Under 18, Over 18, and Over 36 yrs old 
These rules are to be applied in all competitions for fighters under 18, over 18, and over 36 yrs old.

Under 18 years old designates fighters who are between 16 and 18 years old.
Referees and Judges must be licensed by WFAC and follow regular training sessions.
WFAC officials will review the rules and regulations with fighters and coaches prior to every competition. 
Online version of these regulations will be available prior to every competition
These regulations are made in order to ensure that fights are conducted in a good and healthy environment and to allow fighters to have a solid curriculum and prepares them for an international MMA Career.

1.  Fighting Area 
Fights are conducted in a Cage, Boxing Ring (6m X 6m) or Mats.

2. Weight Categories 
Males : -60 kg, -65 kg, -70 kg, -75 kg, -80 kg, -85 kg -90 kg –95 kg, + 95 kg 
Females : -50 kg, -55 kg, -60 kg, -65 kg, -70 kg, -75 kg, +75 kg

3. Level/Class

Level D, Beginners (Less than 5 fights in total)

Level C, Advanced (3 wins, or 5 fight in total, after 8 wins or a maximum of 16 fights they move to Level B)

Level B, Semi-professional (8 wins or 16 fights in total then up to Level A) Level A, Professional

4.  Fighters and Equipments

4.1. Personal Hygiene : 
Nails should be clean and short. 
Long hair should be well attached with an elastic band. Rigid hair attachments are not allowed. 
Fighters should prepare a towel to be used between bouts to wipe out excessive sweating.

Any open wound should be well covered in order to avoid contamination and bleeding. 
If any wound reopens during a bout and it is not possible to stop the bleeding, the fighter can lose by Referee stoppage. 
Use of oil or creams are strictly prohibited by fighters and their coaches 
Any equipment used by fighters should be attached in a way that it will not be loose during the fight, otherwise the referee can give a warring.  
4.2. Uniform and accessories:
Fighters must have impeccable hygiene.
Eye glasses , jewelry or any other object are strictly prohibited.

Contact lenses of the soft kind can be worn, the rigid type are prohibited. 
Fighters are bare chest, wearing MMA shorts.

Tight Rash-guards are allowed.

Ladies can wear sports bra with a chest protection less than 5cm in thickness. 

4.3.1. Obligatory Protections : 
– 1 pair of MMA gloves (8 Oz minimum)

(Gloves must be held with adhesive bands around the wrist)
– 1 pair of foam shin pads (Obligatory for –18 yrs old, optional for over 18 yrs old) 
– 1 groin protection.
– 1 mouth protection. 
– 1 head gear (Obligatory for –18 yrs old) 
4.3.2. Optional Protections: 
– Knee pads and elbow pads, foam type. 
Referee has the authority to accept or reject any protection that he deems unnecessary or dangerous. 

 

5. Fighting procedures
5.1. Calling of the fighters: 
A fighter has one minute to be present on the mats after his name is called by the Fight commissioner

Beyond this time, his opponent will be declared winner

During the fight, when the Referee calls for the fight to resume, this time is 5 seconds

5.2 : The Bout:
Fight starts standing and can go to the ground. 
Ground work starts when one or both fighters touches the mats with anything other than his feet. 
Standing and ground work can alternate either by the decision of the fighters or following the Referee’s commands who may decide to stop a ground work and asks fighters to stand up because they are locked up in their positions. 
5.3. Momentary fights interruptions
5.3.1. In general : 
When needed, the referee can stop the fight using the word “Stop”. 
To resume the fight , the referee will say “Fight”.  
Any fighter attacking his opponent during the interruption of the fight will be sanctioned. 
5.3.2. Particular case : 
During the ground phase, if one fighter who has an inferior position commits an irregularity, the Referee stops the fight saying “Stop, don’t move” along a hand pressure on both fighters. Fighters should stop all action but stay in their respective positions. The referee then proceeds to take the necessary actions or sanctions, then uses the word “Fight” to resume the bout along a hand pressure on both fighters.

Note : If the irregularity is committed by the fighter who has a superior position, the Referee stops the fight using the word “Stop”. Fighters will resume the fight standing and the prohibited action can be sanctioned or not.

5.3.3 Fight can be interrupted for the following reasons 
Referee will stop the fight if :
– One fighter is doing or in the process of doing an illegal action.

– If the action will endanger one or both fighters.  
– One fighter holding on the ropes or cage

– Fighters locked in a position without possibility of position improvement.  
– For medical intervention.  
– Outside factors coming to disturb the fight (Demand by Fight commissioner, Coaches interference, fans, …)
 The Referee has full authority to stop the fight at any time if he thinks it’s necessary.
5.3.4. During the fight interruption
Referee can: 
– Give a warning or a sanction. 

– Adjust the fighters gear and protections. 
– Call for medical intervention. 
– Stops outside interference. 
Fighters must go to their assigned positions (Except for case 4.3.2 of the present ruling), must not leave the fight area unless authorized by the Referee and under the supervision of an official and can never use this time to be instructed by their Coaches. 
5.4. Medical Interventions: 
In case of an injury the Referee can ask medical intervention.
If the fighter can’t resume the fight, or medical intervention exceeds 2 minutes (including the evaluation), the medical chief will inform the Referee who will stop the fight by “Medical Stoppage”.

5.5. Time during Fight Stoppage:

The Time Keeper will not stop the clock unless instructed by the Referee. 

6. Fight duration
– One 5 minutes round or Two 3 minutes rounds, One minute rest
– 10 – 9 scoring system

There are no Draws

 

7. Ethique
Fighters must be courteous and respectful of their opponent, referee, judges
and others at all times. 
They should accept and follow the referee’s orders and decisions. 

