1: The Fighting area

(a) The fighting area canvas shall be no smaller than 16 feet by 16 feet and no larger than 32 feet by 32 feet. The fighting area canvas shall be padded in a manner as approved by the promoter, with at least one-inch layer of foam padding. Padding shall extend beyond the fighting area and over the edge of the platform. No vinyl or other plastic rubberized covering shall be permitted.

(b) The fighting area canvas shall not be more than four feet above the floor of the building and shall have suitable step(s) or ramp(s) for use by the participants. Posts shall be made of metal not more than six inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a minimum height of 58 inches above the fighting area canvas and shall be properly padded in a manner approved by the Tennessee Athletic Commission.

(c) The fighting area canvas area shall be enclosed by a fence made of such material as will not allow a fighter to fall out or break through it onto the floor or spectators, including, but not limited to, vinyl coated chain link fencing. All metal parts shall be covered and padded in a manner approved by the Tennessee Athletic Commission and shall not be abrasive to the contestants.

(d) The fence shall provide two separate entries onto the fighting area canvas.

2: Stools

(a) There will be no stools or chairs in the cage at any time.

(b) An appropriate number of stools or chairs, approved by the promoter shall be available for each contestant's seconds. Such stools or chairs shall be located near each contestant's corner and are not permitted in the cage at any time.

(c) All stools and chairs used must be thoroughly cleaned or replaced after the conclusion of each bout.

3: Equipment

Equipment allowed in Corner:

Each fighter will be allowed to have the following equipment in their corner during the bout:

Petroleum Jelly

Water, must be in a pliable container

Bucket

Sponge

Ice bag (no-swells are allowed)

Spray bottle (must contain water)

Round tipped surgical scissors

Adrenalin 1:1000 solution

White towel (Must have in order to fight.)

4: Specifications for bandages on mixed martial artist's hands

(a) In all weight classes, the bandages on each contestant's hand shall be restricted to soft gauze cloth not more than 20 yards in length and two inches in width, held in place by not more than 10 feet of surgical tape, one inch in width, for each hand.

(b) Surgeon's adhesive tape shall be placed directly on each hand for protection near the wrist. The tape may cross the back of the hand twice and extend to cover and protect the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist.

(c) The bandages shall be evenly distributed across the hand

(d) Pre-manufactured hand wraps will be allowed, without modifications or alterations, if preferred over the traditional tape and gauze method. Wraps shall be similar to the Classic Weave or Mexican Hand Wraps. If pre-manufactured wraps are used, they must have a Velcro fastening system, and shall be fastened in such a fashion that the gloves cover the entire fastening system. Additionally, pre-manufactured gel wraps will be allowed. All pre-manufactured hand wraps will be inspected by the promoter’s representative.

(e) All bandages and tape shall be placed on the contestant's hands in the dressing room in the presence of the inspector and if requested in the presence of the manager or chief second of his or her opponent.

(f) Under no circumstances are gloves to be placed on the hands of a contestant until the approval of the inspector is received. Inspector will initial approved hand wrapping and these will be re-inspected post-fight, prior to removal. Violations of hand wrap protocols may result in disqualification.

(g) Fighter’s hands, wraps and gloves cannot be coated with any substance whatsoever.

(h) Taping of small joints will be allowed, i.e. fingers and toes. No other tape can be present on the fighter’s person unless specifically provided for within these rules or by a waiver specifically obtained from the promoter.

5: Mouth Pieces

(a) Contestants are required to wear a mouthpiece during competition. The mouthpiece shall be subject to examination and approval by the attending physician and or referee/inspector.

(b) A round cannot begin without the mouthpiece in place.

(c) If the mouthpiece is involuntarily dislodged during competition, the referee shall call time, and the fighter shall retrieve and clean the mouthpiece and reinsert the mouthpiece immediately.

(d) Throwing a mouthpiece after a match (or at any time), will result in an immediate disqualification. This is a serious health risk and will not be tolerated under ANY circumstance.

6: Protective Equipment

(a) Male mixed martial artists shall wear a groin protector of their own selection, of a type approved by the Inspector/Referee or Promoter.

