Rules of the MMA and UFC: Complete Guide 2026
The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) combine techniques of striking (blows), grappling (struggle), and submission of multiple disciplines such as boxing, muay thai, jiu-jitsu Brazil, wrestling and judo UFC (The U.S. is the largest organization in the world and sets the standard of modern rules for the MMA.
This guide explains the official rules that govern the fights of MMA based on the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts adopted by the main committees.
1. Basic: What is the MMA?
The Mixed Martial Arts (Mixed Martial Arts) are a complete contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, including foot blows, ground combat, and submission techniques.
🥋 Disciplines that compose the MMA
Striking (Foot Blows)
• Boxing: punches and footwork
• Muay Thai: fists, elbows, knees and kicks
• Kickboxing: combinations of fists and kicks
• Karate/Taekwondo: Dynamic Kicks
Grappling (Fight and Clinch)
• Wrestling: downing and control
• Judo: launches and projections
• Sambo: downings and submissions
• Clinch: work glued to opponent
Ground-Gyprus (Combate in Sole)
• Jiu-Jitsu Brazilian: Submissions and Control
• Ground and Pound: blows from dominant positions
• Wrestling defensive: avoid submission and escape
💡 Key Concept: A complete fighter of MMA should be competent in all three areas: striking, grappling and ground-sy. Versability is fundamental.
2. The Octagon and Equipment
🔷 The Octagon of UFC
The octagon of UFC is an octagonal cage (8 sides) of 9.75 meters diameter. Official characteristics:
- Height of the fence: 1.8 meters
- Ground material: Padded canvas on raised platform
- Protection: Padding in posts and fence
- Doors: 2 entrance doors (for fighters and medical equipment)
- Combat area: Dark painted for TV visibility
🥊 Official equipment
Gloves of MMA
• Weight: 4 times (113 grams)
• Fingers exposed to allow grips and submission
• Knuckle and wrist protection
• Approved and reviewed before each fight
Oral Protector
• Mandatory for both fighters
• Custom or standard
• Reviewed by referee before start
Coquilla (Inguinal Protector)
• Mandatory for men
• Optional for women
• Must be approved by the arbitrator
Uniforme
• Men: Short trousers of MMA (without a T-shirt)
• Women: Short pants + sports top
• No shoes or shins
• Forbidden: T-shirts, jewellery, hard objects
3. Weight categories in UFC
UFC The fightrs must weigh below the limit of their category in the Official weighing (24 hours before the fight). Except heavyweight, which has no upper limit.
👨 Male Divisions
Weight Straw (Strawweight)
Up to 52 kg / 115 lb
Flyweight)
Up to 57 kg / 125 lb
Peso (Bantamweight)
Up to 61 kg / 135 lb
Weight Pen (Featherweight)
Up to 66 kg / 145 lb
Lightweight (Lightweight)
Up to 70 kg / 155 lb
Weight Welter (Walterweight)
Up to 77 kg / 170 lb
Average weight (Middle weight)
Up to 84 kg / 185 lb
Light heavyweight (Light Heavyweight)
Up to 93 kg / 205 lb
Heavyweight)
From 93 kg / 205 lb to 120 kg / 265 lb
👩 Women's Divisions
Weight Straw (Strawweight)
Up to 52 kg / 115 lb
Flyweight)
Up to 57 kg / 125 lb
Peso (Bantamweight)
Up to 61 kg / 135 lb
Weight Pen (Featherweight)
Up to 66 kg / 145 lb
💡 Important fact: Fighters can change division, but they must fulfill the official weight. The weighing is the next day and it is only for photos, the one that counts is the official weighing.
4. Duration of the Fights
⏱️ Regular Fights
3 5 Minute Rounds
Total: 15 minutes combat
- Rest between the two of us: 1 minute
- Applies to preliminary fights and abbards
- Most fights in an event UFC
👑 Fights by Title and Main Events
5 5 Minutes Rounds
Total: 25 minutes combat
- All the fights for champion title
- Maini (stellar fighting) of UFC Fight Night
- Some special fights co-maini
- Rest between the two of us: 1 minute
⚠️ Important: There is no "suddenpet" or extra jolth. If the fight reaches the deadline without ending, win who has more points on the judges' cards.
5. Victoria Methods
There are several ways to win a fight from MMA. Here are all official methods:
💥 KO (PK) / TKO (Technical PKout)
KO (PK)
The opponent is unconscious by a stroke or combination. The referee stops the fight immediately without counting. The fight ends at the moment of the KO.
