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Rules of Mixed Martial Arts

The Estonian Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (ESVBJJL)

Last update on Nov 24th, 2010 (Ott Tõnissaar)

Mixed Martial Arts is a single combat sport where the goal is to determine the best fighter within a sporting environment. Competitors are judged based on their technique, their attempts to submit their opponent using either blows or grappling techniques, and good physical shape.

Professionals (Class A) are the top athletes in Mixed Martial Arts. Their goal is the maximum utilisation of their potential and achievement of success in international sporting competitions through special training.

Semi-professionals (Class B) are competitive athletes in Mixed Martial Arts. Their goal is to achieve self-realisation and success at competitions through preparations serving to develop their physique.

Amateurs (Class C and D) are those participants for whom Mixed Martial Arts is a hobby. Their goal is to stay in good physical shape, maintain and improve their physique and spend their free time in an interesting and fulfilling way.

Source: Estonian Olympic Committee profession standard (http://www.eok.ee/est/treenerikutse/alusdokumendid/standard) 

1. Weight Classes:

  • Flyweight: maximum 56 kg
  • Bantamweight: 56-60 kg
  • Featherweight: 60-65 kg
  • Lightweight: 65-70 kg
  • Welterweight: 70-77 kg
  • Middleweight: 77-84 kg
  • Light Heavyweight: 84-93 kg
  • Heavyweight: more than 93 kg

2. Match duration and fighting style:
Professionals:
Class A: three five-minute rounds with a one-minute rest period between rounds.
Class B: three four-minute rounds with a one-minute rest period between rounds.

Amateurs:
Class C: three three-minute rounds with a one minute rest period between rounds.
Class D: two three-minute rounds with a one minute rest period between rounds.

The Mixed Martial Arts matches are held in special fighting arenas which are surrounded with a chain-link fence - i.e., fighting cages or in boxing rings.

3. Equipment:
Professionals (Classes A and B):
1. Mixed Martial Arts gloves approved by the ESVBJJL
2. Mouth guard
3. Groin protector
4. Fighting shorts 

Amateurs (class C):
1. Mixed Martial Arts gloves approved by the ESVBJJL
2. Mouth guard
3. Groin protector
4. Fighting shorts
5. Shin guards approved by the ESVBJJL 

Amateurs (class D):
1. Mixed Martial Arts gloves approved by the ESVBJJL
2. Mouth guard
3. Groin protector
4. Fighting shorts

The equipment may not have any protruding hard details, which might cause gashes.

In addition, the following is allowed for professionals (Class A and B) and amateurs (Class C and D):

  • The hands of the competitors may be wrapped/taped if the taped area doesn't expand over the area covered with a glove.
  • Wearing long-sleeved or tank top rashguards and long trousers only with the permission of the organisers (e.g., medical reasons).
  • Wearing knee, elbow, ankle, etc. guards and/or supporters only with the permission of the organisers (e.g., medical reasons). The guards and gauzes may not contain metallic or plastic details or clamps.
4. Corner Team:
Every fighter must have at least one person in his corner team. There can be a maximum of two people in each fighter’s corner team.

5. Fighting distance:
Combat in all fighting distances is allowed in Mixed Martial Arts matches.
1. Stand-up combat (hit distance): both opponents are standing, all types of kicks and punches are allowed, excluding the ones listed in point 6.
2. Close combat (clinch): both opponents are standing; at least one of the fighters has a clinch contact with the opponent. All types of punching, kicking, throwing, takedown and submitting techniques are allowed except the ones listed in point 6.
3. Ground combat – at least one of the fighters knees, hands or larger body area (e.g., while sitting, laying down, laying on the side, etc.) is in contact with the canvas. This distance is evaluated differently for each of the two opponents. All types of punching, kicking, throwing, takedown and submitting techniques are allowed except the ones listed in point 6.

6. Forbidden actions:
Both professionals (Class A and B) and amateurs (Class C and D) are prohibited from doing the following:
1. Butting with the head.
2. Biting.
3. Hair pulling.
4. Putting a finger or a toe into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
5. Groin attacks of any kind.
6. Small joint manipulation (fingers, toes).
7. Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
8. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
9. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
10. Grabbing the clavicle.
11. Direct kicks to the joints (elbows, knees).
12. Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
13. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent with a foot or knee (paragraph 5, section 3).
14. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
15. Throwing an opponent out of the fenced area.
16. Spitting at an opponent.
17. Holding the fence or the frame of the arena.
18. Using abusive language in the fenced area.
19. Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
20. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee or the doctor.
21. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
22. Deliberately attacking an opponent who has given a sign of submission.
23. Deliberately disregarding the instructions of the referee.
24. Constantly avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
25. Interference by the corner team.
26. Using oils, ointments, Vaseline, massage oils, hair gel or any other substances which make the body surface slippery. The only substance allowed is a small amount of Vaseline on the face. Application is only allowed in the presence of the referee immediately before stepping into the arena.

Professionals (Class B) are prohibited from doing the following
27. Elbow and forearm blows to the head at any distance.
28. Kicking the head of an opponent with a foot or knee while being grounded (paragraph 5, section 3).

