Association of Boxing Commissions amend Unified Rules of MMA
Posted by Adam MorganThe Association of Boxing Commissions amended the Unified Rules of Combat for mixed martial arts on Thursday at a conference in Montreal. The amendments were drafted by the following people: the ABC’s MMA Chairman Dale Kliparchuk, New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Deputy Attorney Nick Lembo, ABC President Timothy Leuckenhoff and veteran referee “Big” John McCarthy.
It will now be up to each independent athletic commission in each state to adopt the new unified rules and we could see them implemented in Nevada as early as 2009 according to Nevada State Athletic Commission head honcho Keith Kizer in comments made to MMA Junkie.
Thanks to Fight Opinion, the full document for the new rules can be downloaded here. Notable rule changes include:
- Clarification to the “back of the head” rule, which is now clearly defined as the “Mohawk” definition and not Herb Dean’s “headphones” definition. The “Mohawk” definition is as follows: “crown of the head down the centerline of the skull into the spine, with a one-inch variance to each side.”
- “12 to 6″ downward elbow strikes are now legal, as long as they are not to illegal areas of the opponent
- Smothering, which is defined as cupping your hand over your opponents’ mouth, is now considered a foul.
- And finally, the ABC has defined new weight classes, which are listed here with thanks to Fight Opinion:
MEN’S DIVISIONS
Flyweight (Up to 105 pounds)
Super Flyweight (Over 105.1 to 115 lbs)
Bantamweight (Over 115.1 to 125 lbs)
Super Bantamweight (Over 125.1 to 135 lbs)
Featherweight (Over 135.1 to 145 lbs)
Lightweight (Over 145.1 to 155 lbs)
Super Lightweight (Over 155.1 to 165 lbs)
Welterweight (Over 165.1 to 175 lbs)
Super Welterweight (Over 175.1 to 185 lbs)
Middleweight (Over 185.1 to 195 lbs)
Super Middleweight (Over 195.1 to 205 lbs)
Light Heavyweight (Over 205.1 to 225 lbs)
Heavyweight (Over 225.1 to 265 lbs)
Super Heavyweight (Over 265.1 pounds)WOMEN’S DIVISIONS
Flyweight (95 lbs. and below)
Bantamweight (95.1-105 lbs.)
Featherweight (105.1-115 lbs.)
Lightweight (115.1-125 lbs.)
Welterweight (125.1-135 lbs.)
Middleweight (135.1-145 lbs.)
Light Heavyweight (145.1-155 lbs.)
Cruiserweight (155.1-165 lbs.)
Heavyweight (165.1-185 lbs.)
Super Heavyweight (185.1 and above)
My thoughts on the new rule changes after the jump.
I love the fact that we now have a clear definition of the “back of the head” rule. The fact that it was misunderstood by referees across the board in all of MMA was a problem. The “Mohawk” definition, like it or not, at least provides us with a consistent ruling on what constitutes a strike to the back of the head. Great job by ABC to recognize that this was something that needed to be addressed.
The downward elbow strikes are also another plus. “12 to 6″ elbows are now considered legal and they should always have been legal. The original rule was in place to stop people from performing the “12 to 6″ elbow strikes to the back of the spine. The back of the spine is now considered an illegal area on an opponent’s body, so it’s a wash. Downward elbow strikes are a way to end the fight and inflict damage. There’s nothing different about the downward elbow than there is about the horizontal elbow to an opponent from the bottom position. They’re the same motion, so why was one legal and one illegal in the first place? It’s all semantics and again, solid job by ABC to realize that this rule was in need of being changed.
“Smothering,” is an old wrestling tactic that’s made its way into MMA and has been perfected by guys like Dan Henderson and Randy Couture. While I don’t think it’s ever been a real problem in MMA, it is somewhat of a cheap move but it’s not as if it can’t be defended. I don’t feel one way or the other about this rule change but I’m sure guys like Henderson, Couture, and Matt Lindland would all have something to say about it.
