Rule 61K1-4.025. Mixed Martial Arts Conduct of Bout; Rounds

(1) All matches are to be designated as amateur.

(a) If advertising is conducted, the advertising shall clearly indicate the matches are amateur. Advertisements may use the ring name or nickname of an amateur provided the full legal name of the amateur is also included.

(b) No event shall have both amateur and professional matches.

(2) Any individual who has competed anywhere in the world as a professional in combat sports, including, but not limited to boxing, mixed martial arts, Tough-Man competitions, kickboxing, and cage fighting, is prohibited from competing in amateur boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts in the State of Florida.

(3) All amateurs must enter and compete in all matches under their own legal names as verified by a valid government issued form of identification. This does not prohibit the use of a ring name or nickname during fighter introductions.

(4) No one under the age of 18 years old shall be permitted to participate in amateur mixed martial arts. Amateur sanctioning organizations are responsible for ensuring that amateurs are 18 years or older. All amateurs must provide proof of age upon request, such as a notarized copy of their birth certificate or a government issued form of identification.

(5) Matches between a male amateur and female amateur are not permitted.

(6) Excessive coaching from the corner is prohibited. Cornermen must remain seated in the designated chairs throughout the entire round. If the match is held in a ring, only one cornerman will be allowed in the ring during the rest period. If the match is held in a cage, then two cornermen will be allowed in the cage during the rest period.

(7) When an amateur is knocked out or injured by submission, no one is allowed in the cage/ring until authorized by a referee or physician.

(8) The referee, the physician, or the amateur may stop the match at any point. The referee or the physician shall have the power to stop a bout at any point during the bout, if he sees that either amateur is in such condition that to continue might subject him or her to serious injury.

(9) If both amateurs have gone to the ground and neither is actively working to improve his position then they shall be separated and stood up by the referee. The referee shall immediately restart the bout from the standing position.

(10) If one amateur has gone to the ground and the other amateur refuses to pursue his opponent to the ground and fails to administer legal strikes from the standing position, the referee shall “stand up” the downed amateur and re-engage the bout.

(11) Amateur sanctioning organization shall not permit more than two amateurs to participate in any match.

(12) Advance notices for all amateur mixed martial arts events shall be filed by the amateur sanctioning organization, with the commission at least ten (10) days before the date of each match.

(13) Fouls Generally:

(a) All illegal techniques qualify as fouls, and shall be called by the referee and stopped immediately upon the referee calling the foul. Referees shall not permit amateurs to continue to foul opponents.

(b) A referee having any reason to believe that a foul has been committed, which said referee did not witness, may consult the judges and will make an appropriate decision according to the majority of the judges who saw the blow.

(14) Fouls listed:

(a) Fouls/Illegal Techniques while Standing or on the Ground include:

1. Head butting;

2. Eye gouging;

3. Biting;

4. Hair pulling;

5. Fish-hooking; 6 Groin attacks of any kind;

7. Putting a finger into an orifice or into a cut;

8. Small joint manipulation/finger locks;

9. Striking the spine or the back of the head;

10. Striking with the elbow, forearm, or triceps (Elbows are permitted if both amateurs have a minimum of three amateur bouts and both amateurs agree to use elbows. For matches involving elbows, striking downward using the point of the elbow is prohibited.);

11. Knee strikes to the head;

12. Linear kicks to the legs;

13. Heel hooks;

14. Spine locks;

15. Neck cranks;

16. Excessive slamming;

17. Throws against a joint;

18. Throat strikes or grabbing the trachea;

19. Clawing, twisting or pinching the flesh;

20. Grabbing the clavicle;

21. Stomping or kicking the head of a grounded opponent (A fighter shall be considered grounded when any part of their body other than their hands or feet is in contact with the canvas);

22. Striking the kidney;

23. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck;

24. Pushing or throwing an opponent out of the ring;

25. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent;

26. Spitting;

27. Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury;

28. Holding the fence;

29. Attacking on the break;

30. Attacking your opponent while he’s under the care of the referee;

31. Attacking after the bell;

32. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee;

33. Timidity, including avoiding contact, losing your mouthpiece, faking injury;

34. Interference from the cornerman.

(b) In addition to the aforementioned fouls, fouls/illegal techniques while on the ground include:

1. Any submission attacking the legs ankles or feet other than a straight knee bar (Heel hooks or any angled leg locks);

2. Choking with hand on throat;

3. Smothering (hand over mouth);

4. Hammer locks;

5. Throwing out of competition area;

6. Pinching, gouging, and anything that might be considered “dirty fighting”;

7. Grabbing or holding the uniform or protective padding.

(15) Rounds

(a) The duration of each round of an amateur mixed martial arts event shall not exceed 3 minutes with no less than 1 minute rest intervals between rounds.

(b) An amateur mixed martial arts match shall not exceed 3 rounds.

(c) No amateur shall be permitted to participate in any match on more than one day in any ten. Exceptions may be made by the executive director or his designee for regularly sanctioned tournaments held in the same venue requiring two or more days to compete, so long as the matches are held within a reasonable time. Requests for approval shall be made to the commission office no later than 10 days prior to the matches.

(d) No amateur will be allowed to compete more than once per calendar day and in no case, sooner than 12 hours from their previous bout if the amateur is cleared by the physician to participate.

(16) Participation in subsequent matches:

(a) Any amateur who loses by way of a TKO or by way of submission due to strikes shall not participate in any match for a minimum of thirty (30) days.

(b) Any amateur who loses by way of KO (Knock out) shall not participate in any match for a minimum of sixty (60) days.

(c) Amateurs shall receive a mandatory ten-day rest period after competing in a match. Day 1 of the mandatory rest period shall commence on the first day following the event.

(d) If the physician suspends an amateur based on a post-match physical, the amateur shall comply with all the stipulations listed by the physician in the suspension, including clearance by a physician licensed as an M.D. or D.O., prior to participating in further matches. Rulemaking Authority 548.003(2) FS. Law Implemented 548.003, 548.0065, 548.043, 548.057 FS. History–New 3-14-13, Amended 12-5-16, 5-14-20, 10-6-25.