Mich. Admin. Code R. 339.232 - Fouls; mixed martial arts

Rule 232.

(1) A referee of a mixed martial arts contest may disqualify or penalize a contestant by deducting points from a round for any of the following fouls:
(a) Holding or grabbing the fence.
(b) Holding opponent's shorts or gloves.
(c) The presence of more than 1 second on the cage area perimeter during a round.
(d) The presence of more than 2 seconds inside the ring or cage during a rest period or more than 2 seconds on the ring or cage perimeter.
(e) Butting with the head.
(f) Eye gouging of any kind.
(g) Biting or spitting at an opponent.
(h) Hair pulling.
(i) Fish hooking.
(j) Groin attacks of any kind.
(k) Intentionally placing a finger in any opponent's orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
(l) Downward pointing of elbow strikes.
(m) Small joint manipulation.
(n) Strikes to the spine or back of the head.
(o) Heel kicks to the kidney.
(p) Throat strikes of any kind, including, but not limited to, grabbing the trachea.
(q) Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle.
(r) Kicking the head of a grounded contestant.
(s) Kneeing the head of a grounded contestant.
(t) Stomping of a grounded contestant.
(u) The use of abusive language in competing area.
(v) Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent.
(w) Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
(x) Attacking an opponent who is under the referee's care at the time.
(y) Timidity, for example, avoiding contact, consistent dropping of mouthpiece, or faking an injury.
(z) Interference from a second.
(aa) Throwing an opponent out of the cage.
(bb) Intentional disregard of the referee's instructions.
(cc) Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his or her head or neck.
(dd) Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the round.
(ee) While in a standing position, movement of arm or arms with open hands towards an opponent with fingers outstretched towards an opponent's face or eyes.
(2) Disqualification occurs after any combination of 3 of the fouls listed in subrule (1) of this rule or after a referee determines that a foul is intentional.
(3) Fouls result in a point being deducted from the offending contestant's score.
(4) Only a referee may assess a foul.
(5) A fouled contestant has up to 5 minutes to recover.
(6) If the referee assesses a foul, the referee shall do all of the following:
(a) Call time.
(b) Check the fouled contestant's condition and safety.
(c) Assess the foul to the offending contestant, deduct points, and notify each corner's second, the judges, and the department representative responsible for tabulating scores.
(7) If a bottom contestant commits a foul, unless the top contestant is injured, the contest will continue so as not to jeopardize the top contestant's superior positioning at the time. In addition, the referee shall do both of the following:
(a) Verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.
(b) At the end of the round, assess the foul to the offending contestant, deduct points, and notify each corner's second, the judges, and the department representative responsible for tabulating scores.
(8) The referee may terminate a contest based on the severity of the foul. If the referee deems the foul intentional, the contestant shall lose by disqualification.

Notes

Mich. Admin. Code R. 339.232
2009 AACS; 2019 AACS; 2023 MR 6, Eff. 3/21/2023

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