(b) Female mixed martial artists are prohibited from wearing groin protectors.

(c) Female mixed martial artists shall wear a chest protector during competition. The chest protector shall be subject to approval of the Inspector/Referee or Promoter.

7: Gloves

(a) Gloves shall be in good condition or they must be replaced.

(b) All fighters will wear gloves made for MMA fighting. If you bring your own gloves, they must be approved by our staff. If you don't have your own gloves, a pair will be loaned to you for the match. All contestants shall wear four, six, or eight ounce gloves, approved by the Inspector/Referee or Promoter.

8: Apparel

In order to protect the fighters, the costume/clothing of each fighter must meet these requirements:

(a) Fighter cannot grease, oil or coat their body or clothing with any foreign substance prior to entering the ring or at any point during the fight. A sparing amount of petroleum jelly will be allowed to the nose, brow, ear, and cheek area. If amount is deemed too much by inspectors or referee it must be removed to the official’s satisfaction immediately and cannot be reapplied.

(b) Fighters cannot enter the ring with any object made from hard material.

(c) Fighters cannot wear glasses or hard contact lens of any nature during the fight.

(d) Fighters cannot wear loose or baggy clothing during the fight.

(e) Fighters can wear a gi or kimono at their discretion. If the fighter chooses to wear a gi or kimono, it can be used against them.

(f) Fighters cannot wear t-shirts during fight. Rash-guards will be allowed.

(g) Fighters shall wear clean, serviceable fight shorts or board style shorts with no metal or exposed buttons, zippers or ornaments.

(h) Fighters will be allowed to wear joint supports, judo knee pads or elbow pads. The supports/pads must be constructed of soft material, and not require any fastening to perform their specified duties. (No Velcro or tie-on supports will be allowed). If the fighter chooses to wear these items, they may be used against them during the fight.

(i) Shoes will not be allowed.

9: Appearance

(a) All contestants shall be cleanly shaven immediately prior to competition, except that a contestant may wear a closely cropped mustache or goatee (no longer than 1").  We have added some leniency with the goatees.  If you are caught using them in a match, you may be penalized or possibly disqualified

(b) Hair shall be trimmed or tied back in such a manner as not to interfere with the vision of either contestant or the referee.

(c) Jewelry or piercing accessories are prohibited during competition.

10: Round length

(a) Each non-championship amateur mixed martial arts contest shall be three rounds, of three minutes duration, with a one minute rest period between each round.

(b) Each championship amateur mixed martial arts contest shall be three rounds, of five minutes duration, with a one minute rest period between each round.

11: Stopping a contest

(a) The referee and/or the ringside physician are the sole arbiters of a bout and are the only individuals authorized to enter the fighting area at any time during competition and/or stop a contest.

(b) A Fighter’s corner can submit for him/her by throwing in a towel.

12: Judging

(a) All bouts will be evaluated and scored by three judges.

(b) The 10-Point Must System will be the standard system of scoring a bout. Under the 10-Point Must Scoring System, 10 points must be awarded to the winner of the round and nine points or less must be awarded to the loser, except for a rare even round, which is scored (10-10).

(c) Judges shall evaluate mixed martial arts techniques, such as effective striking, effective grappling, and control of the fighting area, effective aggressiveness and defense.

(d) Evaluations shall be made in the order in which the techniques appear in (c) above, giving the most weight in scoring to effective striking, effective grappling, control of the fighting area, and effective aggressiveness and defense.

(e) Effective striking is judged by determining the total number of legal heavy strikes landed by a contestant.

(f) Effective grappling is judged by considering the amount of successful executions of a legal takedown and reversals. Examples of factors to consider are take downs from standing position to mount position, passing the guard to mount position, and bottom position fighters using an active, threatening guard.

(g) Fighting area control is judged by determining who is dictating the pace, location and position of the bout. Examples of factors to consider are countering a grappler's attempt at takedown by remaining standing and legally striking; taking down an opponent to force a ground fight; creating threatening submission attempts, passing the guard to achieve mount, and creating striking opportunities.

(h) Effective aggressiveness means moving forward and landing a legal strike.

