(6) After having communicated with the promoter, the commissioner or department representative shall have the sole discretion as to whether to cancel a bout if a contestant does not make weight.
(7) There may not be a difference of more than 3 pounds between weight classes from straw weight up to the bantamweight class for fighters competing in two different weight classes.
(8) There may not be a difference of more than 5 pounds between weight classes from featherweight up to the welterweight class for fighters competing in two different weight classes.
(9) There may not be a difference of more than 7 pounds between weight classes from middleweight up to the superheavyweight class for fighters competing in two different weight classes.
Note: Examples of the difference between weight classes: A fighter weighing 134 pounds in the bantamweight class may not compete against an opponent who weighs more than 137 pounds in the featherweight class. A fighter weighing 184 pounds in the middleweight class may not compete against an opponent who weighs more than 191 pounds in the light heavyweight class.
(10) A one-pound weight variance is allowed for all weight classes for all bouts except title bouts and catch-weight bouts.
(11) A contestant in the welterweight class or lower may not lose more than 2 pounds within 1 hour. A contestant above the welterweight class may not lose more than 3 pounds within 1 hour.
(12) Weight allowances between weight classes do not apply to contestants in a title bout.
(13) The final agreement between a contestant and a promoter shall be provided to the department no later than 4 business days before the official weigh-in.
(14) Contestants who fail to arrive at their report time for weigh-in will be subject to a suspension of up to 120 days, as reported in the Association of Boxing Commissions’ mixed martial arts national database.
(15) Contestants who fail to make their contracted weight within 1 hour of their official weigh-in will be subject to a suspension of up to 120 days, as reported in the Association of Boxing Commissions’ national database.
Table A
Weight class | Weight | Allowance | Glove size |
Straw weight | up to and including 115 lbs. | 3 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Flyweight | over 115 to 125 lbs. | 3 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Bantamweight | over 125 to 135 lbs. | 3 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Featherweight | over 135 to 145 lbs. | 5 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Lightweight | over 145 to 155 lbs. | 5 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Welterweight | over 155 to 170 lbs. | 5 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Middleweight | over 170 to 185 lbs. | 7 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Light Heavyweight | over 185 to 205 lbs. | 7 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Heavyweight | over 205 to 265 lbs. | 7 lbs. | 4 to 8 oz. |
Super Heavyweight | over 265 lbs. | | 4 to 8 oz. |
SPS 192.44 Judging and scoring.
(1) All bouts will be scored by 3 judges.
(2) The ten-point must scoring system as defined in the ABC's unified rules shall be the standard system of scoring a bout. The winner of the round shall be awarded 10 points, and the loser of the round shall be awarded 9 points or less, except for the rare occasion of an even round, that is scored 10 to 10.
(3) Only the referee may assess a foul or any point deductions. Judges may not deduct points for what they interpret is a foul.
SPS 192.45 Fouls.
(1) The referee may caution, warn, or penalize a contestant for committing a foul.
(2) The penalty for a foul may be a deduction of points or disqualification. Any points deducted for a foul shall be deducted in the round in which the foul occurred. Disqualification may occur after multiple fouls or if the referee determines a foul is flagrant.
(3) If a bottom contestant commits a foul and in the referee's judgment is not in control, unless the top contestant is injured, the bout shall continue so as not to jeopardize the top contestant's superior positioning at the time.
(4) The referee shall verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.
(5) If an injury results from a foul and is severe enough to terminate the bout, the contestant causing the injury loses by disqualification.
(6) If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, a mandatory 2-point penalty shall be assessed to the contestant committing the foul.
(7) If an injury sustained by a contestant as a result of an intentional foul causes the contestant to be unable to continue at a subsequent point, the injured contestant shall win by a technical decision, if they are ahead on the score cards. If the injured contestant is even or behind on the score card at the time of the stoppage, the bout shall be declared a technical draw.
