IN ADDITION TO THE
ISCF RULES & REGULATIONS
PLEASE NOTE THE ADDED

FLORIDA
AMATEUR
MMA RULES

UPDATED ON JANUARY 10th, 2012
Below are rules that may be in addition to ISCF Amateur MMA Rules
To Review the Official USA MMA ISCF RULES & REGULATIONS CLICK HERE

• MEDICAL
  • FIGHTERS BLOOD WORK
    • All fighters will receive an onsite physical examination clearing them to compete performed by a medical doctor (MD or DO).
    • Each fighter must submit a copy of a negative blood test (HIV Hep B & C) no older than six months from the date of the bout.
    • All female fighters will be required to take a pregnancy test. Pregnant women will not be allowed to compete.
    • Fighters 35 and over will be subject to additional medical testing requirements; including:
      • Normal EKG less than six months old and a letter from the fighters personal physician clearing them to compete.
        
        

• FIGHTER MEMBERSHIP
  • Must be registered and licensed with the ISCF.
    • Click HERE.
      
      
• FIGHTERS AGE
  • Must be a minimum of 18 years old.
    
    
• FIGHTERS DRESS CODE
  • MEN
    • No Shoes
    • No Foot Pads.
    • No Shirts
    • No long pants - Shorts only
      
      
• EQUIPMENT
  • GLOVES
    Minimum of 7 ounces. Approved ISCF Gloves ONLY! Provided by the Promoter.
    • 7 Ounce Amateur MMA Competition Gloves
      
      
  • SHIN & INSTEP PADS.
    Approved ISCF Gloves ONLY! Provided by the Promoter.
    • Must have several sets in Red and in Blue to designate corner colors.
      
      
• DURATION OF BOUTS
  • Each match is scheduled for three (3) - three (3) minute rounds.
  • Rest periods will be no shorter than one (1) minute between rounds.
    
    
• LEGAL TECHNIQUES WHILE STANDING
  • All closed hand strikes are allowed to the legs, body and **Head.
  • All kicks are allowed to the legs, body and **Head.
    • (**) HEAD STRIKES: STANDING ONLY - SEE BELOW: KNOCKDOWNS BY STRIKE.
  • Knees to the legs and body. NO Knees to head.
  • Throws/ Takes Downs/ Sweeps/ Slams
  • All standing submissions
  • Chokes
  • Arm Bars and Locks
  • Shouldering
    • KNOCKDOWNS BY STRIKE
      • Once any part of the fighters body other than the bottoms of their feet touch the mat, then the standing fighter cannot strike them to the head, only to the body.
      • Although no other state has an "8 Count" rule for MMA, the State of Florida has added one.
        • The referee can step in and give a standing 8 count if he/ she feels the fighter is hurt.
        • If a legal punch/ kick or knee knocks their opponent down, the action will NOT continue.
          The standing fighter will be sent to the neutral corner and the referee will begin the 10 count like in Boxing and Kickboxing.
          The fighter MUST be up and ready to continue by the count of 8 or the fighter is over.
    • SPINNING BACKHAND
      • Spinning backhand/fist was not listed on the approved techniques list of rules for the state of Florida.
        
        
• LEGAL TECHNIQUES WHILE ON THE GROUND
  • All closed hand strikes to the legs and body. NO STRIKING TO THE HEAD IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA!
  • All Submissions, Chokes/ Arm Bars & Locks: Straight Leg Locks Only! (No Heel Hooks & Toe Holds)
    • The Florida rules do not address:
      • If one (1) fighter is on the ground and the other is standing if or not both fighters are allowed to throw kicks to the legs.
        The Florida Rules also do not address Knees to the body and legs while on the ground.
        This being said, we are left to believe that these would fouls.
        
        
• ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES WHILE STANDING (FOULS)
  • Elbows
  • Knees to the head
  • Linear/ straight kicks to the knees
  • Stomps on the feet
  • Groin strikes
  • Intentionally hitting the back of the head
  • Spine or Kidney Strikes
  • Excessive Slamming ( Moving forward once an opponent is elevated in order to create more damage from the takedown.)
  • Throws onto the head or neck (spiking)
  • Throws against a joint
  • Throwing the opponent out of competition area: The ring or cage
  • Neck cranks (Turning the neck)
  • Holding ropes or cage
  • Pinching, Biting, Gouging and anything that might be considered "dirty fighting".
  • Fish hooking
  • Grabbing or holding the uniform or protective padding.
    • In addition to the above Rules, the following are ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES under ISCF Rules
      • Head Butting
      • Eye Gouging
      • Hair Pulling
      • Putting a finger into any orifice or into a cut.
      • NO Heel Hooks or Toe Holds (Twisting against the knee)
      • Choking with the hand on the throat or grabbing the trachea
      • Smothering (Hand over the mouth)
      • Small joint manipulation
      • Clawing, Twisting or pinching the flesh
      • Grabbing the clavicle
      • Spitting
        
        
• ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES WHILE WHILE ON THE GROUND (FOULS)
  • Any striking to the head
  • Elbow strikes.
  • Neck cranks (Twisting the neck)
  • Heel hooks
  • Finger locks
  • Toe locks
  • Choking with hand on throat
  • Smothering (Hand over mouth)
  • Spine locks
  • fish hooks
  • Groin strikes
  • Spine strikes
  • Throwing the opponent out of competition area: The ring/ cage
  • Pinching, Biting, Gouging and anything that might be considered "dirty fighting".
  • Fish hooking
  • Grabbing or holding the uniform or protective padding.

