'Mixed-Martial Arts'
Amateur Bout Rules

Last updated 13th February 2008

THE COMPETITION AREA:

Matches will be held within a minimum of a six-meter matted square, called the ‘fighting area'. This area is surrounded by a one-meter safety zone.

ATTIRE:

Compulsory: gum shield, groin guard, recognised gloves, recognised shin & instep pads and recognised knee pads, supplied belt (red or blue).

Competitors may fight bare-top, or when wearing a vest or Fight Top/Rash Guard. T-Shirts are not permitted. Suitable shorts must be worn. Alternatively, GI's and wrestling singlet's are also permitted.

Wrestling boots permitted (kicking allowed). Trainers and martial arts shoes not permitted.

Approved gloves: Rogue, Viper, Harbinger
Recognised gloves: Most Mixed-Martial Arts specific gloves.

Approved shin & instep pads: Rogue, Viper
Recognised shin & instep pads: Most styles of shin pad suitable for Mixed-Martial Arts. Shin pads that include any form of plastic or metal fastening will not be permitted*

Approved kneepads: Rogue, Viper
Recognised kneepads: Most soft styles of kneepad are permitted*

*Equipment other than the brands named above have to be approved on the day. Equipment will be available for use if your own equipment is deemed as unsuitable. Please check your equipment in with an official upon arrival to the event.

DURATION:

All matches are 1 x 4 minute round.
Matches that are for a Title (applies to the National Championships only) may be fought over two 4 minute rounds, or two 4 minute rounds plus an additional two minute overtime round in the case of the actual final Title Fight.

WAYS TO WIN:

You can win a match by:

  1. Forcing your opponent to submit (to tap-out), or to quit.
  2. The referee stopping the match or disqualifying your opponent.
  3. By knock-out or technical knock out.

WEIGHT CATEGORIES:

  • - 70.5 KG - Lightweight
  • - 77 KG - Welterweight
  • - 84 KG - Middleweight
  • - 93 KG - Light-heavyweight
  • - 120 KG - Heavyweight

LEGAL TECHNIQUES:

  1. All punching and kicking techniques to legal target areas.
  2. All knee strikes to legal target areas.
  3. All throws, takedowns & submissions.

ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES:

  1. No hair-pulling, biting, eye gouging, head-butting, ear pulling or fish-hooking.
  2. No strikes permitted above shoulder level.
  3. No elbow strikes permitted.
  4. No manipulation of small joints (fingers, toes).
  5. No striking directly to joints.
  6. No holding of gloves or other safety equipment.
  7. No heel-hooking or any other technique that places a twisting motion on the ankle or knee joint.
  8. No pulling of clothing permitted except to opponents belt, or to opponents wearing GI's.
  9. No striking directly to spine.
  10. No groin strikes permitted.
  11. Striking not permitted for fighters at different levels (eg, one grounded, one standing).
  12. Directly attacking the nose is not permitted.
  13. Any technique which results in, or is liable to result in, your opponent being dropped directly on to his/her head.
  14. Throat strikes of any kind, including without limitation, grabbing the trachea or clavicle.
  15. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
  16. Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
  17. Throwing the competitor out of the fighting area.

RULES:

  1. All matches will be fought over one 4-minute round (unless the bout is for the Title - applies to national Championships only).
  2. All matches that go the full 4 minutes will be classified as a draw - there is no judges decision.
  3. All matches are full-contact.
  4. The referee can warn or disqualify any competitor for disobeying the rules.
  5. Each fighter must wear the supplied belt, used to distinguish each corner (one red, one blue).
  6. Belts that come away from an opponents body are discarded and cannot be used, or can be tied again at the referee's discretion.
  7. The referee can stop the match at any point.
  8. The referee's instructions must be adhered to and his or her decisions are final.
  9. Gum Shields must remain in the mouth at all times. The referee may pause the action to replace gum shields that have fallen from a competitors mouth.
  10. Safety equipment (gloves, shin & instep pads etc) must remain properly attached to the body. The referee can pause the action for required adjustment of any safety equipment.
  11. A fighter is classed as ‘grounded' if any part of their body, except for the soles of the feet, comes into contact with the mat.
  12. Fighters must remain within the fighting area. Failure to do so could result in a warning for standing fighters or a standing re-start for grounded fighters.
  13. The referee can stand grounded fighters if there is a prolonged ‘lack of action' on the ground.
  14. Trainers or corners must keep clear of the mats.
  15. All competitors are expected to behave in a ‘sportsman-like' manner.
  16. Competitiors who wish to retire at any stage must ask the fight arranger to have his/her fight card withdrawn.
  17. No oils (including vaseline) may be applied to any part of the body.
  18. All competitors must possess a current and valid Combat Sports Academy membership insurance policy.

COMPETITOR EXCLUSIONS:

In the interest of maintaining safety and fairness within amateur competition, competitors who have engaged in two or more 'Professional Bouts' will not be permitted to compete in the Combat Sports Open Trials. For the sake of this exclusion only, the term 'Professional Bout' will be deemed to describe a bout in which head strikes are permitted whilst both standing AND on the ground. 'Semi-Professional' bouts (head strikes permitted standing but not whilst on the ground) are not considered as a 'professional bout' for the sake of this exclusion.


All rules copyright 2000-2008 Combat Sports Promotions. All rights reserved.
All rules subject to change without prior notice.