About the sport

What is MMA?

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a sport that combines the skills of striking, wrestling and submissions to determine a winner. MMA began as an unarmed combat sport in the Ancient Olympic Games in Greece, where it was known as Pankration.

Does the sport have other names?

MMA is usually referred to the following names within the sport:

Extreme Fighting
No Holds Barred
Vale Tudo

How do you win in an MMA match?

An MMA match can be won in the following ways:

Knockout
Submission, where an opponent concedes defeat by 'tapping'
Points, where the fight ends without a submission or knockout
Opponent is disqualified for using illegal techniques
Referee stoppage

In the CFC matches, no fighters are given a 10 count or a standing 8 count. If the referee believes that a fighter is unable to effectively defend themselves, the fight is stopped and the opponent is awarded with a victory.

If a fight ends without a submission or a knockout, the judges will award the victory to the fighter who dominated the fight. If both fighters were equal during the fight, the match can be concluded as a draw.

Is MMA fought in a ring?

The sport of MMA is usually conducted within a matted cage. This is to protect the fighters from falling outside of the ring, which can potentially injure spectators and combatants. The CFC cage is built in a hexagonal shape to maximise spectator visibility and to minimise the chances of fighters becoming caught in a corner.

How are fighters classed in MMA?

Each of the fighters must fall within a weight category. Skill, training style or experience are not used to categorise fighters.

The weight divisions are:

Bantamweight - under 62kg (137lbs)
Featherweight - 62kg to 65kg (143lbs)
Lightweight - over 65kg to 70kg (154lbs)
Welterweight - over 70kg to 77kg (170lbs)
Middleweight - over 77kg to 84kg (185lbs)
Light Heavyweight- over 84kg to 93kg (205lbs)
Heavyweight - over 93kg to 105kg (231lbs)
Super heavyweight - over 105kg (231lbs)

What are the rules of MMA?

Contrary to popular belief, MMA has an extensive rules system designed to reduce injuries to fighters. The rules of MMA vary from country to country and from event to event. The CFC has its own fine-tuned set of rules to maximise a fighter's range of attacks while reducing the chances of serious injury.

The rules in CFC's matches are as follows:

LEGAL TECHNIQUES

While standing - all legal striking including kicks, knees, punches and forearm strikes to the head and body are allowed (striking with the point of the elbow or in the direction using the point of the elbow, are illegal). Clinching and standing submissions are legal.

While grounded - (a grounded fighter has at least 3 points down eg: 1 knee and 2 hands) punches and forearms to the head and body are allowed. A fighter may knee to the body of a grounded opponent (kneeing the head of a grounded fighter is illegal). Submissions while either one or both fighters are grounded are legal.

FOULS/ILLEGAL ISSUES

No biting
No eye gouging of any kind
No orifice insertion (including fish hooking nose and mouth)
No head butting
No hair pulling
No striking the groin
No small joint manipulation (control of at least 3 fingers/toes required)
No strikes to the throat/neck
No grabbing the trachea
No grabbing the clavicle
No pinching, twisting or clawing the flesh.
No striking to the back of head, neck or spine.
No striking with the point of the elbow
No striking an opponent who is under the care of the referee
No striking an opponent between rounds or after the final bell
No kicking a grounded opponent anywhere other than the legs.
No kneeing a grounded opponent in the head.
No throwing an opponent out/over the fence/ring.
No throwing an opponent onto his neck or head.
No holding onto the opponents gloves or shorts
No holding onto the fence/ring (except with your feet)
No spitting
No swearing or abusive language
No blatantly disregarding the referees instructions
No deliberately avoiding contact (timidity/consistently dropping mouthguard)
No interference by the corner (distracting the referee)

Any inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behaviour as deemed by the referee.

If a fighter is given a warning by the referee, the fight will not be stopped and no points will be deducted.

If a fighter is given a foul the referee will stop the fight, inform the fighter that is being penalised and the judges.

If a fighter accidentally fouls his opponent in the first round and his opponent cannot continue due to the injury sustained by that foul. This fight will be deemed a NO CONTEST.

If a fighter accidentally fouls his opponent during the second or following rounds and his opponent cannot continue due to the injury sustained by that foul, a count back of the judges score sheets from the previous rounds will decide the winner.

If a fighter deliberately fouls his opponent and due to the injury sustained by that foul his opponent cannot continue. The injured fighter, (regardless of which round) will be declared the winner.

If a fighter is unable to adequately or intelligently defend himself the referee will stop the fight. THERE IS NO STANDING 8 COUNT.

FIGHTS WON BY

Knock out
Submission (tapping out physically/verbally)
Referee stoppage
Doctor stoppage
Corner throwing in the towel
Judges decision

The judges will use a 10 point system (the dominant fighter receiving the higher score).eg.

10 points each - even round
10 points to 9 - advantage
10 points to 8 – dominate

To score a fight the judges will take into account: skilled striking, skilled grappling, ring control and the fighter's ability to push and control the pace of the fight.

In the event that a Title Fight goes to a Judges decision and is declared a draw, the current Title holder retains the title and the belt.

NOTE

If one fighter is grounded and the other standing and either reluctant to engage, the referee will stand the grounded fighter.

If both fighters are grounded at least one of the fighters is to keep active by attempting submissions, striking or gaining superior position. Failure by fighters to keep active while on the ground will result in the referee standing both fighters.

FIGHTERS CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT

Lycra bike pants/MMA shorts, Muay Thai shorts, cotton shorts/board shorts (no pockets). Neoprene joint supports only (no metal). No body lotions, greases or gels are to be used.

COMPULSORY CLOTHING

Mouthguard
Groin cup protector
Grappling gloves (Provided by Promoter)
Bare Feet

OFFICIAL WEIGH IN

Weigh-ins will be conducted by the time appointed by the promoter (as a basic rule, weigh-ins must be within 24 hours of the fight) at the appointed place. The weigh-in must be conducted under the supervision of the Rule Director. The attendance of the second is optional; however each fighter must be present for his opponent's weigh-in. If the fighter misses the weigh-in without valid reason, he may be disqualified. If the fighter has a valid reason, a new place and time for the weigh-in, will be decided and the fighter must be present at the new time and location for weigh-in.

If the fighter fails the weigh-in, he must be re-weighed within 4 hours. Within the 4 hours, the fighter may be re-weighed as many times as he wants. However, if the fighter has not passed the weigh-in within the 4 hours, the fight will not be recognized as a match. In the case that the fighter is the champion, he will be stripped of his title. However, if the opponent or his second gives approval, the fight can be held with the condition that if the fight goes to the decision, the fighter who failed weigh-in will automatically have points deducted from the judge's score.

WEIGH-IN PENALTIES

Fighters who do not pass their contracted weight examination within the 4hr time limit may be fined 25% of the fight money to the promoter as a penalty.

CORNERMEN

2 corner men only are allowed for undercard fights and 3 cornermen only for main fights or title fights. (Fighters are to notify CFC by no later than Weigh In of their designated corner men).
1 corner man from each fighter only is allowed in the cage between rounds.
Corner men to wear assigned passes at all times. These passes will be given out at the Weigh In.
Corner men to stay in assigned corner during fight.
Corner men must squat down as not to obstruct spectators view.
Corner men must not swear or be abusive.
Corner men must listen to referee.
The Referee may stop a fight due to any cornerman who follows their fighter around the cage giving instruction or interference to the referee or judges may incur a penalty to their fighter of a loss of 1 point from the judges score on that round.
Corner men must have towel ready and only climb scaffold ladder if their fighter is in danger and they feel they may need to throw in towel.