THE FOLLOWING TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ALLOWED & ARE CONSIDERED FOULS IN A SANCTIONED BOUT

ELBOWS
Pro & Amateur Bouts: No Downward or Spiking Elbows (12 O’clock and 6 O’clock ELBOWS) ANYWHERE. 

Forearm Strikes and Rounded Elbows are permitted anywhere in all PRO bouts except for the back of the head and the throat.

Amateur Bouts: NO Forearm Strikes and or Rounded Elbows to the Head. 

Forearm Strikes and Rounded Elbows (Forearm Strike) are permitted to the BODY only in AMATEUR bouts.

KNEES
Knees are allowed to the Body & Head while standing in both Pro and Amateurs. 
STATE OF IDAHO: Knees are NOT Allowed to the Head of an AMATEUR Fighter.

Knees are allowed to the Body when both fighters are on the ground but NOT THE HEAD in both Pro and Amateurs. 

NO fighter can be kneed, kicked or stomped to the head when on the ground in both Pro and Amateurs. 

If one fighter is on the Ground and one standing, the grounded fighter may still knee the standing fighter to the head in both Pro and Amateurs. 

A fighter is determined "Grounded" or "ON THE GROUND" when that fighter's knee touches the ring floor or one of his hands/arms to support him. 

DOWN means the fighter is not in a "2-point standing or crouching (on his feet) position". When 1 hand is touching the ground or mat along with both feet, or the fighters body is on the ground/mat.

STOMPS
Standing foot to foot Stomps are legal in both Pro & Amateur MMA.

Standing Stomps are NOT LEGAL.

Amateur fighters may not "STOMP" a downed opponent but may "KICK" to the "LEGS" of a downed opponent.

Pro Fighters may "KICK" to the "LEGS" of a downed opponent AND AX Kick to the Body. 

NO Fighter (Amateur and Pro) may "STOMP" - "KICK" or "KNEE" to the HEAD or the NECK of a downed opponent. 

Smothering an opponent by cupping a hand over an opponent's mouth and nose. 

BITING

A Fighter must recognize that a referee may not be able to physically see some actions and must make the referee aware if they are being bitten during a bout.

EYE GOUGING

Finger Strikes or Rakes to ANY part of the body. 

Knuckle Gouging to the face or any part of the body, including into the throat. 

Clawing, pinching or twisting of the flesh - Pulling, pushing on opponent's face. 
Throat strikes of any kind, including without limitation, grabbing the trachea, gouging of a Fighters fingers or thumb into an opponent's neck or trachea. 

One or two-"Handed" chokes applied directly to the throat and/or windpipe. 

Kicking, kneeing or stomping on or at a downed opponent above the waist. (To the legs is allowed - EXCEPT in Illinois.) 

Kicking directly to the Front, Side or Rear of Opponents Knee. 

No intentional strikes of any kind to the knees will be allowed including Side, Checking, Roundhouse or Hooking Kicks / (whip & or driving strikes) to the Front, Side or Rear of a fighters knee. 

Accidental contact will be allowed at the discretion of the referee: 

1st foul will be a warning. 

2nd foul a point deducted or disqualification at the referees discretion and severity of the foul. 

3rd offense automatic disqualification.

If the strike stops the bout due to injury, the Referee and ISCF Event Representative will determine whether or not it was intentional or accidental. 

If intentional, the kicking fighter will be automatically disqualified and lose the bout. 

If the accidental foul occurs in the first round the bout will be declared a "No Contest." 

If the accidental foul occurs after a minimum of 1 round has been completed, the representative will ask each judge to score the round the accidental foul was in, and along with the scores of the other rounds, come to a decision based upon the scores of all 3 judges scorecards.

Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent. 

A Fighter may not control an opponent's movement by holding onto the opponent's shorts or gloves. 

A Fighter may hold onto or grab an opponent's hand as long as the combatant is not controlling the opponent's hand by using only the material of the glove but is actually gripping the hand. 

It is legal for a Fighter to hold onto his own gloves or shorts.

Fish hooks (to the eyes, nose, ear, or mouth) or putting a finger into any open orifice (cuts/lacerations). 

Grabbing of the Clavicle. 

Hair pulling

Groin: Groin techniques/attacks of any kind - Grabbing, Striking, etc. 

Single digit manipulation (Small joint manipulation - finger and toe locks) 
Head butting. 

No Striking to the Spine - Anything behind the EARS. 

No Striking to the Back of the Head 
SIDES OF HEAD: A strike to the side or back of a receiving fighters ears is considered the back of the head. 

TOP: From the rear of each ear, across the top of a Fighters Head, any strike behind this is considered the back of the head.

No Striking to the Back of the Neck - Anything behind the EARS. 

Lifting, pushing, throwing, or otherwise forcing an opponent out of the Cage/Ring. 

Intentionally delaying the contest due to improper equipment, or by intentionally dropping or spitting out the mouthpiece. 

Illegal Blow After The Round Bell or Horn. 

A blow that strikes a fighter after the sounding of the bell or Horn is a foul "UNLESS" the movement of the strike was already set in motion prior to the bell or Horn sounding. The referee will determine if it was "In Motion" or an accidental or intentional foul.

Attacking an opponent on or during a break. 

Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the Referee or other Cage/Ring Official. 

Use abusive language in the Cage or Ring. 

Interference by a Fighters Cornerman/woman - Trainer. 
Any action or activity by a corner aimed at disrupting the contest or causing an unfair advantage to a combatant. 

Corners are not allowed to distract the referee or influence the actions of the referee in any manner.

Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions. 

Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent. 

Pile-driving an opponent into the mat. 

A pile driver is considered to be any throw wherein a combatant controls an opponent's body by placing the opponent's feet straight up in the air and the head straight down and then forcibly driving the opponent's head into the canvas or flooring material. 

It should be noted that if a combatant is placed into a submission hold by his opponent and the combatant is capable of elevating his opponent, the combatant may bring his opponent down in any manner because he is not in control of his opponent's body. The combatant who is attempting the submission can either adjust his position or let go of the hold before being slammed to the canvas. It is crucial that referees are properly advised and trained on this and that the combatants fully understand this at the rules meeting.

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RING ROPE OR CAGE GRABBING

Fighters may NOT grab the ring ropes or cage AT ANY TIME the two fighters are in contact with each other during the bout in an attempt to stall action, trap his opponent, escape a technique, or otherwise gain advantage in the match. 

Fighters may momentarily grab the ring ropes or cage to brace or steady themselves or to gain/maintain their balance. 

If a fighter grabs or otherwise secures any ring rope with a hand, arm, foot or leg during the bout TO AVOID A SUBMISSION HOLD, the referee shall stop the bout and deduct two (2) points from the fighter who so grabbed the rope. 

If a fighter continually holds the ring ropes to rest, or pull himself from the action, avoid the bout's action, or otherwise gain advantage in the match, the referee will deduct one (1) point from the resting fighter and two (2) points for each additional time. 

Excessive grabbing or other use of the ring ropes in violation of these rules may result, in the referee's sole discretion, in a fighter's disqualification and an award of the bout to that fighter's opponent. 

The referee shall verbally instruct fighters to release the ring ropes or cage, when appropriate, prior to warning, deducting points, and/or disqualifying a fighter for violating these rules.