(8) If a bout is stopped because of an unintentional foul, the referee shall determine whether the contestant who has been fouled can continue or not. If the contestant's chance of winning has not been seriously jeopardized as a result of the foul, and if the foul did not involve concussive impact to the head of the contestant who has been fouled, the referee may order the bout continued after a recuperative interval of not more than 5 minutes. Immediately after stopping the bout or at the end of the round, the referee shall immediately inform the inspector, commissioner, or department representative of their determination that the foul was accidental and unintentional.
(9) If the referee determines either from their observation or that of the ringside physician that the bout may not continue because of the injury from the unintentional foul, the bout shall be declared a no contest if the foul occurred before completion of the first 2 rounds of a non-championship bout, or before completion of the first 3 rounds of a championship bout.
(10) If an unintentional foul renders the contestant unable to continue the bout, or an injury from an intentional foul later becomes aggravated by fair blows and the referee stops the bout because of the injury, after the completion of the second round in a non-championship bout or 3-round bout, or after the completion of the third round of a championship bout or 5-round bout, the outcome shall be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the partial round at which the referee stopped the bout.
(11) A contestant may not be declared the winner of a bout on the basis of their claim that the opponent fouled them unintentionally by hitting them in the groin. If after a recuperative interval of not more than 5 minutes a contestant is unwilling to continue because of the claim of being hit in the groin, the bout will be declared a no contest if the second round has not been completed in a 3-round bout or the third round has not been completed in a 5-round bout.
(12) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), types of fouls in a mixed martial arts bout are those identified in the ABC’s unified rules for mixed martial arts.
(b) Illegal strikes to the back of the head, resulting in a foul, include strikes in the nape of the neck area up to the top of the ears, and strikes in the Mohawk area from the top of the ears to the crown of the head, or the area where the head begins to curve, as specified in the ABC’s unified rules.
(c) The following are additional fouls for amateur contestants:
1. Elbow or forearm strikes.
2. Knee strikes to the head at any time.
3. Neck cranks or any hold that places a contestant's neck in jeopardy from a crank.
4. All leg submissions except kneebar and straight ankle locks.
5. Hand chokes.
6. Striking against the knees including all strikes to or around the knee joint.
7. Spinal cranks or locks.
SPS 192.46 Mouthpiece. All contestants shall wear a mouthpiece during competition. The round may not begin without the mouthpiece. If the mouthpiece is dislodged during competition, the referee shall call time and have the mouthpiece replaced at the first opportune moment, without interfering with the immediate action. The referee may deduct points or disqualify a contestant if the mouthpiece is repeatedly dislodged or it is judged the mouthpiece is being purposely spit out.
SPS 192.47 Appearance and attire.
(1) Male contestants shall wear a groin protector that will protect them against injury from a foul blow.
(2) Female contestants may wear groin and breast protectors.
(3) Each contestant shall wear mixed martial arts shorts, biking shorts, or kickboxing shorts. Shorts shall be approved by the inspector or department representative.
(4) Male contestants may not wear a shirt, Gi, or other top.
(5) Female contestants shall wear a short-sleeved or sleeveless form-fitting rash guard, a sports bra, or both. Padding for a sports bra shall be secured to the fabric of the bra. Loose fitting tops are prohibited.
(6) No shoes are permitted.
(7) No grappling shin guards are permitted.
(8) No piercing accessories are permitted.
(9) No body grease, gels, balms, oils, or lotions may be applied to the hair, face or body. This includes the use of excessive amounts of water dumped on a contestant to make him or her slippery.
(10) Vaseline® jelly or other petroleum jelly may be applied to the facial area, but only from the cheekbone area to the forehead, at cage side in the presence of an inspector, referee, or a person designated by the department. Any contestant applying anything other than petroleum jelly in an approved fashion prior to this may be penalized a point or disqualified. Petroleum jelly may be applied in between rounds to address a cut, but may not be reapplied to the entire facial area.
(11) Taping of hands, wrists, and ankles is permitted.
(12) Only neoprene joint supports may be used. Metal supports are prohibited.
(13) Fingernails and toenails shall be trimmed.
