Section 4: Players/Officials
Participants
Each match consists of two unarmed participants who must be at least 18 years of age. Participants must be licensed by the applicable athletic commission and must pass all required medical examinations. Participants must weigh in prior to the match within their designated weight class, which follows the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts weight classes. Catchweight matches are permitted.
Weight Penalty
Any participant who does not make weight by the weigh-in deadline forfeits 20% of their purse to their opponent on the first offense, and 30% for each additional offense thereafter.
Corners and Coaches
The Promoter may permit participants to have at least one corner or coach beside the stage during the match. Alternatively, the Promoter may provide a neutral corner or coach. Corners and coaches may only provide verbal instructions and may use a towel to wipe chalk from the participant's face. Between slaps, corners may go on the stage adjacent to stairs and chalk stands to provide instructions.
Match Officials
- Primary Referee: Granted full authority over the match. Responsible for enforcing all rules, administering counts, assessing fouls, and determining fitness to continue.
- Secondary Referee: Sole authority to call stepping fouls, confer with the primary referee, and assist in lower body positioning instructions (such as setting a Permitted Defensive Position).
- Judges (3): Three judges score each round independently using the 10-Point Must System.
- Replay Official: When replay is in effect, the replay official observes the match on a dedicated monitor to identify instances requiring review. Reviews are conducted under a "clear and convincing evidence" standard. All match-ending sequences are reviewed.