing of the ears, eyes, throat or lips in any way.

- No finger or toe small joint grabbing or attacks.

- No grabbing or using of the fence to foil or escape submission locks

NOTE: ALL FIGHTERS who are pressed against the fence will be "immediately frozen" in place when the Referee yells "Freeze" , Fighters must Freeze Still without any further hostilities or attempts to change the position until the referee can drag the 2 fighters away from the fence or perimter end and then resume the contest by shouting "go". THIS MUST BE CLEAR TO ALL FIGHTERS. These rules have been used in Pride and other MMA events whenever opponents exceed the competition area.

 

SECTION 3) FIGHTER SAFETY AND STOPPING THE FIGHT

A) Any amateur or professional fight will be immediately stopped for any of the following reasons:

1. A Referee Stoppage will occur if any fighter is not defending himself effectively and he is taking continuous, uninterrupted blows from any anatomical weapon successively to the same or multiple target areas of his person. Or in any case of any fighter taking a knock out blow or seriously incapacitating blow from any fists, elbows, knees or any other anatomical weapon will immediately trigger a Referee Stoppage for any amateur or professional bout. Or If any Fighter is caught in evident submission lock where said fighter is Tapping Out, Passing Out, at Extreme Risk of Limb or Neck Damage, caught in an adverse positon and taking uniterupted blows or clearly unable to defend himself to the point of serious risk.

2. A Fighter may at any time stop the fight by a physical or verbal "Tap Out".

3. Any knock out or choke out where a competitor is unconsious will immediately trigger a Referee Stoppage of the fight.

 

 SECTION 4) VIOLATIONS AND FOULS .

 

A) The following acts constitute violations or fouls in a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts:

1. Butting with the head.

2. Eye gouging of any kind.

3. Biting.

4. Hair pulling.

5. Fish hooking.

6. Groin attacks of any kind.

7. Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.

8. Small joint grabbing for the purpose of attacking, locking or breaking.

9. Striking to the spine or the back of the head.

10. Grabbing or pulling the ears in any way.

11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.

12. Clawing or scratching with finger nails.

13. Grabbing the clavicle.

14. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent from a standing position. You may kick the head of a grounded opponent if you are on the ground with the opponent as well. On the ground means that you the striker are on your knees, on top of the opponent (ie: mount, cross body, scarf hold, turtle top, knee in the belly or other position) or on your back facing the opponent.

15. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent from a standing position. You may knee the head of a grounded opponent if you are on the ground with the opponent as well. On the ground means that you the striker are on your knees or on top of the opponent (ie: mount, cross body, scarf hold, turtle top, knee in the belly or other position) or on your back facing the opponent. (A Knee on the ground was recently seen in the Renzo / Shamrock fight from a bottom cross body / side control leading to a knock out, this is not illegal in the WMMA).

16. Stomping on a grounded opponent while you are standing and he is down.

17. Kicking to the kidney with the heel.

18. Striking to a grounded opponent to the back of his head or neck.

19. Throwing an opponent out of the ring, matted area or fenced area.

20. Holding the gloves of an opponent.

21. Spitting at an opponent.

22. Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.

23. Holding the ropes or the fence.

24. Using abusive language in the ring, matted area or fenced area.

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 of unarmed combat.

28. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.

29. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.

30. Interference by the corner.

31. Use of purposely interfering body oils.

32. Purposely driving an opponent to the fence or other perimter enclousure in a fight.

33. Lifting up an opponent and putting or pressing him on top of the fence or against the fence or perimiter enclosure in a fight.

34. Using the fence or permiter enclosure in a fight against your opponent in any way. As and example but not limited to: being caught in a submission lock or the guard and then driving the opponent into the fence in order to try and escape said lock or guard.

NOTE: ALL FIGHTERS who are pressed against the fence will be "immediately frozen" in place when the Referee yells "Freeze" , Fighters must Freeze Still without any further hostilities or attempts to change the position until the referee can drag the 2 fighters away from the fence or perimter end and then resume the contest by shouting "go". THIS MUST BE CLEAR TO ALL FIGHTERS. These rules have been used in Pride and other MMA events whenever opponents exceed the competition area.

