Section 5: Rules of Play
Bout Structure
Non-championship UFC bouts consist of three rounds. UFC championship bouts and main events designated by UFC consist of five rounds. Each round is five minutes in duration, with a one-minute rest period between rounds.
Weight Classes
Competitors are matched within established weight classes. The Unified Rules of MMA recognize the following weight classes for professional male and female competition:
- Strawweight: Up to 115 lbs (52.2 kg)
- Flyweight: Over 115 lbs up to 125 lbs (56.7 kg)
- Bantamweight: Over 125 lbs up to 135 lbs (61.2 kg)
- Featherweight: Over 135 lbs up to 145 lbs (65.8 kg)
- Lightweight: Over 145 lbs up to 155 lbs (70.3 kg)
- Welterweight: Over 155 lbs up to 170 lbs (77.1 kg)
- Middleweight: Over 170 lbs up to 185 lbs (83.9 kg)
- Light Heavyweight: Over 185 lbs up to 205 lbs (93.0 kg)
- Heavyweight: Over 205 lbs up to 265 lbs (120.2 kg)
- Super Heavyweight: Over 265 lbs (120.2 kg) — open weight
Permissible Techniques
MMA permits a broad range of techniques from standing and ground positions. Permissible techniques generally include:
- Punches, open-hand strikes, and hammer fists to legal target areas
- Elbow strikes, including downward-pointing strikes (the 12-to-6 elbow ban was officially removed effective November 1, 2024)
- Knee strikes to standing opponents (subject to grounded opponent restrictions)
- Kicks to standing and grounded opponents (subject to restrictions on head kicks to grounded opponents)
- Takedowns and throws
- Clinch work and dirty boxing
- Ground-and-pound (strikes to a grounded opponent within legal parameters)
- Submission holds, including joint locks and chokeholds
Grounded Opponent Definition (Updated November 2024)
A fighter is considered "grounded" when any part of their body other than their hands or feet is touching the canvas. This updated definition, effective November 1, 2024, replaced the previous rule under which merely placing a hand on the mat was sufficient to be considered grounded. The change eliminates the tactic of fighters placing a single hand on the mat to protect themselves from knees and kicks to the head. Specific restrictions apply to strikes against grounded opponents, including prohibitions on kneeing and kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
Starting and Stopping the Bout
The referee starts each round with the command "Fight!" and pauses or stops action with the command "Stop!" Competitors must cease action immediately upon the referee's command. Failure to do so upon the sounding of the bell or the referee's command constitutes a foul.
Ways a Bout May End
- Knockout (KO): A competitor is rendered unconscious or unable to continue due to strikes.
- Technical Knockout (TKO): The referee stops the bout because a competitor cannot intelligently defend themselves, or the ringside physician or corner stops the fight.
- Submission: A competitor verbally or physically "taps out," or the referee stops the bout because a submission hold is locked in and the competitor is in danger of serious injury.
- Judge's Decision: The bout goes the scheduled distance and is decided by the judges' scorecards (unanimous decision, split decision, or majority decision).
- Draw: The judges' scores are equal at the end of the bout.
- No Contest: The bout is stopped due to an accidental foul that renders a competitor unable to continue, or due to other circumstances that prevent the bout from reaching a fair conclusion.
- Disqualification: A competitor is disqualified for committing fouls as determined by the referee.