The Unified Rules of mixed martial arts are codified by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC). Then each individual State, Tribal, Provincial, or Municipal AC operate under local regulations that may or may not conform identically.
The process for refining the rules begins internally with the Rules and Regulations Committee. When that committee comes to a decision, the recommendations are forwarded to ABC president Mike Mazzulli, who forwards them to the executive and medical committees. If they pass through those committees, the recommendations can go up for a full vote at the annual conference, which will be held this year at Mohegan Sun from July 24-26.
Instant Replay
Paul Gift writes for BE that a closely defined use of Instant Replay came out of the rules committee by a vote of 7-0 with one abstention. A reply will be used solely when the referee believes, a ‘Fight Ending Sequence’ was possibly caused by an illegal action (foul) whether intentional or unintentional. To preserve the flow of the game, it does not apply for example to look for whether or not a fighter tapped out, or to look at a potential foul that doesn’t bring an end to the fight.
After reviewing the replay, the ref has four options:
•Declare a winner;
•Declare a No Contest;
•Declare a Disqualification; or,
•Go to the judge’s scorecards for a Technical Decision.
The referee cannot use instant replay and then restart the fight. And only the ref can call for an instant replay, not for example the commission.
Instant Replay is currently used successfully in Nevada. If the ABC passes it this Summer, use could become widespread, and hopefully uniform.
Technical Decisions
Under the current rules if a fight ends due to an accidental foul, equipment failure, or act of God, it goes to the judges if two rounds are over in a three round fight, or three rounds are over in a five round fight (2/3, 3/5). If it happens before then, then the fight is declared a No Contest.
However, in boxing it goes to a Technical Decision after four rounds in an 8, 10, or 12-round championship fight. So the committee recommended a 1/3 and 2/5 for MMA – the fight will go to a Technical Decision if a full round has passed in a regular fight, or if two full rounds have passed in a championship fight.
Loss of Bodily Function Control
If a combatant, during a round, visibly loses control of a bodily function (i.e. vomit, urine, or bowels), the fight shall be stopped by the referee and the combatant shall lose the contest by TKO,” reads the proposed new rule.
If a fighter loses bodily function control between rounds, the ringside physician will be called. Vomiting, for example, can be a sign of concussion. If the physician does not clear the fighter, the fight ends via TKO.
However, there is a poop rule. Whether during the fight or between rounds, the presence of fecal matter represents a biohazard and ends the fight immediately.
If fecal matter becomes apparent at any time, the bout shall be halted by the referee, and the offending combatant shall lose the contest by TKO,” reads the proposed new rule, sanely.
Hand Wraps and Joint Braces
The new proposed regulations require a maximum of one roll of soft cloth gauze (no more than 2 wide and 15 yards long) and one roll of tape (no more than 2 wide and 10 feet in total length). Wrapping the thumb is optional.
For the upper body all tape, covering, or protective gear is prohibited. However, for the knees and or ankles, soft neoprene type sleeves with padding are permitted, if they are free of velcro, plastic, metal, or ties.
The stellar committee includes fighters Randy Couture, Jeremy Horn, and Matt Hughes, referees ‘Big’ John McCarthy, Robert Hinds and Kevin McDonald, regulators Sean Wheelock, Matt Woodruff, and Brian Dunn, and Dr. David Watson. Wheelock serves as the Committee Chairman. Mixed martial arts owes the group huge thanks for their selfless efforts in improving the sport.
