Mixed martial arts is no different from other sports in that the professional bouts are governed by a standard set of rules and regulations. The rules were put into place to lower a fighter's risk of injury as well as ensuring that each fight is as fair as possible in regards to judging, fighting weights and fighting maneuvers.
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.
One of the many areas that are regulated in the rules are the standard weight classes for both men and women fighters. The lightest fighters are the flyweights with weights under 125 pounds for the men and 95 pounds for the women. The top weight class is super heavyweight where the men weight 265 or greater and the women weigh at least 185 pounds or more.
The length and duration of rounds in a fight are another part of the unified rules. For a championship title bout, there are five rounds, each lasting five minutes. For a non-title fight, there are just three rounds, but they also last five minutes each. Fighters are allowed a one-minute rest period between all rounds. A fight can end in several different ways. A knockout and a technical knockout are two fairly common ways a fight can end. With a knockout, one opponent is knocked unconscious, and with a technical knockout, the referee ends the fight when he sees that a fighter is no longer able to defend against his opponent. If the fighters power their way through every round, then judges will call the match via decision.
While those first three are similar to boxing, MMA has a few extra ways that a fight can end. A submission is a common way in which a fight can end, and this simply means that a fighter cannot escape from a hold and sometimes the referee will end the fight and sometimes the fighter will tap the mat to end the fight. One more rare way a fight ends is by a no contest ruling, and this occurs when someone injures a fighter unintentionally using a move that is illegal or has taken an illegal substance and tests positive after the fight. It also can occur if both fighters violate the rules. A disqualification also can end a fight if one of the fighters receives three or more warnings during a bout.
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.
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.
One of the many areas that are regulated in the rules are the standard weight classes for both men and women fighters. The lightest fighters are the flyweights with weights under 125 pounds for the men and 95 pounds for the women. The top weight class is super heavyweight where the men weight 265 or greater and the women weigh at least 185 pounds or more.
The length and duration of rounds in a fight are another part of the unified rules. For a championship title bout, there are five rounds, each lasting five minutes. For a non-title fight, there are just three rounds, but they also last five minutes each. Fighters are allowed a one-minute rest period between all rounds. A fight can end in several different ways. A knockout and a technical knockout are two fairly common ways a fight can end. With a knockout, one opponent is knocked unconscious, and with a technical knockout, the referee ends the fight when he sees that a fighter is no longer able to defend against his opponent. If the fighters power their way through every round, then judges will call the match via decision.
While those first three are similar to boxing, MMA has a few extra ways that a fight can end. A submission is a common way in which a fight can end, and this simply means that a fighter cannot escape from a hold and sometimes the referee will end the fight and sometimes the fighter will tap the mat to end the fight. One more rare way a fight ends is by a no contest ruling, and this occurs when someone injures a fighter unintentionally using a move that is illegal or has taken an illegal substance and tests positive after the fight. It also can occur if both fighters violate the rules. A disqualification also can end a fight if one of the fighters receives three or more warnings during a bout.
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.
About the Author:
Rod Bourgoine likes blogging about mixed martial arts benefits. To get further information about a San Diego mixed martial arts gym or to find San Diego muay thai lessons, please go to The Arena MMA site now.
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