New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 19 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE › Chapter VII - State Athletic Commission › Part 212 - Special Rules for the Conduct of Professional Mixed Martial Arts › Section 212.10 - Fouls; Acts constituting fouls

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) During a match, only the referee can
				assess a foul, and the referee shall determine whether an assessed foul is
				accidental or intentional. If the referee does not call the foul, judges must
				not make that assessment on their own and should not factor such into their
				scoring calculations.If a foul is committed, the referee shall call timeout,
				order the offending combatant to a neutral location, check the fouled
				combatant's condition and safety, and shall then assess the foul to the
				offending contestant and deduct points or impose disqualification if the
				referee deems it appropriate, and notify the commission, the corners, the
				official scorekeeper of his decision on whether the foul was accidental or
				intentional and whether any point deduction or disqualification is
				imposed.Disqualification from a mixed martial arts contest or exhibition may
				occur after any combination of fouls or after a flagrant foul, as determined by
				the referee.Fouls may result in points being deducted by the official
				scorekeeper from the offending combatant's score, as determined by the referee.
				Where points are deducted, the scorekeeper, not the judges, will be responsible
				for calculating the true score after factoring in the point
				deduction.
(b) The following acts
				constitute fouls in a professional mixed martial arts contest or exhibition:
(1) Butting with the head.
(2) Eye gouging of any kind.
(3) Biting.
(4) Hair pulling.
(5) Fishhooking.
(6) Groin attacks of any kind.
(7) Putting a finger into any orifice or into
				any cut or laceration on an opponent.
(8) Small joint manipulation.
(9) Striking to the spine or the back of the
				head.
(10) Striking downward using
				the point of the elbow.
(11) Throat
				strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the
				trachea.
(12) Clawing, pinching or
				twisting the flesh.
(13) Effective
				until January 1, 2017, grabbing the clavicle. Effective on and after January 1,
				2017, Extended fingers. In the standing position, a fighter that moves their
				arm(s) toward their opponent with an open hand, fingers pointing at the
				opponent's face/eyes, will be a foul. Referees are to prevent this dangerous
				behavior by communicating clearly to fighters. Fighters are directed to close
				their fists or point their fingers straight in the air when reaching toward
				their opponent.
(14) Kicking the
				head of a grounded opponent.
(15)
				Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
(16) Stomping a grounded opponent.
(17) Effective until January 1, 2017, kicking
				to the kidney with the heel.
(18)
				Spiking an opponent to the floor surface on his head or neck.
(19) Throwing an opponent out of the ring or
				fenced area.
(20) Holding the
				shorts or gloves of an opponent.
(21) Spitting at an opponent.
(22) Engaging in any type of unsportsmanlike
				conduct, especially that which may cause an injury to an opponent.
(23) Holding the ropes or the
				fence.
(24) Using abusive language
				in the ring or fenced area.
(25)
				Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
(26) Attacking an opponent who is under the
				care of the referee.
(27) Attacking
				an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of
				competition.
(28) Disregarding the
				instructions of the referee.
(29)
				Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent,
				intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece, or faking an
				injury.
(30) Interference by the
				corner, including throwing in the towel. Team members including cornermen and
				trainers shall stay in their designated area at all times during an
				event.
(31) Applying any foreign
				substance to the hair, body, clothing or gloves immediately prior to or during
				a contest or exhibition that could result in an unfair advantage.