 

8. Ways to win a fight 
A fight can be won: 
– By K.O. 
– By T.K.O. 

– By submission, tapping or verbal. ( A scream can be
considered as a verbal tapping)

– Referee stoppage. 

– By abandon.

– By medical stoppage. 

– By towel throw. 

9. Authorized Techniques
9.1. Standing:

A. Punches to the whole body except the head, the spine and the groin area. 

– Leg kicks to the body and head.

– Elbows and Knees to the body only allowed in Level B and A.   

B. Throws and sweeps (See restrictions article 10.3)

C. Immobilization Techniques (See restrictions 10 : «Prohibited techniques)

D- Joints Locks and Chokes 

9.2. Standing to Ground follow-Up

(When one fighter is standing and the other is on the ground, One fighter throws or sweeps the other, or Both fighters on the ground)

Striking :

Punches to the body are allowed except the head, spine and the groin area (Levels C.B.A.)

leg kicks are allowed to the whole body except the head, spine and the groin area (Levels C.B.A.)

Elbows and Knees to the body only in B and A

Control and / or submission techniques:  (see specific restrictions under 10 “prohibited techniques”). 

9.3. On the floor :

A. Striking:

Punches are permitted on the whole body with the exception of the head, the spine (neck to the coccyx) and the groin area. (Levels C.B.A.)

Kicks and shins are allowed over the entire body except the head, the spine (neck to the coccyx) and the lower part of the shell. (Levels C.B.A.)

Elbows and Knees are allowed in Level B and A.

B. Control and / or submission techniques  (see specific restrictions under 10 “prohibited techniques”)

–   Joint controls, strangulation techniques.

C. Immobilization Techniques (preventing the opponent to recover or perform any effective offensive action)

– Ventral or dorsal immobilization.

– Immobilization by constriction: A fighter control his opponent by wrapping his legs and arms, chest to back, chest to chest, chest to side or side to chest contact. 

When a joint lock is considered sufficiently tight and that the fighter does not tap, the referee has full authority to stop the bout and appoint his opponent as the winner.

 

10. Prohibited Techniques
By definition, all techniques not listed in Chapter authorized techniques are prohibited. 
In general:  
It is forbidden to pull hair, ears, pinch the skin, genitals, bite, twist fingers.

(Holding 3 fingers or more is allowed)
10.1. Prohibited Percussion 
– Punches to the head either standing or on the ground.

– Elbows, knees, feet and shins to the head, standing and the ground.  
– Strikes to the groin area.

– Strikes on a joint in a way that may lead to injury (especially the knee).  
– Strikes to the neck or spine.  
– Strikes or pressure on an eye.  
10.2. Prohibited locks
Fingers lock (NB: if the hold is simultaneously on at least three fingers, then this is considered as control and not a joint lock, thus accepted)

10.3. Prohibited throws
Throws on the head or neck.  
10.4. Prohibited strangulations

All techniques presenting a risk of injury to the trachea. 
10.5. Other prohibited actions
It is more strictly prohibited:

– To hold on the ropes or cage.

– To hold on Opponent’s shorts or gloves.
– To use an unauthorized object.

– To use an external physical assistance …  
In general, are prohibited, all actions contrary to ethics and sportsmanship. 

 

11. Fouls leading to penalty 
11.1. Simple mistakes 
Simple mistakes means all minor actions that could disturb the regularity of the fight. There will be a warning from the referee and then increasing penalties for repeat offenders.  
The 3rd penalty for ordinary negligence entails disqualification of its author.  
Example of simple mistakes:

– Involuntary execution and without any consequence of a prohibited technique that does not put the physical integrity of the opponent in danger

– Holding on the ring ropes or cage.

– Non-combativity: voluntary passive attitude  
11.2. Graves Fouls 

Sanctions liable to a reprimand -1, (one second sanction similar results in disqualification)

– Lack of dignity.

-Non acceptance or appeal of a command by the Referee.

-Involuntary execution of a prohibited technique that does put the physical integrity of the opponent in danger.

– If the Coach’s attitude is deemed unsportsmanlike and incompatible with ethics, his fighter will receive a warning.

 

Penalties resulting in immediate disqualification 
• Performing a prohibited or dangerous technique with obvious desire to injure the opponent. 
• Perform a technical or dangerous prohibited without obvious desire to hurt the opponent but resulting in injury or a situation preventing the opponent to continue fighting under normal conditions. 
•  Lack of respect for an opponent or a judge. 
•  Serious breach of ethics or sportsmanship. 

• Wearing an attack on an opponent obviously out of the game (with an attitude manifesting its inability to continue the fight, or after the throw the towel by the coach), and that, after the intervention of the referee. 

12. Coaches 
– Each fighter is entitled to one coach.
– He stands outside the ring, near the corner of his fighter.  
– He can’t leave his position at any time during the bouts.

– His role is only to advise his fighter. 
– He shall in no circumstances intervene in the arbitration or towards the other fighter, or attempt to exert any pressure on anyone. 
– As for the fighters, his attitude should be dignified and respectful.  
– As an adviser, he should set an example with responsible and impeccable behavior.    
 – His interventions must be discreet enough not to disturb the development of the fight. 
– At the call of his fighter, the coach must immediately allow him to reach its place.  
– To request stopping the fight, the coach throws a towel on the mat area toward the fighters. This act causes the defeat by abandoning for his fighter.
– In case of failure to observe the rules, the Fight Commissioner has the authority to sanction the coach.  
– The coaches are required to keep in mind that during the competition, the referees run the meeting, and accept the decisions taken by them.  
The Fight Commissioner has the authority to expel a coach, penalize or disqualify a fighter. 

He also has the authority to exclude an offending coach for the current fight or for the entire competition. 

In case of expulsion, the coach can’t be replaced.

 

The rules are similar for – 18 except that all strikes must be controlled.