 

SECTION 5) DEDUCTIONS OF POINTS FOR FOULS OR VIOLATIONS

 

A) Fouls & Violations

1. If an unarmed combatant fouls his opponent during a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts, the referee may penalize him by deducting points from his score, whether or not the foul was intentional. The referee may determine the number of points to be deducted in each instance and shall base his determination on the severity of the foul and its effect upon the opponent.

2. The referee shall, as soon as is practical after the foul, notify the judges and both unarmed combatants of the number of points, if any, to be deducted from the score of the offender.

3. Any point or points to be deducted for any foul must be deducted in the round in which the foul occurred.

B) Fouls That Are Accidental.

1. If a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts is stopped because of an accidental foul, the referee shall determine whether the unarmed combatant who has been fouled can continue or not. If the unarmed combatant's chance of winning has not been seriously jeopardized as a result of the foul and if the foul did not involve a concussive impact to the head of the unarmed combatant who has been fouled, the referee may order the contest or exhibition continued after a recuperative interval of not more than 5 minutes. Immediately after separating the unarmed combatants, the referee shall inform the commission's representative of his determination that the foul was accidental.

2. If the referee determines that a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts may not continue because of an injury suffered as the result of an accidental foul, the contest or exhibition must be declared a no contest.

3. Fighters cannot win by intentionally or accidentally fouling another fighter.

 

 SECTION 6) TIME LIMET & DURATION OF MATCHES

1. A Professional non-championship contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts can be 3-5 rounds in duration with each round lasting for 5 - 10 minutes in duration.

2. An Amateur class 1 or class 2 non-championship contest of mixed martial arts is to be 3 rounds in duration with each round being 5 minutes in duration.

 

 SECTION 7) FIGHTER ATTIRE AND HYGIENE

1. All fighters must wear gloves and shorts that follow the approval guidelines of the WMMA. No shoes or foot padding of any kind is allowed . No head gear is allowed. Fighters must provide a suitable mouth piece but athletic supporters are at the choice of the fighter.

2. All fighters must be washed clean prior to any competition with short hair (NO LONG HAIR OR LONG BRAIDS ALLOWED) and have the required medical testing done prior to any bout.

 

SECTION 8) WEIGHT CLASSES

 

We also pay attention to the Heavier Fighters! They certainly need weight classes too, check out our Exclusive "Iron Weight" Class !!

A) The following are the official weight classes of the WMMA. Special exceptions may be made for special bouts only by the written approval of the WMMA. Weigh ins are usually done the morning prior to the fights.

Flyweight................................................................................................. up to 139 lbs.

Bantum Weight............................................................................... over 140 to 149 lbs.

Feather Weight................................................................................ over 150to 159 lbs.

Light Weight................................................................................... over 160 to 169 lbs.

Welter Weight................................................................................. over 170 to 179 lbs.

Middle Weight.................................................................................. over 180 to 189 lbs.

Light Heavy Weight........................................................................... over 190 to 199 lbs.

Cruiser Weight.................................................................................. over 200 to 209 lbs.

Heavyweight..................................................................................... over 210 to 219 lbs.

Ironweight......................................................................................... over 220 to 239 lbs.

Super Heavyweight.............................................................................. over 240 lbs. & up

 

SECTION 9) PHYSICAL EXAMS & WAIVERS FOR FIGHTERS

All Amateur fighters are given a brief physical exam prior to the fight as well as required to fill out a fighter medical history questionaire.

For Professional fighters HIV & Hep. A& B Testing as well as a Cat Scan may be required.

This rule may only be waived at specific Amateur fights at the mutual consent of all Fighters participating in that event.

In Addition a special Waiver is required to be read and fully understood by each fighter, then to be signed. All fighters should be aware that MMA is inherently dangerous and be honest in the filling out of their fighter profiles. MMA Accidents usually only happen when higher level fighters are paired with significantly newer fighters. The World MMA takes great steps to insure that all fighters are equally paired.

 

 SECTION 10) ARENA REQUIREMENTS (FENCED CAGE OR OPEN MATTED AREA):

A) WMMA MMA competitions or tournaments are either held in a Fenced Cage (Hexagon, Cricle or similar enclosure not exceeded 20 x 20' or 20' diameter) or in a Open Matted Area exceeding 30 x 30' feet with the appropriate number of "Edge Men" watching the perimeter. If fighters reach or cross permiter, they are immediately frozen in place by the Ref and Edge Men, then they are dragged back to the middle (as done in Pride).

