Rules of Mixed Martial Arts Fighting
Mixed martial arts (MMA) rules differ slightly from one upgrade to the next because each fighting organization, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), can create unique rules.
Each event must comply with the rules of the sports commission of the country in which the event is being held. Mixed martial arts rules regulate weight classes, the absence of any restrictions during a fight, and the approved methods for ending a fight.
Athletic commissions from several states created the Uniform Rules for Mixed Martial Arts, a set of rules adopted by fighting promotions around the world. These rules are the most commonly used rules for MMA.
Weight classes in MMA competitions
No matter where you fight, one of the basic rules of MMA is that you must fight within your weight class. For example, a lightweight 150-pound male would not be matched by a 240-pound heavyweight male. This type of pairing is only saved for animation.
If you do not have a match weight, you may be disqualified and possibly fined through promotion. The following tables are summaries of the specific weight classes defined in the MMA Standard Rules.
MMA weight classes for men’s weight class
Class Weight Range
Fly weight up to 105 lbs
Ultra Fly Weight 105.1-115 lbs
Pants Weight 115.1-125 lbs
Super Bantam Weight 125.1-135 lbs
Featherweight 135.1 – 145 lbs
Lightweight 145.1-155 lbs
Ultra-lightweight 155.1-165 lbs
Middleweight 165.1 – 175 lbs
ULTRA WEIGHT 175.1-185 lbs
Middleweight 185.1-195 lbs
Ultra Medium Weight 195.1-205 lbs
Light Heavyweight 205.1-225 lbs
Heavyweight 225.1-265 lbs
Super Heavy Weight Over 265 lbs
MMA Weight Classes for Women
Class Weight Range
Fly weight up to 95 lbs
Bantam weight 95.1-105 lbs
Featherweight 105.1 – 115 lbs
Lightweight 115.1-125 lbs
Middleweight 125.1 – 135 lbs
Middleweight 135.1 – 145 lbs
Light Heavyweight 145.1-155 lbs
Cruiserweight 155.1–165 lbs
Heavyweight 165.1-185 lbs
Super Heavy Weight Over 185 lbs
MMA no-nos in combat
Although every MMA fighting organization has its own rules, some global violations do exist. It’s listed in the MMA Standard Rules, but here’s a quick look at what’s not allowed:
No groin attacks.
No knees to the head on a grounded opponent.
No strikes to the back of the head or the spine.
No head butts. (Sorry, soccer fans.)
No eye gouging.
No fish hooking.
No fingers in an opponent’s orifices. (Eww!)
No biting.
No hair pulling. (Besides, that’s so second grade.)
No strikes or grabbing of the throat.
No manipulation of the fingers or toes.
No intentional grabbing of the ring or cage.
No intentional throwing of your opponent outside of the ring or cage. (That stuff belongs in professional wrestling.)
Accidentally performing one of these actions in a fight earns you an automatic warning from the referee. If your opponent was injured from your accidental action, they’ll get five minutes to recover.
Approved ways to end an MMA fight
An MMA competition can end in one of several ways:
Decision. If a fight lasts all rounds, the outcome is decided by three judges. Each fighting promotion has its own unique point system.
Disqualification (DQ). Think of this as a sort of “three strikes and you’re out” policy. Each time a fighter engages in an illegal move, they receive a warning. After three warnings, they’re disqualified. A DQ can also be called if a fighter has been injured by an illegal move that seemed intentional.
Forfeit. A fighter can announce a forfeit before a match begins if they’re injured.
Knockout (KO). A knockout is when a fighter loses consciousness thanks to their opponent’s strikes.
No contest. If both fighters violate the rules, or if a fighter is injured by an unintentional illegal action, a no-contest call can result. No contest is rarely called in MMA fights.
Submission. If one fighter achieves a submission hold, the fighter trapped in the hold can call defeat by tapping out on his opponent’s body or the mat, or by making a verbal announcement. Some defeated fighters fail to tap out and become incapacitated. In such cases, the referee calls an end to the fight.
Technical knockout (TKO). A technical knockout, when a fight is ended by the referee, doctor, or fighter’s corner, can be called in a few ways. The referee can call one when a fighter is no longer defending themself, usually due to an effective attack by their opponent.
A doctor can also call a TKO if it’s clear that continuing the fight could be dangerous. And finally, a fighter’s corner can throw in a towel to admit defeat, resulting in a TKO.