MMA Lite Overview

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• If FIGHTER A obtains a submission over FIGHTER B, it is recorded on the score sheet and the match gets restarted from the stand-up position.
• FIGHTER B must now obtain a submission over FIGHTER A in order to have a chance at winning the match. Regardless of how effective FIGHTER B is for the rest of the match, if he/she does not score a submission over FIGHTER A, then he/she will lose even if he/she is the superior technical competitor, gains more points for striking or outclasses FIGHTER A for the duration of the bout.
• If FIGHTER B can score a submission over FIGHTER A (draw even in submissions), the match will again be restarted from the stand-up position. If time elapses and neither fighter has an advantage in the number of submissions, then the match will be evaluated based on the relative merit of the clean, controlled striking, effective grappling technique and ring control.
• Two submissions over any fighter in a match ends the bout immediately.

The final outcome of each match is determined by:

1. If a fighter scores two submissions over their opponent, he/she automatically wins.
2. If either fighter has an advantage in submissions (1-0) at the end of the match, he/she wins.
3. If there is no advantage in submissions (0-0 or 1-1), the bout is decided by a poll of the judges who will evaluate the action according to the criteria listed above.

• All hand strikes that occur with the padded part of the glove executed in a controlled fashion (light or touch-contact only. The strike cannot penetrate or distort the target).
• Punches are allowed to the body and legs while on the ground only in adult divisions
• Fighters can “push off” opponents.
• No elbow strikes are allowed at any time to any part of the body or face.
• Strikes to the head are not allowed while on the ground.
• Striking to the kidney area, behind the head or neck is not permitted.

• All kicking techniques are allowed with light/touch contact to the front and side of the body above the belt, and light contact roundhouse kicks are allowed to the legs. NO linear kicks are allowed directed to the legs.
• Light/touch contact knee strikes are allowed to the body and legs in adult divisions only while standing.
• All low kicks must be minimum 6 inches above the knee and all other kicks, above the waist.
• No kicking to opponents is allowed once the match goes to ground by either of the competitors.

• Competitors have five (5) seconds to take their opponent down once they have grabbed their opponent.
• Any attempt at executing a takedown or Shoot must be done so with the primary motive to go to ground as quickly as possible. Once any kind of standing clinch is engaged, each fighter will have up to five seconds (in the referee’s estimation) to take the match to the ground. If the takedown does not occur the referee will “break” the fighters and restart the action.  Any attempt to walk with the lifted opponent or raise the opponent higher off the ground than is deemed necessary to execute a safe take down will be considered a serious foul with a high probability of immediate disqualification. No exception to this rule will be allowed under any circumstance.
• No “spearing” or dive tackling is permitted.
• No scissors takedowns are permitted, unless a hand is first placed on the mat.
• All shoots must be premeditated and followed up with at least a guard mount or attempt to pass the guard. Shooting or taking down of opponent without an attempt to follow up will be met with one and only one caution.
• If a fighter attempts a shoot / takedown and is not immediately successful, the referee may at his discretion “break” the fighters. “Standing Clinches” will be allowed for only a short period (up to 5 seconds in the referee’s estimation), and only if either fighter appears to be scoring effectively in some way or making progress towards a takedown.
• If a fighter is scoring effectively with strikes, and his opponent “walks through” the strikes in order to clinch, the clinching fighter must immediately take his opponent down or the referee will “break” the fighters and restart the action.
• You may not execute any takedown in a way that damages your opponent either in the way the takedown was executed or by intentionally landing on top of them in a manner to use your body weight to do injury.
• Hip throws are permitted.
• All prevention necessary must be taken to not allow your opponent to fall on his or her/head or attempt to drop the opponent on the back of their neck or head as the fall to the ground.
• You are allowed to pull opponent towards you when going to ground.

It is VERY important that all competitors understand how to “Tap Out” when caught in a submission technique. Tapping out can be done either verbally or through a physical tap. Competitors can tap with their hands, feet, or even a nod of the head. This “Tapping” is a conscious admission of surrender to an opponent.

• GROUND ACTIVITY RULE: Once the contest goes to the ground both fighters must show continuous effort to significantly advance their positions or take advantage of their position by either scoring with legal strikes or trying to secure a submission. Failure to significantly advance or take advantage of their position will result in having the match “stood up” and re-started.
• ALL SUBMISSION TECHNIQUES are legal for adults with the following exception; No twisting neck cranks or angled leg/foot/ankle locks or small joint manipulation (Fingers and toes).
• SPECIAL RULES FOR KIDS & TEENS: No knee strikes, heel hooks, toeholds, slamming, or neck cranks are allowed. No straight ankle locks where the leg crosses the body (reaping of knee). No squeezing the legs around an opponent’s torso (from guard, back, or side) as a submission. No scissor takedown is permitted, whether a hand is on the ground or not.
• SPECIAL RULE FOR KIDS: No striking when on the ground. Submission techniques may be restricted or prohibited based on age division. This will shift the judges evaluation emphasis to clean striking, wrestling and control.  A referee may also “call a submission” immediately when it appears that a legitimate submission lock is engaged (the referee does not need to wait for the youth fighter to “tap”)
• OTHER FOULS: Fighters are not allowed to grab and use their opponents’ clothing. Attacks to the front of the windpipe (i.e. finger in throat), eyes (elbows, palms, fingers, etc.) or groin. No pushing the palm or elbow directly into the nose. No dropping or slamming an opponent on his head. No slamming from the Guard position. eye gouging, fish hooking, biting, hair pulling, pinching, twisting of skin, sticking a finger into an opponent’s cut, small joint manipulation (finger or toe locks), and putting a finger into any orifice are all FOULS and grounds for disqualification. No interference by a corner with any official or fighter. No throwing an opponent off the mat. No unsportsmanlike conduct. The Boston Crab technique is not allowed. Any intentional use of an illegal technique or act of poor sportsmanship will result in the immediate ejection of those competitors/spectators.
• The referee reserves the right to stop any attempt at any submission or lock, listed and un listed at any time of the match should he deem any such technique to be considered dangerous in any way but not restricted to the effect it has on an opponent. In other words while the attempt is being made to secure any technique which could be deemed as unsafe.
• The referee may “declare a submission” if he believes that it is necessary in order to protect a fighter’s safety or if he believes that a downed fighter is in a compromised position that he cannot or chooses not to try to escape from. (example: if the bottom fighter in a full mount position does not try to escape the referee may declare a submission)

Ribs, chest, abdomen & legs (above knees).

Face/Head, spine, back of neck/Head, throat, sides of the neck, Kidneys, groin, knees and back.

Hips, shoulders, buttocks, arms, and feet. 

Head butts, hair pulls, bites, scratches, elbows, knees (Juniors), eye attacks of any kind, stomps, kicks to a downed competitor, slapping, uncontrolled blind techniques, any uncontrolled throws, takedowns or sweeps with the intention of slamming the opponent to the ground or landing with excessive force on top of opponent and any other uncontrolled dangerous techniques that are deemed unsafe in Sport Martial Arts.

Sweeps to take down an opponent, to obstruct the balance so as to follow up with a technique is allowed. A sweep must be deemed a proper and safe sweep to be legal. Controlled sweeps that are meant to take down an opponent are allowed only on a declared approved padded surface.