1. The Fenced Cage must be no smaller than 20 x 20 feet with the appropriate fence, posts, enclosure material and padded floor. Those looking to purchase such a Cage may find it at Combat Sports.

2. An Open Matted Area must be a minimum of 30 x 30 feet made of either Resilite Wrestling Mats, Swain Mats, Zebra Mats or other such similar matted material at least 1 1/4" thick. In this sort of arena the rules specify that fighters must be immediately frozen if they reach or pass the end of the matted 30 x 30 minimum area. Promoters are required to have additional certified World MMA Assc. Edge Men to actively watch and assist the main referee if fighters pass the perimeter of the fighting area. In this case fighters will be frozen in the positions that they are and quickly dragged back to the center for the competition to resume similar to the way the Pride fights do. This is fast and easy to do and eliminates the possiblity of the cage or fence being used against an opponent.

 

SECTION 11) AMATEUR & PROFESSIONAL CLASSES FOR MMA FIGHTERS

MMA Means Mixed Martial Arts therefore you cannot discriminate against any specific Ethic Group's Martial Art by disallowing the use of  Fists, Slaps, Open Palms, Forearms, Elbows, Knees & Kicks in any MMA Amateur Competition so long as they are used within the sporting rules of that competition. Example: No Strikes to the throat, not fists, elbows, forearms or anything.

There are some Martial Arts that consist primarily of Fists & Kicks, some that consist more of grabbing and grappling and then there are some that consist of Elbows and Knees and do not exist without the use of Elbows & Knees.

People who practice arts that do not exist without the use of elbows deserve equal rights to compete in Amateur MMA Competitons as people who practice arts that do no exist without the use of grabbing.

It would be highly unethical to discrimate against a specific Martial Art's Practicioner and the Ethnic Group of people who created it by denying them the use of a certain anatomical weapons in any TRUE Mixed Martial Arts Amateur competition.

Therefore The Experience class of a fighters in the World MMA is NOT dictated by the Martial Art he or she has choosen to practice but by his or her True EXPERTISE LEVEL in his or her chosen art and his or her's EXPERIENCE LEVEL in actual fighting.

1. World MMA Amateur Class 1

- includes only fighters who do not have any professional boxing, kick boxing or Muay Thai record or any fighter who dose not have a rank higher than Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from any recognized BJJ Academy or any fighter who does not have a rank higher than Yakan Anim in Filipino Dumpag from any recognized Dumpag Academy or any fighter who does not have a Championship Collegic Wreslting record or any fighter who does not have a National Judo Championship record or any fighter who does not have a National Grappling Championship record.

2. World MMA Amateur Class 2

- includes only fighters who have a semi pro or professional boxing, kick boxing or Muay Thai record, have a Purple Belt or higher in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from a recognized BJJ Academy, have a rank of Lakan or higher in Filipino Dumpag from a recognized Dumpag Academy, have a Championship Collegic (or higher) Wrestling record, have a National (or higher) Judo Championship record, or have a National (or higher) Grappling Championship record.

3. World MMA Professional

- is catorgarized as any fighter who has had 7 or more amateur MMA fights in sanctioned MMA Bouts by the WMMA or other WMMA recognized, preofessional MMA bodies or any fighter who is recognized as a Professional MMA Fighter by another Professional MMA body recognized by the World MMA Association.

 

SECTION 12) CORNERMEN AND SECONDS

The cornermen and seconds are limited to three and only one may enter the ring between rounds. Cornermen and seconds are not to engage participants or interfere with the fight or referee in any way.

 

SECTION 13) SCORING AND JUDGING

1) Judges will only be those approved by the World Mixed Martial Arts Commission and you must have at least 3 judges for any competition.

2) Judges will judge the better fighter based on striking & countering, throws & takedowns, ground position control and submission attempts of the opponent. Based on performance the better fighter will be received a score of 10 and then lesser fighter a lesser score reflecting his performance. If both fighters appear even than the judge may give a 10/10 score for that round.

