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.

Rules

Rules of Mixed Martial Arts Fighting

The rules of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) differ slightly from one promotion to the next because each fighting organization can create unique rules. For example, the regulations for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may differ slightly from the rules for Strikeforce.

Every event must comply with the athletic commission rules of the state in which the event is being held. MMA rules regulate weight classes, no-no’s during fighting, and approved ways to end a fight.

Athletic commissions from several states created the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, a set of rules that have been adopted by fighting promotions worldwide. These rules are the most widely used rules for MMA.

Weight Classes in MMA Competitions

No matter where you’re fighting, one of the most basic rules of MMA is that you must fight within your weight class. For instance, a male lightweight who weighs 150 pounds would never be matched with a male heavyweight who weighs 240 pounds. That kind of pairing is saved solely for cartoons.

If you don’t make weight for a match, you can be disqualified and possibly fined by the promotion. The following tables are rundowns of the specific weight classes defined in the Unified Rules of MMA.

Donofrio MMA / Impact Fight League Champions

Male Division

Strawweight                      Under  115  (52.3 kg)                                        Mikey Galanos

Flyweight                            115.1 /125 lb (52.3 kg to 56.8 kg)                 John Walker

Bantamweight                  125.1 / 135 lb (56.8 to 61.4kg)                      Jacob Butler

Featherweight                 135.1 / 145 lb (61.4 to 65.9 kg)                     Vince Murdock

Lightweight                         145.1 / 155 lb (66 to 70.5 kg)                       Roland Saucedo

Welterweight                    155.1 / 170 lb (70.5 to 77.3 kg)                      Zack Burns

Middleweight                   170.1 / 185 lb (77.3 to 84.1 kg)                      Charlie Cosens

Light Heavyweight           185.1 / 205 lb (84.1 to 93.2 kg)                     Eric Madill

Heavyweight                     230.1 / 265 lb (104.6 to 120.5 kg)                Open

Super Heavyweight        above 265.1 lb (120.5 kg)                             Open

Female Division

Flyweight                            107 / 115 lb ( 48.6 to 52.3 kg)                       Open

Super Flyweight               115.1 /125 lb (52.3 kg to 56.8 kg)                Chandra Engel

Bantamweight                  125.1 / 135 lb (56.8 to 61.4kg)                      Open

Featherweight                 135.1 / 145 lb (61.4 to 65.9 kg)                     Allanna Jones

MMA no-no’s in fighting

Although every MMA fighting organization has its own specific rules, some universal no-no’s do exist. They’re listed in the Unified Rules of MMA, but here’s a quick look at what’s not allowed:

  • No groin attacks.

  • No knees to the head on a grounded opponent.

  • No strikes to the back of the head or the spine.

  • No head butts. (Sorry, soccer fans.)

  • No eye gouging.

  • No fish hooking.

  • No fingers in an opponent’s orifices. (Eww!)

  • No biting.

  • No hair pulling. (Besides, that’s so second grade.)

  • No strikes or grabbing of the throat.

  • No manipulation of the fingers or toes.

  • No intentional grabbing of the ring or cage.

  • No intentional throwing of your opponent outside of the ring or cage. (That stuff belongs in professional wrestling.)

Accidentally performing one of these actions in a fight earns you an automatic warning from the referee. If your opponent was injured from your accidental action, he’ll get five minutes to recover.

Approved ways to end an MMA fight

An MMA competition can end in one of several ways:

  • Decision. If a fight lasts all rounds, the outcome is decided by three judges. Each fighting promotion has its own unique point system.

  • Disqualification (DQ). Think of this as a sort of “three strikes and you’re out” policy. Each time a fighter engages in an illegal move, he receives a warning. After three warnings, he’s disqualified. A DQ can also be called if a fighter has been injured by an illegal move that seemed intentional.

  • Forfeit. A fighter can announce a forfeit before a match begins if he’s injured.

  • Knockout (KO). A knockout is when a fighter loses consciousness thanks to his opponent’s strikes.

  • No contest. If both fighters violate the rules, or if a fighter is injured by an unintentional illegal action, a no-contest call can result. No contest is rarely called in MMA fights.

  • Submission. If one fighter achieves a submission hold, the fighter trapped in the hold can call defeat by tapping out on his opponent’s body or the mat, or by making a verbal announcement. Some defeated fighters fail to tap out and become incapacitated. In such cases, the referee calls an end to the fight.

  • Technical knockout (TKO). A technical knockout, when a fight is ended by the referee, doctor, or fighter’s corner, can be called in a few ways. The referee can call one when a fighter is no longer defending himself, usually due to an effective attack by his opponent.

    A doctor can also call a TKO if it’s clear that continuing the fight could be dangerous. And finally, a fighter’s corner can throw in a towel to admit defeat, resulting in a TKO.

Michigan MMA Strongly Regulated

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Michigan MMA Strongly Regulated

For every wannabe Dana White in existence, Joe Donofrio has a warning: Be careful what you wish for.
Donofrio is the promoter of record for the Jan. 30 "Malice at The Palace" event in Auburn Hills, Mich., one of the first regulated professional mixed martial arts shows in Michigan's history, and he knows well the process of taking the sport to an unregulated market.

John Morgan of MMAJunkie has an interesting article that discusses the long road to hoe that Michigan and its regional promoters have experienced over the last three years. Joe Donofrio, running “Malice at the Palace” this weekend explains even with regulation, it’ll be tough to make a profit in the current environment because of certain fees and restrictions..

Read more...

Michigan promoter reveals own highs and lows

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Michigan promoter reveals own highs and lows during state's drive toward pro MMA

For every wannabe Dana White in existence, Joe Donofrio has a warning: Be careful what you wish for.
Donofrio is the promoter of record for the Jan. 30 "Malice at The Palace" event in Auburn Hills, Mich., one of the first regulated professional mixed martial arts shows in Michigan's history, and he knows well the process of taking the sport to an unregulated market.

For every wannabe Dana White in existence, Joe Donofrio has a warning: Be careful what you wish for.  Donofrio is the promoter of record for the Jan. 30 "Malice at The Palace" event in Auburn Hills, Mich., one of the first regulated professional mixed martial arts shows in Michigan's history, and he knows well the process of taking the sport to an unregulated market.

Read more...

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