What are the rules of MMA? How does it work?

With numerous mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions staging events across the world, some would think each promotion would adopt different rules in order to broaden their appeal to fans. 

However, as of July 30, 2009 it was decided that all fights within MMA would use the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.

But what are these unified MMA rules? DAZN breaks them down below. 

How long are rounds in MMA? 

Every round in MMA is scheduled to last five minutes with a one minute rest period in between each round. 

A non-title fight does not normally exceed three rounds, but a governing commision can grant exemption for a five-round contest. This often occurs in the main event of a UFC event which has no title at stake. 

Title matches are usually sanctioned for five rounds. 

What can MMA fighters wear? 

All fighters must compete in approved shorts, without shoes or any other sort of foot padding. 

Shirts, gis or long pants are not allowed. 

Only approved light gloves can be used, usually 4-6 ounces, which allow fingers to grab. 

A mouthguard and groin guard are also mandatory and need to be checked by a State Athletic Committee official before entering the cage or ring. 

Approved leg and chest protectors (for women) must also be provided by the fighters. 

What is the judging criteria for MMA fights?

A ten-point system is used for all fights with three judges scoring each round. 

10 points are awarded to the winner with nine or fewer given to the other fighter. 

If a round is even, both fighters receive 10 points, and there are also penalty points which are decided by the referee and are then deducted from each judge's score for that particular round for the offending fighter. 

The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) have also published a guideline for what judges in the U.S. should consider when scoring a round, these can be found below.

• Effective striking/grappling: Legal strikes that inflict more damage on fighter in that round, as well as successful takedowns, reversals and submissions attempts.
• Effective aggression: Considering who made more of an effort to finish the fight in that round. 

The ABC also encourages judges to score rounds 10-8 if they that one fighter has landed a substantial amount of 'impactful' strikes or spent long periods of time in dominant grappling positions. 

When a fight goes the full distance, each judge submits their final score for each fighter in order to determine the result by the below criteria. 

• Unanimous decision win: All three judges have the same fighter as the winner.
• Majority decision win: Two judges have one fighter winning the contest, while the other scores it a draw. 
• Split decision win: Two judges have one fighter winning the fight, while the other judge has awarded the win to the opponent. 
• Unanimous draw: All three judges have scored the fight a draw.
• Majority draw: Two judges have scored the fight a draw, and the third judge has a winner. 
• Split draw: One judge has scored the fight a draw, and the other two judges have different winners. 

What are fouls in MMA?

As mentioned earlier, referees can inflict penalty points on an offending fighter if they believe rules are being broken. 

Some of the common fouls in MMA include: 

• Grabbing the cage wall
• Holding an opponent's shorts or gloves
• Head-butting
• Biting or spitting at an opponent
• Hair pulling
• Eye gouging
• Groin attacks