Presently, there is a trend among many states to legalize as well as sanction the MMA or the mixed martial arts events. There is however a certain bunch of Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that are drawn up by the CSAC or the California State Athletic Commission. This is also codified by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission in the year 2000. The aforementioned rules are also adopted by the Nevada Athletic Commission later in the year 2001. These norms and rules are also quickly becoming the standard to safeguard the fighters involved in the matches. The MMA like all other sporting events also has a set of rules and an improper following of the rules may result in disqualification. As it can be understood, that MMA is also a sport and not ‘fighting’ or a brawl. The athletes train themselves hard for months before becoming a MMA performer. What they do in the ring is the result of hard work, tedious training and determination.
Mixed Martial Arts Unified Rules
There are a few Weight Classes in MMA. The Mixed Martial Artists also have a few weight classifications like boxing or wrestling and the performers are classified on the basis of their physical mass. Mixed martial artists are broadly divided into Flyweight and this is one category that is less than 125.9 pounds. Then there’s the Bantamweight that ranges from 126 to 134.9 pounds. The next is the featherweight ranging from the 135 to 144.9 pounds and then there is the Lightweight category of 145 to 154.9 pounds. The other categories also include Welterweight ranging from 155 to 169.9 pounds, Middleweight from 170 to 184.9 pounds, Light Heavyweight from the 185 to 204.9 pounds, the Heavyweight category of 204 to 264.9 pounds and finally the Super Heavyweight that stands at over a 265 pound weight limit.
The MMA Fighting Area also has a few constraints as well as a few rules that are need to be applied so as to uphold a proper MMA performance. The fighting area canvas of MMA should not be any smaller than 18 feet by 18 feet. At the same time, it should not be larger than an accurate 32 feet by 32 feet. The canvas in the fighting area is padded in a way as is approved by the Commissioner of the games. The fighting area canvass should also have with at least an inch layer of foam padding. The padding should also extend beyond the fighting area and should be over the edge of the fighting platform. Any sort of vinyl and other forms of plastic rubberized covering isn’t allowed. The MMA fighting area canvas must not be more than four feet above the floor of the building. It shall also have many suitable steps or rather a ramp to be used by the participants. The posts should be made of metal. Each post should not more than six inches in diameter. Each post should simply extend from the floor of the building in which the event takes place to a height of 58 inches minimum, right above the fighting area canvas. These also should be properly padded in the manner that has to be approved by the Commissioner. It is also necessary that the fighting area canvas should be enclosed by a certain fence made of a certain material that will not make a MMA fighter to fall out absolutely through it right onto the floor or spectators. All the metal parts are to be covered and padded in such a manner as per the Commissioner’s approval. The metal parts most definitely should not be abrasive to the fighters or hurt them in any way. The aforementioned fence also provides a couple of separate entries right into the fighting area canvas.
The MMA also has rules for the usage of the Stools. A certain ring stool of a certain type is provided that is duly approved by the Commissioner and is available for each fighter. A certain number of stools or chairs shall be available to every fighter’s seconds. The aforementioned stools or chairs are to be duly approved of by the commissioner and these pieces of furniture shall be located near each and every fighter’s corner.
Every stools as well as chairs that are used in every MMA match are to be absolutely cleaned or replaced after each fight ends. For every fight, the fight promoter shall provide a clean water bucket along with a
clean plastic water bottle in every corner.
In every weight class, the bandages on the fighter’s hands are soft gauze cloth that is no way more than 13 yards in length and just a couple of inches in width and the Surgeon’s adhesive tape is to be placed directly on each hand of the fighter so as to protect the area near the wrist.