And finally, the weight classes. The men’s weight classes are a little confusing to me. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The current weight classes aren’t a problem. For instance in the welterweight division, do we really want someone who’s weighing in at 165 lbs. to be facing off against a guy like Georges St. Pierre, who cuts roughly 20 lbs. to get down to 170 lbs.? I really don’t understand the weight class changes and I wonder if the commissions will be able to adopt the new unified rules without adopting the new weight classes.
As for the women’s weight classes, I feel that this is something that’s been needed for awhile now. Clearly defined women’s classes gives the women an opportunity to know where they need to be, cut to a certain weight, and perfect the cut. No more jumping from 135 lbs. to 140 lbs. 145 lbs. Just because women fighters are women fighters doesn’t mean they should be jumping all over the place to fight one another. Clearly defined weight classes allow for women to fight where they are most effective as well as allow them to get used to and perfect the proper weight cut.
What are your thoughts on the new unified rules?
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im honestly kinda bummed out about the cupping rule. because i use that alot.
Totally agree on the weight classes Adam. I didn’t have any problem with the ones that were already in place and actually liked that there weren’t so many, unlike boxing, which confuses me all the time. I really hope the commissions don’t follow their guidelines on weight classes.
As for the rules, completely agree with them and have no issue with what they did at all. It was good to get some clarification. I would have loved to get some changes to the scoring system, but that might be a longer process to come up with.
As far as the weight class changes go, it might be a headache for the promotions to implement the new divisions, but it’s nothing insurmountable. The UFC would have to add 3 weight divisions and spring for as many new belts. Silva will be named the Super Welterweight champ and they will hold a title bout for the new Middleweight division. This goes for the other classes that changed as well. As far as fighters are concerned nothing will really change all that much. Guys will still cut down to the lightest division they can without killing themselves doing so. GSP will still be a welterweight, only he will get a 5lb break in weight cutting. It does open up opportunities for fighters that are “small” for a division. Like a fighter who currently fights at 205 because they can’t make the cut to 185, but under the new classes could make the 195 cut. The real problem I see with this is that the divisions are going to thin out. Is there enough talent to fill all these classes? Only time will tell.
I like the changes, and I like the fact that the UFC doesn’t have to utilize them. I see no problem with extra classes defined as long as it is on a voluntary basis. And of the rules, the only thing I disike is the “smothering” rule. If you can’t defend a smother you have no business being in a fight.
Also I like the extra possibilities created by the new classes in terms of women’s fights and lower men’s weight classes… If the WEC drops MW and LHW it might be a good idea for them to pick up a few other low weight classes.
they should have added a standing 8 count… that would fix the quick stoppage problem.
I’m quite surprised that no one at the ABC even mentioned knees to the head of a grounded opponent. That’s the one technique that I truly miss from PRIDE. I could do without the soccer kicks but I think that by allowing knees to the head of a grounded opponent, there will be a lot less stalling in the north/south position.
HexRei @ #5 I’ve been think that sence they started talking about dropping the larger weight classes. I think they should do it one at a time though. Bring in a 125 class, buld it up and then start on the next. They probably will do it like that. They also might bring in the smaller fighters on a fight by fight basis and build a divison around any that create buzz and start drawing a good sized fan base.
Jake Big John Mcarthy was trying to get knees to the head of downed opponents in the rules. Before the meeting he said it wasn’t happening this year but that he and others would keep working on it.
I saw an interview with Herb Dean and in it he claimed the “headphone” no striking zone is the rule in Cali. so he inforces it everywhere to keep his calls the same in every fight. So will he honor the new rule in say Navada if Cali doesn’t adopt the new rule? That would seem like an easy yes but he has already said no in some cases.
Then new rules in Are you having a laugh land:
1) 6 3 minute rds for non champ fights and 10 3 min rds for champ fights.
The reason for this is to counter fatuige and sombody only having to perform 3 “take and hold downs downs” to win a fight. A lot of bjj guys may say that its not long enough for them to improve position and set up a sub but it isn’t a bjj match.