(i) Effective defense means avoiding being struck, taken down or reversed while countering with offensive attacks.

(j) The following objective scoring criteria shall be utilized by the judges when scoring a round;

1.      A round is to be scored as a 10-10 Round when both contestants appear to be fighting evenly and neither contestant shows clear dominance in a round.

2.      A round is to be scored as a 10-9 Round when a contestant wins by a close margin, landing the greater number of effective legal strikes, grappling and other maneuvers.

3.      A round is to be scored as a 10-8 Round when a contestant overwhelmingly dominates by striking or grappling in a round.

4.      A round is to be scored as a 10-7 Round when a contestant totally dominates by striking or grappling in a round.

(k) Judges shall use a sliding scale and recognize the length of time the fighters are either standing or on the ground, as follows:

1.      If the mixed martial artists spent a majority of a round on the canvas, then:

Effective grappling is weighed first; and

Effective striking is then weighed.

2.      If the mixed martial artists spent a majority of a round standing, then:

Effective striking is weighed first; and

Effective grappling is then weighed.

3.      If a round ends with a relatively even amount of standing and canvas fighting, striking and grappling are weighed equally.

13: Fouls

(a) If a combatant fouls his/her opponent during a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts, the referee may warn or penalize him by deducting points from his/her score, whether the foul was intentional or not. The referee may determine the number of points to be deducted in each instance and shall base his/her determination on the severity of the foul and its effect upon the opponent.

(b) When the referee determines that it is necessary to deduct a point or points because of a foul, he shall verbally notify the offender of the penalty to be assessed. This verbal notice can be given while a fight is in progress so as not to stop the immediate action. 

(c) The referee shall, as soon as is practical after the foul, notify the judges and both combatants and the corners of both combatants of the number of points to be deducted from the score of the offender. In some cases points may not be deducted until the end of a round and verbal notice will be given to the offender during the round if this is the case. 

(d) Any point or points to be deducted for any foul must be deducted in or at the end of the round in which the foul occurred and may not be deducted from the score of any subsequent round.

 List of Fouls

1. Butting with the head

No use of the head as a striking instrument in any form is allowed.

2. Eye gouging of any kind

Intentional use of the fingers, thumb or chin as a gouging instrument will be considered eye gouging.

3. Biting

4. Hair pulling

5. Fishhooking

Any attempt by a fighter to use their fingers in a manner that attacks their opponent’s mouth, nose or ears, stretching the skin to that area will be considered “Fishhooking”. Fishhooking generally is the placing of fingers into the mouth or your opponent and pulling your hands in opposing directions while holding onto the skin of your opponent.

6. Groin attacks of any kind

7. Intentionally putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.

8. Small joint manipulation.

Fingers and toes are small joints. Wrists, ankles, knees, shoulders and elbows are all large joints.

9. Striking to the spine or the back of the head.

No direct striking attacks are allowed to the spine or the back of the head. A direct strike is an aimed and executed attack to the area. The back of the head is considered the area of the head between both ears and to the top of the head to the base of the neck.

10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow.

All elbow strikes are legal except for an elbow that is thrown in a downward trajectory (hand traveling from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock from top or side position). Any elbow thrown with an arc is a legal elbow. The point of the elbow may be used as striking instrument as well as the forearm or the triceps area of the arm.

11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.

No directed throat strikes are allowed. Directed throat attacks would include a fighter pulling his opponents head in a way to open the neck area for a striking attack. A fighter may not gouge their fingers or thumb into their opponent’s neck or trachea in an attempt to submit their opponent. All arm chokes (such as the Rear Naked, Guillotine, and bar arm) are legal.

12. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.

13. Grabbing the clavicle (also known as the collarbone).

This is viewed as another form of gouging. You may not attempt to use your fingers to gouge into or grab at the clavicle.

14. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.

A downed opponent is any fighter who has more than just the soles of their feet on the ground. If a fighter is caught in a crouched position with hips below the knees where the fence or opponent is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground the fighter will be considered a downed opponent. A fighter can be kicked to the body when they are on the ground.

15. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.

