Fouls; acts constituting fouls
Register checked through August 19, 2026/Vol. XLVIII, Issue 33
No later Register activity identified in this check.
Dates and status
- Compiling agency
- Department of State
- Text status
- Phase2b Dequote Reversal
- Register checked through
- August 19, 2026/Vol. XLVIII, Issue 33
- Activity status
- No later Register activity identified in this check.
- Latest notice
- ATH-46-24-00024-A · Adopted rule · Feb 12, 2025
- Source snapshot
- May 19, 2026
This stored compiled body is source-caveated. Its source-observation date and the separate State Register currentness check describe different evidence.
(a)During a match, only the referee can assess a foul, and the referee shall determine whether an assessed foul is accidental or intentional. If the referee does not call the foul, judges must not make that assessment on their own and should not factor such into their scoring calculations. If a foul is committed, the referee shall call timeout, order the offending combatant to a neutral location, check the fouled combatant's condition and safety, and shall then assess the foul to the offending contestant and deduct points or impose disqualification if the referee deems it appropriate, and notify the commission, the corners, the official scorekeeper of his decision on whether the foul was accidental or intentional and whether any point deduction or disqualification is imposed. Disqualification from a mixed martial arts contest or exhibition may occur after any combination of fouls or after a flagrant foul, as determined by the referee. Fouls may result in points being deducted by the official scorekeeper from the offending combatant’s score, as determined by the referee. Where points are deducted, the scorekeeper, not the judges, will be responsible for calculating the true score after factoring in the point deduction.
(b)The following acts constitute fouls in a professional mixed martial arts contest or exhibition:
(1)butting with the head;
(2)eye gouging of any kind;
(3)biting;
(4)hair pulling;
(5)fishhooking;
(6)groin attacks of any kind;
(7)putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent;
(8)small joint manipulation;
(9)striking to the spine or the back of the head;
(10)striking downward using the point of the elbow;
(11)throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea;
(12)clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh;
(13)effective until January 1, 2017, grabbing the clavicle. Effective on and after January 1, 2017, extended fingers. In the standing position, a fighter that moves their arm(s) toward their opponent with an open hand, fingers pointing at the opponent’s face/eyes, will be a foul. Referees are to prevent this dangerous behavior by communicating clearly to fighters. Fighters are directed to close their fists or point their fingers straight in the air when reaching toward their opponent;
(14)kicking the head of a grounded opponent;
(15)kneeing the head of a grounded opponent;
(16)stomping a grounded opponent;
(17)effective until January 1, 2017, kicking to the kidney with the heel;
(18)spiking an opponent to the floor surface on his head or neck;
(19)throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area;
(20)holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent;
(21)spitting at an opponent;
(22)engaging in any type of unsportsmanlike conduct, especially that which may cause an injury to an opponent;
(23)holding the ropes or the fence;
(24)using abusive language in the ring or fenced area;
(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 of competition;
(28)disregarding the instructions of the referee;
(29)timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece, or faking an injury;
(30)interference by the corner, including throwing in the towel. Team members including cornermen and trainers shall stay in their designated area at all times during an event;
(31)applying any foreign substance to the hair, body, clothing or gloves immediately prior to or during a contest or exhibition that could result in an unfair advantage.
(c)If a fighter is fouled by a blow that the referee deems illegal, the referee should stop the action and call for time, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d) of this section. The referee may take the fighter to the ringside doctor and have the ringside doctor examine the fighter as to their ability to continue on in the contest. The ringside doctor has up to five minutes to make their determination. If the ringside doctor determines that the fighter can continue in the contest, the referee shall as soon as practical restart the fight. Unlike the low blow foul rule provided in 212.11(e) of this Part, the fighter does not have up to five minutes of time to use, at their discretion, and must continue the fight when instructed to by the referee. If the referee stops a contest and employs the use of the ringside doctor during the contest, the ringside physician's examinations shall not exceed five minutes. If five minutes is exceeded, the fight cannot be re-started and the contest must end.
(d)If a bottom contestant commits a foul, unless the top contestant is injured, the contest will continue and the referee will verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul. When the round is over, the referee will assess the foul and notify the commission, the corners, the judges and the official scorekeeper. The referee may terminate a contest based on the severity of a foul, as determined by the referee. For such a flagrant foul, the contestant committing the foul shall lose by disqualification.