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EVOLUTION league and were later adopted by the UFC as their brand of mixed martial arts developed from a brawl to a regulated sport.]] Some main motivations for these rule changes included:
Weight Class es emerged when knowledge about submissions spread. When more fighters became well-versed in submission techniques and avoiding submissions, differences in weight became a substantial factor. Headbutt s were prohibited because it was a technique that required little effort and could quickly turn the match into a bloody mess. Headbutting was common among wrestlers because their skill in takedowns allowed them to quickly transfer bouts to the ground where they could assault opponents with headbutts while not being required to alter their position. Small, open-finger gloves were introduced to protect fists in punches. Although some fighters may have well conditioned fists, others may not. The small bones in an unprotected and unconditioned fist are prone to break when it hits a torso or forehead with power. Gloves also reduce the occurrence of cuts (and stoppages due to cuts) and encourage fighters to use their hands for striking, both of which enable more captivating matches. Time limits were established to avoid long fights on the ground with little perceivable action. No time limit matches also complicated the airing of live events. Similar motivations produced the "stand up" rule, where the referee can stand fighters up if it is perceived both are resting on the ground or are not advancing toward a dominant position. COMMON RULES The following describes some rules commonly found in MMA competition today. Ways to victory
Fouls The following acts are universally considered fouls in the mixed martial arts world:
Weight Classes See Also: Mixed martial arts weight classes UNIFIED RULES OF MMA In 2000, the ''Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts'' were codified by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. Mixed Martial arts Unified Rules of Conduct, Additional Mixed Martial arts Rules , New Jersey Athletic Control Board. Retrieved 2006 . Since then, to create uniformity in the , 2006 . Promotions that hold events on Indian Reservations are also exempt from any restrictions, as they are outside the jurisdiction of state commissions. Rounds Every round is 5 minutes in duration with a one minute rest period in-between rounds. Title matches can be sanctioned for five rounds but non-title matches must not exceed three rounds. Attire All competitors must fight in approved shorts, without shoes or any other sort of foot padding. Shirts, Gi s or long pants (including Gi Pants ) are not allowed. Fighters must use approved light gloves (4-6 ounces) that allow fingers to grab. Judging Criteria The ten-point must system is in effect for all fights. Three judges score each round and the winner of each receives ten points, the loser nine points or less. If the round is even, both fighters receive ten points. In New Jersey, the fewest points a fighter can receive is 7, and in other states by custom no fighter receives less than 7. Legal Techniques The Unified Rules allows elbow strikes except those hitting downwards with the point of the elbow. Fouls The following are fouls, as set out by the Nevada State Athletic Commission: NSAC Regulations: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT . Nevada State Athletic Commission. Retrieved April 3 2006
General Conduct
International Fight League Further to its team concept, IFL also implements small changes within the Unified Rules:
PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS Historically, PRIDE's rules have differed between main PRIDE events and Bushido events. PRIDE rules , Official PRIDE site. Last retrieved 2006 In the US , PRIDE abide by the Unified Rules. Rounds The first round is ten minutes in duration and the second and third rounds are five minutes in duration. There is a two minute rest period between each round. Grand Prix matches are two rounds in length if more than one round is scheduled on one night. Attire PRIDE allows fighters latitude in their choice of attire but open finger gloves, a Mouthguard and a Protective Cup are mandatory. It is within a fighter's discretion to Tape parts of their body or to wear a Gi top, gi pants, wrestling shoes, kneepads, elbow pads, shin guards and ankle supports, though each is checked by the referee before the fight. Judging Criteria If the match reaches its time limit then the outcome of the bout is determined by the three judges. The fight is scored in its entirety and not round-by-round. After the conclusion of the bout, each judge must decide a winner. Matches cannot end in a draw. A decision is made according to the following criteria in this order of priority: #the effort made to finish the fight via KO or submission, #damage given to the opponent, #standing combinations and ground control, #takedowns and takedown defense, #aggressiveness, and #weight (in the case that the weight difference is 10 kg/22 lb or more). If a fight is stopped on advice of the ring doctor after an accidental but illegal action, i.e. a clash of heads, and the contest is in its second or third round, the match will be decided by the judges using the same criteria. Legal Techniques PRIDE allows the following techniques:
Fouls In addition to the common fouls, PRIDE Fighting Championships considers Elbow Strikes to the head and face to be fouls. In the event that a fighter is injured by illegal actions, then at the discretion of the referee and ring doctor, the round will attempt to be resumed after enough time has been given to the fighter to recover. If the match cannot be continued due to the severity of the injury then the fighter who perpetrated the action will be disqualified. General Conduct
Bushido rules PRIDE Bushido events instituted distinct variations to the full PRIDE rules:
PRIDE discontinued Bushido events in late-2006 and their rules were last used for lightweight and welterweight fights at PRIDE Shockwave 2006 ..1 As the lightweight and welterweight divisions will now be on the main PRIDE shows, the rules for the lighter classes are also changing to reflect standard PRIDE rules.2 K-1 HERO'S
SECONDARY JAPANESE PROMOTIONS ZST
Shooto
OTHER MIXED MARTIAL ARTS PROMOTIONS Cage Rage
CAGE OR RING MMA is often referred to as "cage fighting" in the US as it is associated with the UFC's octagonal caged fighting area. Most major MMA promotions in the US, Canada and Britain use the "cage" as a result of directly evolving from the first UFC events. There are variations on the cage such as replacing the metal fencing with a net, or using a different shape for the area other than an octagon, which has been trademarked by UFC. In Japan, Brazil and some European countries such as Netherlands an area similar to a standard Boxing Ring is used, but with tighter ropes and sometimes a barrier underneath the lowest rope to keep grappling athletes from rolling out of the ring. The usage of the ring in these countries is derived from the history of Vale Tudo , Japanese Pro-wrestling and other MMA related sports such as Kickboxing . The choice of cage or ring is more than aesthetic however, as it impacts the type of strategies that a fighter can implement. For example, a popular and effective strategy in a cage is to pin an opponent into the area where the fence meets the mat, and then pummel him with strikes. This is not possible in a roped ring. On the other hand, the roped ring can result in entangled limbs and fighters falling through the ropes, requiring the referee to sometimes stop the fight and reposition the fighters in the center. Some critics feel that the appearance of fighting in a cage contributes to a negative image of MMA in popular media. GOVERNMENT REGULATION In the U.S., state athletic and boxing commissions have played a crucial role in the introduction of safety rules because they oversee MMA in similar ways as they do for boxing. Small shows usually use more restrictive rules because they have less experienced fighters who are looking to acquire experience and exposure that could ultimately lead them to getting recruited into one of the larger, better paying promotions. In Japan and Europe, there is no regulating authority over MMA competitions, so these organizations have greater freedom in rules development and event structure. In general, a balanced set of rules with some organization-specific variances has been established and is widely used, and major rule changes are unlikely, allowing for fighters in one organization to transition to others easily. REFERENCES |
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