A downed opponent is any fighter who has more than just the soles of their feet on the ground. If a fighter is caught in a crouched position with hips below the knees where the fence or opponent is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground the fighter will be considered a downed opponent. A fighter can be kneed to the body when they are on the ground.

16. Stomping a grounded opponent.

Stomping a grounded opponent is not allowed. Stomps can only be utilized in the standing position against another standing fighter. A downed opponent is any fighter who has more than just the soles of their feet on the ground. If a fighter is caught in a crouched position with hips below the knees where the fence or opponent is the only thing keeping the fighter from the ground the fighter will be considered a downed opponent

17. Kicking to the kidney with the heel.

18. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.

Any throw that has an arc is a legal throw. A fighter may not pick up their opponent, invert them placing the fighter’s feet straight up in the air and their head straight down and pile drive their opponent into the canvas. When a fighter is using a takedown or a throw against their opponent they are allowed to throw their opponent to the ground without worry as to whether their opponents head makes contact with the canvas before another part of their body as long as they have not placed their opponent into the above stated pile driver position.

19. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.

Any fighter who purposely throws their opponent out of the ring or cage shall be disqualified.

20. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.

A fighter may not control their opponent’s movement by holding onto their opponent’s shorts or gloves. A fighter may hold onto or grab their opponents hand as long as they are not controlling the hand only by using the material of the glove, but by actually gripping the hand.

21. Spitting at an opponent.

22. Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury.

23. Holding or jumping onto the fence.

A fighter may put their hands on the fence and push off of it at anytime. When a fighter’s fingers or toes go through the cage and grab hold of the fence and start to control either their body position or their opponent’s body position, the referee shall issue a warning to the fighter to let go of the fence. If the fighter does not let go the referee shall attempt to quickly pull the fighter’s hand off of the fence. If this does not immediately work the referee can issue a foul against the violating fighter. A fighter may not hold onto the fence to gain an advantage over their opponent or to keep their opponent from being successful during a takedown attempt.

24. Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.

Fighters shall not entice their opponent with abusive language during the ring introductions or during the actual contest. The referee shall give (1) warning to the violating fighter and then issue a foul for every infraction there after.

25. Attacking an opponent on or during the break.

26. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.

27. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period

28. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.

29. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent,

30. Intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.

31. Interference by the corner.

32. No Jumping, sitting or climbing on fence

Although this is a steel cage and is VERY strong, there shall be no jumping, sitting, or climbing over the cage by any fighter at any time.  In other shows, this often happens after a win, but could be a serious safety risk, not only to the fighter, but to the spectators as well.  This will result in an IMMEDIATE disqualification or reversal of decision, no questions asked.  You were warned!  We will enforce this rule!

33. No throwing of mouthpiece at anytime (immediate disqualification or reversal of decision)

34. Disqualification occurs after any combination of three of the fouls listed in (a) above or after a referee determines that a foul was intentional and flagrant.

35. 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.

36. A fouled fighter has up to five minutes to recuperate if needed.

14: Position of foul

(a)  While grounded, 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. If top contestant needs recovery time the fight will be re-started standing.

1.      The referee shall verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.

2.      When the round is over, the referee shall assess the foul and notify both corners' seconds, the judges and the official scorekeeper.

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. 

(b) While grounded if the top contestant commits a foul regardless of injury the fight will be stood back up.

15: Injuries sustained during competition

(a) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of a LEGAL maneuver is severe enough to terminate a bout, the injured contestant loses by technical knockout.

(b) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an INTENTIONAL FOUL is severe enough to terminate a bout, the contestant causing the injury loses by disqualification.

(c) If an injury is sustained during competition as a result of an INTENTIONAL FOUL and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee shall notify the scorekeeper to automatically deduct two points from the contestant who committed the foul.

(d) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an INTENTIONAL FOUL causes the injured contestant to be unable to continue at a subsequent point in the contest, the injured contestant shall win by technical decision, if he or she is ahead on the score cards. If the injured contestant is even or behind on the score cards at the time of stoppage, the outcome of the bout shall be declared a technical draw.

