Sec. 09.14.16.09. Method of Judging

A. All mixed martial arts contests shall be evaluated and scored by three judges.

B. The 10-Point Must System shall be the standard system of scoring a mixed martial arts contest where:

(1) The winner of each round receives 10 points and the opponent proportionately less;

(2) If a round is even, each mixed martial arts contestant receives 10 points; and

(3) Fractions of points may not be awarded.

C. Judges shall evaluate mixed martial arts techniques, including:

(1) Effective striking;

(2) Effective grappling;

(3) Control of the fighting area;

(4) Effective aggressiveness; and

(5) Defense.

D. Except as provided in §K of this regulation, when scoring each round, the judges shall evaluate the mixed martial arts techniques set forth in §C of this regulation by assigning the most weight to the technique in the order it appears in §C of this regulation.

E. Effective striking shall be judged by determining the total number of legal heavy strikes landed by a contestant.

F. Effective grappling shall be judged by considering the number of successful executions of a legal takedown and a legal reversal including:

(1) A takedown from the standing position to a mount position;

(2) Passing the guard to a mount position; and

(3) A bottom position mixed martial arts contestant using an active, threatening guard.

G. Fighting area control shall be judged by determining which mixed martial arts contestant is dictating the pace, location, and position of the bout, including:

(1) Countering an attempted takedown by remaining standing and legally striking;

(2) Taking down an opponent to force a ground fight;

(3) Creating a threatening submission attempt;

(4) Passing the guard to achieve a mount; and

(5) Creating striking opportunities.

H. Effective aggressiveness means moving forward and landing a legal strike.

I. Effective defense means avoiding being struck, taken down, or reversed while countering with offensive attacks.

J. The following objective scoring criteria shall be utilized by the judges when scoring a round:

(1) A round shall be scored as a 10-10 round when both mixed martial arts contestants appear to be fighting evenly and neither mixed martial arts contestant shows clear dominance in a round;

(2) A round shall be scored as a 10-9 round when a mixed martial arts contestant wins by a close margin, landing the greater number of effective legal strikes, grappling, and other maneuvers;

(3) A round shall be scored as a 10-8 round when a mixed martial arts contestant overwhelmingly dominates by striking or grappling in a round; and

(4) A round shall be scored as a 10-7 round when a mixed martial arts contestant totally dominates by striking or grappling in a round.

K. Judges shall use a sliding scale and recognize the length of time the mixed martial arts contestants are either standing or on the ground, as follows:

(1) If the mixed martial arts contestant spent a majority of a round on the canvas, then:

(a) Effective grappling is weighed first; and

(b) Effective striking is then weighed;

(2) If the mixed martial arts contestant spent a majority of a round standing, then:

(a) Effective striking is weighed first; and

(b) Effective grappling is then weighed; and

(3) If a round ends with a relatively even amount of time spent standing and on the canvas, striking and grappling shall be weighed equally.