TKO (Technical PKout)
The referee stops the fight because:
- The fighter cannot defend himself intelligently (he is getting many blows without responding)
- The doctor at the octagon determines that it cannot continue (injury, severe cut-off)
- The corner throws the towel
- Injury that prevents continuation (screw, shoulder, etc.)
🔒 Submission (Submission)
Victory through submission technique:
- Ta-tip (Tap Out): Hits the opponent's floor/body or says verbally "I'll take it up"
- He's unconscious: By a strangulation (e.g., rear .. ..n)
- The referee stops: If he detects the fighter lost consciousness
Examples: rear .. ..n.o.b., ..n.b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., ..b., .b., ..b., .b., .b., .b., .b., .b., .b., .b., ., .b., .b., .b., .b., .b.b.b.b.b.b.
📊 Decision of the Judges
If the fight reaches the deadline without ending, win who has more points on the cards. There are 3 types:
Unanimous Decision (Unanimous Decision)
The 3 judges give victory to the same fighter. Example: 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 (all for the same)
Split decision (Split Decision)
2 judges beat one fighter, 1 judge beat the other. Example: 29-28, 29-28, 28-29
Majority Decision (Majority Decision)
2 judges give victory to the same, 1 judge marks tie. Example: 29-28, 29-28, 28-28
🚫 Other Finals
Dequalification (DQ)
For serious or repeated fault (e.g., illegal knee to the head, head blows, fingers to the eyes deliberate)
No. of the product(s)
The fight is over. Reasons: accidental illegal blow that prevents continuation, serious technical problems
Tie (Draw)
Very rare. The 3 judges mark a tie, or cards cancel each other. Example: 29-29, 28-28, 29-29
Forfeit (Abandonment)
A fighter can't or won't continue between jolly (without illegal hit)
6. Score System (10-Paints)
UFC use the 10 Point Network system, Each round scores independently by 3 judges.
📐 How it works
Basic Rule:
Winner of each round receives 10 points.
The loser gets 9 points or less.
10-9: Closed round
The winner dominated slightly. It is the most common score.
10-8: Clear Domination
A fighter completely dominated the round KO/TKO, severe punishment, total control.
10-7: Extreme Domination
The opponent barely survives, brutal punishment throughout the round.
10-10: Tie
Extremely rare. Judges can mark it if the round was absolutely even.
🎯 Score criteria (in order of priority)
- Effective Hits / Grappling Effective:
Real impact of blows or knocks. Quality over quantity. A blow that almost leaves KO is worth more than 10 hits without impact. - Assault:
Move forward, actively seek the fight. It is only considered if the striking/grappling It's even. - Control of the Octagon:
To say where the fight happens, to chase the opponent.
💡 Practical Example of Score
Judge 1:
Round 1: 10-9 (Fighter A)
Round 2: 9-10 (Fighter B)
Round 3: 10-9 (Fighter A)
Total: 29-28 for Fighter A
Judge 2 and 3: Same results
Result: Unanimous Decision for Fighter A
7. Machined Techniques in MMA
The MMA allows a wide variety of techniques to striking and grappling. Here's everything you can do:
✅ Striking Allowed
- Fist: To the head and body (standing and on the ground)
- Kicks: To legs, body and head
- Knees: To body and head (with restrictions on the ground)
- Elbows: Elbow to head and body punches
- Spinning/Hammer: Kicks, swinging fists and elbows
- Hits on the ground: You can hit a fallen opponent (with exceptions)
✅ Grappling and Downs
- Down: Single leg, double leg, slam, suplex
- Launches (throws): Judo, wrestling
- Clinch: Work stuck against the cage
- Control on the ground: Top position, grad,field control
- Transitions: Move, Mount, Back Control
✅ Missions
- Start-ups: Rear .. ..Nicar .. ..Narar.
