Ariz. Admin. Code § 19-2-D603

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 25, June 21, 2024

Section R19-2-D603 - Mixed Martial Arts

A. The fighting area.

1. Regardless of the shape of the fighting area, the fighting area canvas shall be no smaller than 518 square feet and no larger than 746 square feet. The fighting area canvas shall be padded in a manner as approved by the Commission, with at least a 1-inch layer of foam padding. Padding shall extend beyond the fighting area and over the edge of the platform. Vinyl or other plastic rubberized covering shall not be permitted unless approved by the Commission.

2. The fighting area canvas shall not be more than 4 feet above the surface upon which the fighting area is constructed and shall have suitable steps or ramp for use by the participants. Posts shall be made of metal not more than 6 inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a minimum height of 58 inches above the fighting area canvas and shall be properly padded in a manner approved by the Commission.

3. The fighting area shall be enclosed by a fence made of such material as will not allow a fighter to fall out or break through it onto the floor or spectators, including, but not limited to, vinyl coated chain link fencing. All metal parts shall be covered and padded in a manner approved by the Commission and shall not be abrasive to the contestants.

4. The fence may provide two separate entries onto the fighting area canvas, but one entrance is acceptable.

B. Gloves. The promoter is responsible for providing gloves for contestants in accordance with the following:

1. The gloves shall be new for all main events and in good condition, or they must be replaced.

2. All contestants shall wear gloves of 4, 5, or 6 ounces in weight, approved by the Commission. No contestant shall supply their own gloves for participation, unless approved by the Commission and mutually agreed upon by the contestants.

C. Contestant's equipment and apparel.

1. For each bout, the promoter shall provide at least one clean water bucket and clean plastic water bottle in each corner.

2. Male contestants shall wear a groin guard of their own selection, of a type approved by the Commission.

3. Female contestants are prohibited from wearing groin guards, but may be required to wear a chest protector during competition, of a type approved by the Commission.

4. Gis, shirts, socks, and shoes are prohibited during competition. Each contestant shall wear MMA shorts, biking shorts, or kick-boxing shorts, and women contestants shall also wear approved tops.

D. Weight classes. The following weight classes shall be used as a general guide:

Weights	Weight Range in Pounds
Flyweight	Less than 126
Bantamweight	126-134.9
Featherweight	135-144.9
Lightweight	145-154.9
Welterweight	155-169.9
Middleweight	170-184.9
Light Heavyweight	185-204.9
Heavyweight	204-264.9
Super-Heavyweight	265+

E. Fouls.

In addition to the foul blows listed in R19-2-D601(W), the practices addressed in subsections (E)(1) and (2) below are classified as fouls in MMA.

1. The following infractions shall receive a warning for the first instance, and thereafter shall result in a penalty:

a. Holding or grabbing the fence;

b. Holding an opponent's shorts or gloves; and

c. The presence of more than one second in the fighting area during a period of rest or the presence of a second on the apron without permission from the referee.

2. The following infractions shall receive a penalty if committed at any time:

a. Fish hooking;

b. Intentionally placing a finger in any orifice of an opponent;

c. Downward pointing of elbow strikes (i.e. a "12-to-6" downward elbow strike);

d. Small joint manipulation;

e. Heel kicks to the kidney;

f. Throat strikes of any kind;

g. Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle;

h. Kicking or kneeing the head of a grounded contestant;

i. Stomping a grounded contestant, or kneeing or kicking the head of a grounded contestant;

j. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on the opponent's head or neck; and

k. For amateurs only:

i. Elbow strikes to the head of a grounded opponent;

ii. Twisting leg submissions;

iii. Linear kicks to the knees; or

iv. Foot stomps.

3. 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.

4. If a foul is committed, the referee shall:

a. Call time;

b. Check the condition and safety of the fouled contestant; and

c. Assess the foul to the offending contestant, deduct points, and notify each corner's seconds, judges, and the official score-keeper of that decision.