(e) If a contestant injures himself or herself while attempting to foul his or her opponent, the referee shall not take any action in his or her favor, and the injury shall be treated in the same manner as an injury produced by a fair blow.

(f) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an accidental foul is severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout shall result in a no contest if stopped before two rounds have been completed in a three round bout or if stopped before three rounds have been completed in a five round bout.

(g) If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an accidental foul is severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout shall result in a technical decision awarded to the contestant who is ahead on the score cards at the time the bout is stopped only when the bout is stopped after two rounds of a three round bout, or three rounds of a five round bout have been completed.

(h) There will be no scoring of an incomplete round. However, if the referee penalizes either contestant, then the appropriate points shall be deducted when the scorekeeper calculates the final score.

16: Types of Bout Results

The following are the types of bout results:

1. Submission by:

(a). Tap Out: When a contestant physically uses his hand to indicate that he or she no longer wishes to continue; or

(b). Verbal tap out: When a contestant verbally announces to the referee that he or she does not wish to continue

(c). A fighter's corner throws in the towel.

2. Technical knockout:

(a). Referee stops bout;

(b). Ringside physician stops bout; or

(c). When an injury as a result of a legal maneuver is severe enough to terminate a bout

3. Knockout by failure to rise up from the canvas.

4. Decision via scorecards:

(a). Unanimous: When all three judges score the bout for the same contestant.

(b). Split Decision: When two judges score the bout for one contestant and one judge scores for the opponent; or

(c). Majority Decision: When two judges score the bout for the same contestant and one judge scores a draw

5. Draws:

(a) Unanimous - When all three judges score the bout a draw;

(b) Majority - When two judges score the bout a draw; or

(c) Split - When all three judges score differently and the score total results in a draw

6. Disqualification:

When an injury sustained during competition as a result of an intentional foul is severe enough to terminate the contest, or for any other fouls or instances listed within these rules in which a contestant can be disqualified.

7. Forfeit:

When a contestant fails to begin competition or prematurely ends the contest for reasons other than injury or by indicating a tap out or towel being thrown in by his/her corner.

8. Technical Draw: 

When an injury sustained during competition as a result of an intentional foul causes the injured contestant to be unable to continue and the injured contestant is even or behind on the score cards at the time of stoppage after two rounds of a three round bout, or three rounds of a five round bout have been completed.

9. Technical Decision: 

When the bout is prematurely stopped due to injury and a contestant is leading on the scorecards when two rounds of a three round bout, Or three rounds of a five round bout have been completed.

10. No Contest: 

When a contest is prematurely stopped due to accidental injury and a sufficient number of rounds have not been completed to render a decision via the score cards. (Two rounds of a three round bout or three rounds of a five round bout have been completed.)

 PROMOTER'S "NOTES & SHOW RULES"

One of our main goals is to make certain this sport is portrayed in a positive manner.  In order for that to happen, you should keep the following things in mind.  We try to run a professional show, and are we're very serious about all the rules.

1. If you have friends and family who have come to see you fight, please make certain they understand a few key points.

(a)  Do not get out of their seat when you fight. Stay seated so the other fans can see too. Nothing is more annoying than paying good money to see a fight, when you can only see half the fight due to the inconsiderate person in front of you.

(b)  Do not come to the cage after a win. I know it can be exciting, but it can wait until you get out of the spectator's area.

(c)  If they are involved in any sort of "ruckus", they will be asked to leave immediately. A fight in the crowd is one of the worst things that could happen at a show, given existing prejudices about the sport.

2. Demonstrate to the crowd that you are a good sportsman. No one likes to see cheap shots when a guy presents his glove for touching, or other things of that nature.

3. Show you are a winner whether you win or lose. Congratulate your opponent if he wins. Tell him how hard he fought if he loses. 

4. Taunting an opponent after a win may not get you disqualified, but it certainly won't get you asked back to another Shogun Cagefighting Championships show.  

5. You might have 100 great things happen at a show, but as soon as one negative thing happens, you can bet it will be the one thing people remember (or that shows up on NewsChannel 5).  Please make sure people leave wanting to come back for more, and when you leave, make sure we want to invite you back to fight for Shogun Cagefighting Championships.