3) At the end of the fight the Judges scores are final and the majority opinion will give a clear winner or a draw. In the case of a draw an overtime 5 minute match may be held at the discretion of the promotor.

4. The results of all fights are recorded at the World MMA Assc. World Headquarters. Fighter Stats and Rankings are held there as well.

 

SECTION 14) Equpment For World MMA Bouts

1) Gloves - for all Amateur and Professional Bouts are the standard 4 ounce MMA gloves. Official World MMA Gloves are being designed now, until they are ready other manufactured 4 ounce MMA gloves are acceptable only by approval of an Official World MMA Representative prior to any World MMA sanctioned event.

2) Mats - the offical mats of the WMMA are the "Zebra" Grappling Mats. They are firm for footing yet allow sufficient cushion for throws & grappling. Other matted surfaces are acceptable only by approval of an Official World MMA Representative prior to any World MMA sanctioned event.

3) Athletic Supporters Cups - are opitional for fighters but recommended. Cups can be made of hard plastic so long as they are not so large that they interfere with the normal operation of the fight.

4) Mouth Pieces - all fighters are required to wear a mouth piece of their choice during all competition so long as the mouth piece does not interfere with the normal operation of the fight.

 

Grappling & Jiu-Jitsu

 SECTION 1) GRAPPLING DEFINITION 

Grappling is the non striking art of two athletic competitors grabbing, holding, clinching, throwing, taking down, getting positions, controling positions, escaping positions and achieving submission locks on one's opponents to make him submit by "Tapping Out".

SECTION 2) Striking

NO Striking of any kind is allowed, intentional or accidental to any opponent during a sanctioned Grappling match. Including but not limited to picking up an opponent in the Guard and slamming him to the ground.

SECTION 3) Scoring

All fights can be won by any legal submission lock at any time by one competitor forcing another competitor to "Tap Out"

Fights not won by submission are decided by the top score for the following positions and/or actions:

Throws & Take-Downs ............................................................... 2 Points

The Mount ................................................................................ 4 Points

Reversals From Guard, 1/2 Guard or Cross Body Bottom ............. 2 Points

Upa Or Reversal From Mount ..................................................... 1 Point

Passing The Guard ...................................................................  3 Points

Knee In Sternum Control ...........................................................  2 Points

Taking The Back With Hooks ....................................................  4 Points

Taking The Back Wihtout Hooks ...............................................  2 Points

Note: This is getting and holding Back Control from Turtle Top, 1/2 Guard or any other position

Section 4) Weight Classes

ADULT WEIGHT CLASSES

Flyweight................................................................................................. up to 139 lbs.

Bantum Weight............................................................................... over 140 to 149 lbs.

Feather Weight................................................................................ over 150to 159 lbs.

Light Weight................................................................................... over 160 to 169 lbs.

Welter Weight................................................................................. over 170 to 179 lbs.

Middle Weight.................................................................................. over 180 to 189 lbs.

Light Heavy Weight........................................................................... over 190 to 199 lbs.

Cruiser Weight.................................................................................. over 200 to 209 lbs.

Heavyweight..................................................................................... over 210 to 219 lbs.

Ironweight......................................................................................... over 220 to 239 lbs.

Super Heavyweight.............................................................................. over 240 lbs. & up

Male Teen Weight Classes

Ages 13-17 depending on weight and size

Ages 13-15

109 & Under

110 - 119

120-129

130-139

140-149

150-159

Ages 15-17 (15 year olds depend on muscle mass & weight to be in this group)

109 & Under

110 - 119

120-129

130-139

140-149

150-159

Kids Weight Classes

Ages 5-12

Under 30 lbs.

31-40 lbs

41-50 lbs.

51-60 lbs

61-70 lbs

71-80 lbs

81-90 lbs

91-100 lbs

101-109 lbs

110-119 lbs.

120 & Up

 

Further Rules, Violations And All Regulations Will Be Gone Over The Day Of The Event.

 

 

Filipino Stick Fighting

 

 

Filipino Knife Fighting

 

 

 

 

MMA is NOT Boxing and being so the weight classes are different. The weights move up in 10 pound increments until 219 lbs. and then they progress in 20 lb. increments.