5. There shall be no scoring of an incomplete round. If the referee penalizes either contestant, the appropriate deduction of points will occur when the final score is calculated.

6. For purposes of MMA, a "grounded" contestant occurs when any part of the contestant's body, aside from a single hand and soles of the feet, are touching the fighting-area floor. To be grounded, both hands palm/fist down, and/or other body part, will be touching the fighting-area floor. If a single knee or arm is touching the fighting-area floor, the combatant or contestant is grounded without having to have another body part touching the fighting area floor.

F. Intentional fouls. For intentional fouls, the following rules shall apply:

1. An intentional foul that does not result in an injury shall result in a deduction of one point from the offending combatant's score. If an injury results from an intentional foul, the referee shall inform the scorekeeper to deduct two points from the score of the offending contestant.

2. The offending contestant loses by disqualification if the referee determines that any of the offenses were intentional, severe, or flagrant, there is a combination of three of the fouls listed in subsection (E)(2) above, or the bout is terminated as a result of an injury resulting from an intentional foul.

3. 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 bout:

a. The injured contestant will win by a technical decision, if the injured contestant was ahead on the score cards; or

b. The outcome will be declared a technical draw, if the injured contestant was behind on the score cards.

4. If a contestant incurs injury while attempting to foul an opponent, the referee shall not take any action in the contestant's favor, and the injury shall be treated in the same manner as an injury produced by a fair blow.

5. If, during grappling, the contestant on the bottom commits a foul, the bout will continue to protect the superior position of the topmost contestant, unless the contestant on the top is too injured to continue.

G. Accidental fouls.

1. Accidental fouls will result in one point being deducted by the official scorekeeper from the offending combatant's score if directed by the referee.

2. 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 a majority of rounds have been completed.

3. 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 a majority of rounds have been completed.

H. Results specific to MMA. In addition to the type of results listed in R19-2-D601(R), bout results can include submission by:

1. Tap out, which occurs when a contestant physically uses his or her hand to indicate that he or she no longer wishes to continue; or

2. Verbal tap out, which occurs when a contestant verbally announces to the referee that he or she does not wish to continue.

I. Method of judging.

1. All bouts will be evaluated and scored by three judges.

2. 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 9 points or less must be awarded to the loser, except for an even (10-10) round.

3. Judges shall evaluate the following MMA techniques in the following order of importance: effective striking, grappling, control of the fighting area, aggressiveness, and defense.

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

b. Effective grappling is judged by considering the amount of successful executions of a legal takedown and reversals. Examples of factors to consider are takedowns from standing position to mount position, passing the guard to mount position, and bottom position contestant using an active, threatening guard.

c. Effective 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.

d. Effective aggressiveness means moving forward and landing a legal strike.

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

4. The following objective scoring criteria shall be utilized by the judges when scoring a round:

a. 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;

b. 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;

c. A round is to be scored as a 10-8 round when a contestant overwhelmingly dominates by striking or grappling in a round; and

d. A round is to be scored as a 10-7 round when a contestant totally dominates by striking or grappling in a round.

5. Judges shall use a sliding scale and recognize the length of time the contestants are either standing or on the ground, as follows:

a. If the contestants were on the canvas most of the round, then:

i. Effective grappling is weighed first; and

ii. Effective striking is then weighed.

b. If the contestants were standing most of the round, then:

i. Effective striking is weighed first; and

ii. Effective grappling is then weighed.

c. If a round ends with a relatively even amount of standing and canvas fighting, striking and grappling are weighed equally.

J. Rounds.

1. The number of rounds in a professional MMA bout shall not exceed a maximum of five rounds.

2. The duration of each professional round shall be a maximum of five minutes, followed by a one-minute rest period after each non-final round.

3. The number of rounds in an amateur MMA bout shall not exceed a maximum of three rounds.

4. The duration of each amateur round shall be a maximum of three minutes, followed by a one-minute rest period after each non-final round.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R19-2-D603

Amended by final rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 445, effective 2/7/2018.