ISCF
Safety Time Rule
-STR-

TUESDAY, December 18th, 2007, AT 6:15 PM, PT

More Safety... And Accountability.

Over the last year we have come across situations where a fighter has fought as a Professional MMA Fighter one night, and turned around and fought as a Amateur MMA fighter the same weekend. We have also seen a fighter get Knocked Out, or stopped due to strikes, and turn around and fight as quickly as the next night.

When this happens, it makes it nearly impossible for "ANY" Sanctioning body to assure a fighter is an AMATEUR for an Amateur bout or assure a fighters medical safety because there is no time between the two fights to report the results to inform those associated with the next event. Worse yet, if a fighter is knocked out, or stopped due to excessive strikes, it allows for no time for the fighter to be evaluated by a licensed physician to assure his safety for the next fight he/she has booked.

Because of this, we here at the ISCF are taking a pro-active move for the safety of the Amateur Fighter, as well as Pro Fighters.

Beginning January 1st, 2008, the ISCF will implement a rule that most states that sanction MMA already have in place. It is known as the "Safety Time Rule" or STR.

The first part of this rule (time between bouts if the fighter wins or does not lose by KO/TKO) does not apply to "Tournament Fighting" of course because the fighter would be fighting within the same event where he/she can be checked out between fights by the event ringside physician and the event sanctioning body representatives. This new rule is to avoid a fighter, fighting on a "Different Promotional" event less then 7 days after a fight or a fighter fighting too soon after being defeated by a Knock Out or by too many striking blows.

• Rule Defined:
  1. No fighter can fight within 7 days after their last fight unless in a tournament within a 3 day time span.
     • Example 1: So if you fight on Friday night the 1st, you cannot fight again until the following weekend, Saturday the 8th.
     • Example 2: If you fight on Saturday night you are out until the next Sunday (a full 7 days)
  2. A fighter (Pro or Amateur) who is not Knocked Out or stopped due to strikes can fight every 8 days.
  3. If a fighter is Knocked Out, or their bout stopped due to strikes; Tournament or not,
     • It is the responsibility of the event Referee and Ringside Physician to evaluate the severity of the KO/TKO and while still at the event, issue a medical suspension of a minimum of 30 days to the fighter knocked out or stopped.
     • This is to assure that the fighter has time to recover from the Knock Out or blows suffered and be evaluated by a licensed Medical Doctor to assure they are able to fight again and when.
     • In Kickboxing and Boxing these suspensions run between 30-45 days, depending upon the severity of the Knock Out or strike damage. They can be much longer if the Ringside Physician feels the fighter's injuries were more severe.
     • Any fighter can "Challenge" the length of a suspension decision with documentation from a licensed medical doctor clearing him/her medically as being medically cleared to fight again.
     • The KO/TKO rule will also apply to cuts and injuries and the suspensions will be determined by the Ringside Physician.

• To assure honesty and accountability, every fighter will be required to sign a form that will be given to the ISCF Promoter and ISCF Event Representative "BEFORE THEIR FIGHT" stating in truth about his/her last fight info which will include:
  • Fight Event Date.
  • Where event was held: City, State, Country.
  • Promoter of the event.
  • Name of Opponent.
  • Sanctioning body who sanctioned the fight, if there was a sanctioning body involved.
  • If a loss, if it was stopped as a Knock Out or TKO (Technical Knockout - Stop due to strikes)