Md. Code Regs. 09.14.16.10

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 2024

Section 09.14.16.10 - Fouls

A. A mixed martial arts contestant who flagrantly or repeatedly commits a foul may be:

(1) Disqualified in a contest by the referee; and

(2) Subject to disciplinary action by the Commission.

B. The following acts are fouls and may result in penalties:

(1) Butting with the head;

(2) Eye gouging of any kind;

(3) Biting or spitting at an opponent;

(4) Hair pulling;

(5) Fish hooking;

(6) Groin attacks of any kind;

(7) Intentionally placing a finger in any opponent's orifice, or into any cut or laceration of an opponent;

(8) Downward pointing of elbow strikes;

(9) Small joint manipulation;

(10) Strikes to the spine or back of the head;

(11) Strikes or kicks to the kidney;

(12) Throat strikes of any kind, including the grabbing of the trachea;

(13) Clawing, pinching, or twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle;

(14) Kicking the head of a grounded mixed martial arts contestant;

(15) Kneeing the head of a grounded mixed martial arts contestant;

(16) Stomping of a grounded mixed martial arts contestant;

(17) The use of abusive language in the fighting area;

(18) Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent;

(19) Attacking an opponent on or during the break;

(20) Attacking an opponent who is under the referee's care;

(21) Timidity, including:

(a) Avoiding contact;

(b) Continual dropping of the contestant's mouthpiece; or

(c) Faking an injury;

(22) Interference from a mixed martial arts contestant's second, including throwing in the towel during competition;

(23) Throwing an opponent out of the fighting area;

(24) Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions; and

(25) Spiking an opponent to the canvas on the head or neck.

C. Except as provided in §E of this regulation, if a foul is committed, the referee may:

(1) Call time;

(2) Check the fouled mixed martial arts contestant's condition and safety; and

(3) Assess the foul to the offending contestant and deduct one or more points, based upon the severity and effect of the foul, by notifying, as soon as practical, but not later than the end of the round in which the foul occurred:

(a) Both corners;

(b) The judges; and

(c) The Commission table.

D. Subject to the discretion of the referee, a fouled mixed martial arts contestant may have up to 5 minutes to recuperate.

E. If a bottom mixed martial arts contestant commits a foul, unless the top mixed martial arts contestant is injured, the contest shall continue, so as not to jeopardize the top mixed martial arts contestant's superior positioning at the time, and the referee shall:

(1) Verbally notify the bottom mixed martial arts contestant of the foul; and

(2) Assess the foul and notify both corners' seconds, the judges, and the official scorekeeper of the same when the round is over.

F. If the referee does not call a foul and deduct one or more points, the judges may not make such an assessment on their own or factor such an assessment into their scoring calculations.

G. A deduction of one or more points by the referee shall result in that number of points being deducted from the offending mixed martial arts contestant's score by the official scorekeeper.

Md. Code Regs. 09.14.16.10