- Joint keys: Armbar, kimura, americana, omoplata
- Leg keys: Heel hook, kneebar, toe sock, lenght
- Neck KAKRS: Twirling the neck (although it can cause injuries)
8. Prohibited Assaults and Fouls
These actions are strictly prohibited and may result in warning, deduction of points, or disqualification:
🚫 Serious Fouls
- Head: Use head to hit
- Hits on the neck/column: Back of the head, spine
- Hits on the groin: Kicks, knees or fists to the genitals
- Fingers in the eyes: I intentionally put fingers in my eyes
- Fish fishing: Stick fingers in mouth/nose/eyes to tear
- Bitches: Måd any part of the body
- Hair jerks: Pull hair
- Small finger handling: Single hand-toed twisting/seventy
- Hits to fallen opponent with knee/foot to head: If the opponent has a knee or hand on the ground
- Kicks/knocks to the head on the ground: If the opponent is clearly on the ground
- Spit: Spit on opponent
- Grab the fence: Use your fingers to grab the mesh
- Hold pants/buffs: Grab the opponent's uniform
⚠️ Consequences of Fouls
First foul:
Oral warning No points are deducted, but it is recorded.
Second/Third Missing:
Deduction of 1 point on the scorecard. You can change the final result.
Severe or Repeated Mistake:
Immediate disqualification. The fighter loses the fight and can be punished or suspended.
I-I-Haror Strike in the Cow:
Yes, it was accidental And the opponent can't continue: No (no result).
Yes, it was intentional: Disqualification of the offender.
💡 Recovery Time: If you get an illegal hit on the groin, you have up to 5 minutes to recover. If you can’t continue, the result is decided according to the score cards up to that point.
9. Arbitrator ' s Role and Judges
👨⚖️ The Arbitrator
The referee is the only person within the octagon during the fight:
- Protect Fighters: Stop the fight if someone can't defend themselves
- Enforcement of the rules: Warn, deduct points, disqualify for fouls
- Control the rhythm: Separate fighters, restart positions if there is no action
- Check equipment: Check mouth guards, coquilla, gloves
- Call the doctor: If severe cuts or visible injuries occur
- Declare the winner: In cases of submission or KO/TKO
Famous referees: Herb Dean, Marc Goddard, Jason Herzog, Dan Miragliotta
🧑⚖️ Judges (3)
Sitting around the octagon (not inside:
- Score each round: Use the 10-point system
- Watch the fight: They can't communicate with each other
- Handing over cards: At the end of each round to the officers
- Final decision: If the fight reaches the time limit
Judges are independent and cannot see repeat screens.
⚕️ The doctor of the Octagon
Sitting next to the octagon:
- To be called by the referee: To check cuts or injuries
- Stop the fight: If you determine that a fighter cannot continue safely
- Attention between the two of you: Treat cuts in the minute of rest
- Post-fighting care: Immediate medical check-up after KO/TKO
10. Differences with Other Organizations
Although the Unified Rules are standard, some organizations have variations:
ONE Championship (Asia)
- Allows knees to fallen opponent (Blows: Alien kicks prohibited in UFC)
- Different hydration system in weighing
- Yellow and red cards per inactivity
Bellator
- It follows unified rules just like it does UFC
- Circular cage (not octagon)
- Some co-main fights are also 5th
PFL (Professional Fighters League)
- Seasonal system with points
- Bonds for early terminations
- Standard unified rules
🥋 Now you understand the MMA
With this knowledge of the rules, you can fully enjoy the fights of UFC And understand exactly what's going on every moment. It's time to see combats with a new perspective!
📌 Save this guide to consult during events
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Rules of MMA
¿How many weight categories are there in UFC?
UFC has 8 male categories (from straw weight 52kg to heavy weight without upper limit from 120kg) and 4 female categories (from straw weight 52kg to pen weight 66kg). Each division has its own champion.
¿How the score system works in MMA?
UFC use the 10-point power system: the winner of the round receives 10 points, the loser 9 or less. Judges evaluate effective blows, control of the octagon, grappling To win by decision you need to win more than your opponent.
¿What blows are prohibited in MMA?
They are forbidden: head-heads, head-knocks, eyes fingers, bites, hair-throwing, groin-throwing, blows to an opponent on the ground with knees/kicks on the head if he has a canvas knee, and manipulation of small fingers.
¿How long a fight lasts UFC?
Regular fights are 3 rounds of 5 minutes (15 Total minutes). Fights by title and main events are 5 rounds of 5 minutes (25 minutes total 1 minute of rest between rounds.
¿Elbows can be used on the floor?
Yes, all elbows are allowed both on the floor and on the floor. From 2024, even the elbows "12-6" (up and down in vertical line) are allowed after years of being forbidden.
¿What if a fighter doesn't give the weight?
If it does not give the official weight, the fight can be cancelled or continued as "Hightweight" (no title in play). The one who failed the weight usually loses 20-30% of his bag that goes to the opponent. If it is fight by title, only the opponent can win the belt.