Amateurs (Class C) are prohibited from doing the following    
27. Elbow and forearm blows to the head at any distance.
28. Knee kicks to the head at any distance.
29. Blows to the head of a grounded opponent with an arm (paragraph 5, section 3).
30. Blows to the head of an opponent with an arm while being grounded (paragraph 5, section 3).
31. Blows to a grounded opponent with a foot or knee (paragraph 5, section 3).
32. Kicking the head of an opponent with a foot or knee while being grounded (paragraph 5, section 3).
33. Positioning an arm, foot, elbow or knee in the face area.
34. Kicks to the kidneys at any distance.
35. Foot locks which twist the knee (achilles, kneebar and slicers are allowed).
36. Submissions which twist the spine and/or neck (e.g., twister).
37. Throwing an opponent by using only head/neck grip.

Amateurs (Class D) are prohibited from doing the following
27. Foot, knee, elbow and/or forearm kicks/blows at any distance.
28. All kicks/blows to a grounded opponent (paragraph 5, section 3).
29. All kicks/blows while being grounded (paragraph 5, section 3).
30. All kicks/blows below the belt at any distance.
31. Positioning an arm, foot, elbow or knee in the face area.
32. Kicks to the kidneys at any distance.
33. Foot locks which twist the knee (achilles, kneebar and slicers are allowed).
34. Submissions which twist the spine and/or neck (e.g., twister).
35. Throwing an opponent by using only head/neck grip.
36. Slamming an opponent.

The fighter against whom a forbidden technique was used, but who is still able to continue, is given time (if needed) to recover from the injuries (maximum of 2 minutes).

Bleeding caused by the use of allowed techniques will be treated on the spot, as quickly as possible. The match will be stopped if the doctor or the referee determines the bleeding to be a health risk.

7. Restarting the round (passiveness):
The referee may restart the round (both opponents go to the centre of the arena in competition distance No 1), if the fighters have reached a stalemate and are not working to improve their position or finish the match.

8. Warnings:
The referee may give warnings in the following situations:
1. Execution of a prohibited action (paragraph 6).
2. Passiveness and/or avoiding the active continuation of the round.

A fighter can receive up to two warnings during a match; the third warning will disqualify the fighter. There are two types of warnings: a) oral warning (the match is stopped, the warned fighter is taken to the middle of the cage / ring and an oral warning is given, if possible, the match shall continue from where it was at the time of stopping); b) point warning (the match is stopped, the warned fighter is taken to the middle of the cage / ring and 1 point is taken from his or her round result, if possible, the match shall continue from where it was at the time of stopping). Warnings are given according to the seriousness of the violation and its recurrence. The warning will be considered if the match ends with a decision.

9. Ways to end the match:
Professionals (Class A and B) and amateurs (Class C):
1. Submission

  • The match ends with submission if the opponent gives up (physically, by tapping three times with a hand/foot on the body of the opponent or on the surface of the cage/ring, or verbally, unambiguously e.g., saying "Stop!").
  • The match ends with submission when the referee stops the match because a submission technique is causing or has caused an injury or loss of consciousness to the opponent.
  • The fighter who has submitted their opponent will be declared the winner. Official record: Submission (specification).

2. Knock-out

  • The match will end with a knock-out if the opponent is unable to continue the fight because of received strike(s).
  • The fighter who knocked out their opponent will be declared the winner. Official record: KO (specification).

3. Technical knock-out

  • The match will end with a technical knock-out if the referee stops the match because one fighter is fully dominating over the other and/or the opponent can't defend oneself intelligently.
  • The match will end with a technical knock-out if an opponent has received an injury because of an allowed technique. The match will be stopped by the referee and the doctor and the referee will decide whether the athlete will continue or not.
  • The match will end with a technical knock-out if the corner team gives up (throws a towel into the cage).
  • The match will end with a technical knock-out if the athlete gives up on continuing the fight while it is taking place.
  • The athlete who is dominating/ is able to continue the fight/ has a corner team that hasn't given up/ has not given up, will be declared the winner. Official record: TKO (specification).

4. Decision

  • The match will end with the decision of the judges, if it was impossible to declare a winner by using the methods listed above. Three judges will evaluate the match, round by round, using the following guidelines:
    • the damage caused, combinations, throws, takedowns, control of the opponent while grounded
    • control of the arena
    • the attempts of the athletes to finish the match
    • aggressiveness
  • Points are awarded as follows:
    • The winner of the round receives 10 points; the loser of the round receives 9 points.
    • If one athlete is overwhelmingly dominant, the winner of the round receives 10 points; the loser of the round receives 8 points.
    • If the fighters are equal a tie is awarded from the round – both athletes receive 10 points.
  • The athlete with the most points will be declared the winner. If both fighters have the same amount of points, a tie is declared. Official record: Decision (specification). The Decision (specification) may be a unanimous or a majority decision.

5. No contest

  • The match will be declared cancelled if the referee has to stop the match due to reasons not dependent on the athletes.
  • Official record: No Contest (specification).

6. Disqualification

  • A fighter will be declared the winner through disqualification if their opponent has used a prohibited technique as a result of which the athlete is unable to continue the fight or if the opponent has received their third warning (paragraph 8).
  • A fighter will be declared the winner through disqualification if their opponent has insulted the referee or behaved in an aggressive manner towards the referee.
  • Official record: Disqualification (specification).

7. Walk over

  • If the opponent gives up the fight before it starts or fails to appear in the ring within a reasonable period of time after the announcement of his or her name, the other opponent will be declared the winner.
  • Official record: Walk over (specification).

 

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