Because so many different promoters run mixed martial arts events, a set of universal rules became essential for the safety of the fighters. These rules govern the behavior of the fighters during an event and help the judges determine a winner. The rules also determine the eligibility of fighters, which helps promote safe competition for all involved.
Weight Divisions
The early days of mixed martial arts lacked weight divisions, but the unified rules have remedied this problem. The accepted weight classes remain flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight and super heavyweight. These weight classes vary from 125 to over 265 pounds and generally increase in increments of 10 to 15 pounds. Commissions have the option of approving a catch-weight bout if one competitor misses weight, but they must ensure that the match remains competitive and fair.
Judging
Each bout uses three judges, with these individuals placed at different locations around the ring. The judges score every bout using the 10-point must system. This means that the winner of a round must receive 10 points and the loser must receive nine or fewer points. They can also score a tied round 10 to 10. Judges will score each round based on striking, grappling, control, aggressiveness and defense.
Fouls
Fouls in mixed martial arts include head butting, biting, hair pulling, groin attacks, small-joint manipulation, throat strikes, kicking or kneeing to the head of a grounded opponent, grabbing the fence, spiking an opponent and applying a foreign substance to your own body. The referee can assess a warning, deduct a point or disqualify a competitor after he commits a foul. After a combatant commits a foul, the referee will call a timeout, direct the offender to a neutral location, check on the fouled individual and inform the scorekeeper of any points deducted. Only the referee can deduct points from a fighter, as judges cannot impose their views on a potential foul into their scores.
Results
The most common finishes for a bout remain submission, knockout and decision. A fighter can submit by tapping out either physically or verbally, at which point the referee will stop the contest. A knockout occurs when the referee stops the fight when one fighter can no longer defend himself or if one combatant knocks the other one unconscious. If the fighters do not decide the fight before time expires, the judges' scorecards will determine the victor based on who scores the most points during the fight.
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