(14) The inspector or department representative shall determine whether head or facial hair presents any hazard to the safety of the contestant or their opponent or will interfere with the supervision and conduct of the event. Facial hair may not be braided.
(15) Contestants may not wear any equipment that fails to receive approval from the inspector or department representative.
(16) Amateur contestants shall wear mixed martial arts shorts, biking shorts, or boxing or kickboxing shorts during competition that will be subject to the approval of a department representative. The shorts may not have pockets, buttons, zippers, grommets, exposed hook-and-loop fasteners, or metal of any kind.
(17) Amateur contestants may not wear padding on their feet during a bout. Ankle guards or neoprene knee wraps are optional, and shall be approved by the department.
SPS 192.48 Gloves.
(1) All non-amateur contestants shall wear grappling gloves that weigh a minimum of 4 ounces and not more than 8 ounces. Amateur contestants shall wear gloves that weigh a minimum of 6 ounces and a maximum of 8 ounces.
(2) Gloves shall be supplied by the promoter. Contestants are not permitted to supply their own gloves. Gloves shall be new the first time they are being inspected by the department representative. Once inspected, new gloves may not be used more than three times. Used gloves may not be worn for title bouts. The promoter shall supply new gloves for both contestants competing in any title bout including state bouts.
(3) Both contestants in a bout shall wear gloves of the same weight.
(4) Each contestant's gloves shall be inspected and approved by the inspector, referee, or department representative prior to the contestants’ pre-bout rule meeting.
(5) Amateur contestants may use a mitt-style glove.
SPS 192.49 Preparation of hands.
(1) Contestants may wrap their hands with gauze and tape prior to a bout. Contestants choosing to not wrap hands prior to a bout shall notify the inspector or department representative.
(2) Contestant's shall use soft gauze cloth not more than 15 yards in length and 2 inches in width for each hand, held in place by not more than 10 feet of surgeon's tape one inch in width for each hand.
(3) No substances, liquid or material other than approved surgeon's tape and gauze are allowed.
(4) The manager or chief second of the opponent may elect to be present when hands are being wrapped and gloves placed on a contestant.
(5) Gauze and surgeon's tape shall be placed on the contestant's hands in the dressing room in the presence of the inspector or department representative, who shall inspect and initial each legally wrapped hand.
(6) Surgeon's tape shall be placed directly on each hand for protection near the wrist. The tape may not extend within an inch of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist.
(7) One strip of tape may be used between the fingers to hold down the bandages. Tape strips may be folded once, but braiding of tape strips is prohibited.
(8) Gloves shall be placed on a contestant's hands in the dressing room in the presence of the inspector or department representative.
(9) The wrist portion of a contestant’s gloves shall be sealed with identifying red or blue duct tape and initialed by the inspector or department representative.
SPS 192.50 Requirements for cage area.
(1) All mixed martial arts bouts shall take place in a cage or fenced area that has been approved by the department and is subject to inspection prior to each bout by the referee, inspector, or department representative.
(2) Mixed martial arts bouts may not be conducted in a ring.
(3) The fighting-area floor shall be no smaller than 18 feet in diameter and no larger than 36 feet in diameter.
(4) The fighting-area floor shall be padded in a manner approved by the department, with at least a one-inch layer of foam padding. Padding shall extend beyond the fighting area and over the edge of the platform.
(5) The fighting-area floor shall not be more than 4 feet above the floor of the building and shall have 2 sets of suitable steps or ramps for use by the contestants.
(6) Posts shall be made of metal not more than 6 inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a minimum height of 58 inches above the fighting-area floor and shall be properly padded in a manner approved by the department.
(7) The fighting area shall be enclosed by a fence made of material, such as vinyl-coated chain-link fencing, that will not allow a contestant to fall out or break through it onto the building floor or spectators.
(8) All metal parts shall be covered and padded in a manner approved by the department and may not be abrasive to the contestants.
(9) The fighting area shall have 2 separate entries onto the fighting-area floor.
SPS 192.51 Corner equipment.
