The Tough Guy Contest was an elimination style mixed martial arts tournament billed as “Anything Goes” and “Organized, Legalized, Streetfighting.” The inaugural field of 64 fighters was broken into light and heavyweight divisions. Bill Viola wrote the first codified set of mixed martial arts rules in 1979. Fighters were required to use open fingered padded gloves and permitted to use any combination of martial arts skills, including but not limited to boxing, wrestling, grappling, karate, judo, and jiu-jitsu techniques. Bouts were 3 two minute rounds judged using a 10-point-must system. Fighters could win by knockout, technical knockout, submission or decision. Fighters were broken into weight classes, required to wear Olympic style headgear, and subject to a doctor’s approval to fight.
How does someone win the Tough Guy Contest?
Fighters win the Tough Guy Contest by winning every round of an elimination style tournament in their weight class. Fighters may use any combination of mixed martial arts skills to win each round by knockout, technical knockout, submission or decision based on a 10-point-must system.