2) Knees allowed to downed opp.
This works well in Dream and did work well in Pride and I think it adds to the fight.
3) No elbows to downed opp.
Winning by cuts is a cheap way to win and people don’t count that kind of win as a real win. Also it makes the fighter have to posture up for punches rather than hugging and delivering little elbows . It also creates more opportunity for subs from the fighter on his back
4) Hugging or stalling an opp is 3 warnings and then a point deduction.
5) Judging will be done by a three button system.
Buttons 1, 2 and 3 worth 1 point 2 points and 3 points respectively. What you get the points for is up for debate but perhaps 1 point for a clean punch/ kick or an acumulation of unclean blows. 2 points for a clean power punch/kick, an acumulation of unclean power blows, a reversal or a takedown and 3 points for a knock down or near submission.
As far as the 165 guy having to fight GSP, why dosn’t he cut weight like 99% of all other pro fighters? just like GSP does.
I really, really like the new weight classes in all respects, but I don’t think they are really needed just yet. There just aren’t enough fighters to really fill out all these weight classes right now, but it needs to be in place to allow for growth of the sport. Plus, it allows for more flexibility if a fighter wants to take on new challenges in other divisions. For now though, I just can’t see the UFC coming up with eight champions and actually having enough challengers in each division to make those belts mean something. But give it a few more years and I think that’s exactly what we’ll see. Along with more champs holding belts in multiple divisions.
Give us knees on the ground, dammit! It enlivens the ground game in so many ways.
what is that????
# 11 You forgot yellow cards like they use/used in Dream/Pride.
And stomps, soccer kicks, a roped ring and those silly restarts…on purpose.
Here is my proposed fix for the weight classes that should accommodate all parties involved and won’t require any modifications to UFC or EliteXC weight classes:
Use the following bases for the weight classes:
Flyweight: Up to 125 lbs
Bantamweight: Max 135 lbs
Featherweight: Max 145 lbs
Lightweight: Max 155 lbs
Welterweight: Max 170 lbs
Middleweight: Max 185 lbs
Light Heavyweight: Max 200 lbs
Heavyweight: Max 265 lbs
Super Heavyweight: Over 265 lbs
Allow the promotion the option of adding +5 lbs to the weight class without violating the unified rules
Add a SUPER per each weight class by adding +10 lbs to it provided it does not reach the next weight class’ base
The weight classes would then be defined as:
Flyweight: Up to 125 lbs or 130 lbs
Bantamweight: Max 135 lbs or 140 lbs
Featherweight: Max 145 lbs or 150 lbs
Lightweight: Max 155 lbs or 160 lbs (Super Lightweight: Max 165 lbs)
Welterweight: Max 170 lbs or 175 lbs (Super Welterweight: Max 180 lbs)
Middleweight: Max 185 lbs or 190 lbs (Super Middleweight: Max 195 lbs)
Light Heavyweight: Max 200 lbs or 205 lbs (Super Light Heavyweight: Max 210 lbs)
Heavyweight: Max 265 lbs
Super Heavyweight: Over 265 lbs
UFC would use Lightweight (155), Welterweight (170), Middleweight (185), Light Heavyweight (200+5=205), and Heavyweight (265) and not violate the unified rules
EliteXC would use Lightweight(155+5=160), Welterweight (170), Middleweight (185), Light Heavyweight (200+5=205) and Heavyweight (265) and not violate the unified rules
If we wanted to accommodate DREAM’s weight class, we could ammend the following:
Allow the promotion the option of subtracting -2 lbs to the weight class without violating the unified rules
DREAM would use Featherweight (145), Lightweight (155-1=154), Welterweight (170-2=168), Middleweight (185), Light Heavyweight (200+5=205), and Heavyweight (265)
My favorite of the new rules, personally, is that they specifically clarified that stomps to the feet of a standing opponent = stomps = illegal. This isn’t getting much coverage at all through the internet, I feel, but I had previously seen a lot of complaining about foot stomping and feel better now that it’s specifically illegal.