PROMOTERS

• MEDICAL
  • There will be a minimum of one medical doctor (MD or DO) at cage-side or ringside during all bouts.
    • It is highly recommended that two physicians be in attendance so that if one must leave cage-side the event may continue.
  • Competition may not occur in the cage/ring if the physician is not present at ringside.
  • There will be a minimum of two licensed paramedics or EMT's in attendance at the event with at least one of these present at ring/cage-side while competition is occurring.
  • These paramedics/EMT will have in the facility, at cage-side all equipment necessary for treatment and or transportation of an injured athlete, including: Oxygen, Backboard and Neck Collar.
  • There will be an ambulance (mobile medical unit) on site at all times during the event.
  • If an athlete needs to use the ambulance for transport to the hospital another unit must arrive before the competition can continue.
    • Fighters OVER 35 YEARS OF AGE:
      • Fighters 35 and over will be subject to additional medical testing requirements; including a normal EKG less than six months old and a letter from the fighters personal physician clearing them to compete.
      • For additional age requirements see the ISCF FIGHTER MEDICAL TEST REQUIREMENTS PAGE - CLICK HERE.
        
        
• FIGHT CARD
  • The fight card must be submitted to the ISCF 1 week prior to the event for approval.
  • The matches will be evaluated to make certain that the matches are suitable, that all fighters are amateurs, and that none are under suspension.
  • Any changes to the fight card will be subject to the approval of the ISCF and/or their ISCF Event Representative.
  • The promoter is responsible for guaranteeing that each fight camp is fully informed regarding the following;
    • Their opponent.
    • The weight limit set for the match.
    • The length of the match.
    • The specific rules governing that match.
    • General event schedule to include mandatory report times for things such as pre fight rules meeting.
      
      
• EQUIPMENT
  • PROMOTER PROVIDES ALL GLOVES: Minimum of 7 ounces. Approved ISCF Gloves ONLY!
  • PROMOTER PROVIDES ALL SHIN & INSTEP PADS. Approved ISCF Gloves ONLY!
    • Must have several sets in Red and in Blue to designate corner colors.
    
    
    
• FIGHT AREA
  • CAGE
    • Must be a minimum of 18' x 18'.
    • NO VINYL or plastic rubberized covering will be permitted.
    • Must be Canvas
    • Minimum 30 inches above the arena floor.
    • Must be swept, dry-mopped, or otherwise adequately cleaned before the event and prior to the fights.
  • RING
    • Must be a minimum of 18' x 18'.
    • Must have "5" Ropes.
    • Ring floor must extend beyond the ropes a minimum of 18 inches from the ropes to the outer edge of the ring floor.
    • NO VINYL or plastic rubberized covering will be permitted.
    • Must be Canvas
    • Minimum 30 inches above the arena floor.
    • Must be swept, dry-mopped, or otherwise adequately cleaned before the event and prior to the fights.

• FIGHTER INSURANCE
  
  
  • Health and Accidental Death Benefit Policy for Athletes: $10K minimum.
    • Claims forms with the promoter information and policy number already written in shall be provided to the ringside physician prior to the start of the event. The promoter is responsible for the payment of the deductible amounts for any injured athletes if their personal insurance doesn't cover said medical expense.
      
      
      • UPDATED JULY, 2011
        For a $10,000.00 policy on an ISCF Sanctioned event the insurance fees are:
        1. *$565.00 Premium for a $2,500.00 deductible policy: 20 Bout Limit Per Event or 40 Fighters.
        2. *$630.00 Premium for a $2,000.00 deductible policy: 20 Bout Limit Per Event or 40 Fighters.
        3. *$720.00 Premium for a $1,500.00 deductible policy: 20 Bout Limit Per Event or 40 Fighters.
        4. *$775.00 Premium for a $1,000.00 deductible policy: 20 Bout Limit Per Event or 40 Fighters.
        5. *$880.00 Premium for a $500.00 deductible policy: 20 Bout Limit Per Event or 40 Fighters.
           
           
           • Click HERE.
             
             
  • General Liability Insurance Policy naming sanction body as co-insured: $1 Million per claim / $2 Million aggregate minimum.
    • For ISCF Sanctioned Events, *$450.00, Click HERE.
      
      
  • (*) There are several different companies that do fighter and event liability insurance. It is always the promoters choice as to which insurance company they will purchase their event insurance from. The ISCF has always worked closely with FL Dean. For ISCF Sanctioned Event Insurance Fees using FL Dean Click HERE.