Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
13.1 If a fighter flagrantly breaks any rule, the official ring referee shall immediately disqualify him; however, if the foul is not severe or intentional, the referee may issue a warning or point deductions(s) from the offending fighter. The following are fouls and may result in penalties if committed:
13.1.1 Downward pointing elbow strikes;
13.1.2 Butting with the head;
13.1.3 Eye gouging of any kind;
13.1.4 Biting or spitting at an opponent;
13.1.5 Hair pulling;
13.1.6 Fish hooking;
13.1.7 Groin attacks of any kind;
13.1.8 Intentionally placing a finger in any opponent's orifice, cut or laceration;
13.1.9 Small joint manipulation;
13.1.10 Strikes to the spine or back of neck or back of the head or (defined as anywhere on the head behind the ears and behind the line that would extend from the back of one ear to the back of the other ear and across the top of the head);
13.1.11 Heel kicks to the kidney;
13.1.12 Attacking an opponent on or during the break;
13.1.13 Kicks to the head of a grounded fighter;
13.1.14 Kneeing the head of a grounded fighter;
13.1.15 Stomping of a grounded fighter;
13.1.16 Throat strikes of any kind;
13.1.17 Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle;
13.1.18 The use of grossly offensive profanity or racist remarks in fighting area or in the fighters entrance or exit music;
13.1.19 Any unsportsmanlike conduct of any kind;
13.1.20 Attacking an opponent who is under the referee's care at the time;
13.1.21 Timidity (avoiding contact, or consistent dropping of mouthpiece, or faking an injury);
13.1.22 Interference from a mixed martial artists seconds;
13.1.23 Throwing an opponent out of the fighting area;
13.1.24 Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions;
13.1.25 Spiking/slamming an opponent to the fighting surface on his or her head or neck;
13.1.26 Holding or grabbing the fence or any part of the ring or cage;
13.1.27 Any strikes to any joint.
13.2 Disqualification occurs after any combination of three of the fouls listed in 13.1 above. Disqualification will occur after a referee determines that a foul was intentional and flagrant.
13.3 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.
13.4 A fouled fighter has up to five minutes to recuperate.
13.5 If a foul is committed, the referee shall:
13.5.1 Call time;
13.5.2 Send the opponent to a neutral corner;
13.5.3 Check the fouled mixed martial artist's condition and safety; and
13.5.4 Assess the foul to the offending contestant, deduct points, and notify each corner's seconds, judges and the official scorekeeper.
13.6 If a bottom contestant commits a foul, unless the top contestant is injured, the fight shall continue, so as not to jeopardize the top contestant's superior positioning at the time.
13.6.1 The referee shall verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.
13.6.2 When the round is over, the referee shall assess the foul and notify both corners' seconds, the judges and the official scorekeeper.
13.6.3 The referee may terminate a bout based on the severity of a foul. For such a flagrant foul, a contestant shall lose by disqualification.
13.7 Any point or points to be deducted for any foul must be deducted in the round in which the foul occurred.
13.8 Fighters cannot win by intentionally or accidentally fouling another fighter.
