MMA Grapplix Rules (Adults - Advanced)
1. Techniques and striking allowed (18+ for men and women)
Punches to the body allowed
Head shots allowed
Kicks to the body and head from standing is allowed (kicks to your opponent on the ground is also allowed but not to the head – straight DQ)
Ground and bound allowed (including head shots)
Straight foot locks allowed (14+ allowed only – both fighters must be the same age)
Front head locks allowed
Throws are allowed (including judo throws)
Flying submissions (such as flying armbar and guillotine allowed)
Guillotine both standing and on the ground are allowed (blue belts and above for standing)
Jumping guard is allowed
Bicep and Calf Slicers allowed (brown and black belts only)
Half Nelson
Double and single take downs
Body locks
Straight armbar
Americana
Kimura
Real naked choke
Triangle choke (can pull down on the head 14+)
Anaconda choke
D’arce choke
Ezekiel choke
Omoplata
Double guard pull
Bow and arrows
Wrist locks (18+ allowed only)
Slams are allowed
You are classed as grounded if your against the sides of the pit
Any questions on more techniques please contact us.
2. Techniques that are not allowed:
Scissors takedowns
Reaping is not allowed (brown and black belts only)
No Knee bars (blue belts and above)
No heel hocks
No toe holds
No Neck cracks (brown and black belts allowed)
No can openers (brown and black belts allowed)
No Twisters
Warning then DQ for the following:
No knee strikes to the head, however you can to the body 16+
No elbow strikes
No head butts
No eye gouging
No biting or spitting (straight DQ)
No fish hooking
No hair pulling
No throat or groin strikes
No strikes to the spine or the back of the head (straight DQ)
No grabbing oppositions shorts or gloves
No foot stamping
Cannot stall the fight (warning for not engaging) however, if you are winning the fight then the opposition must chase you
No strong or abusive language shall be used by the fighter or their corner team (warning then followed by a DQ)
Disagreeing with the referees decision
Cannot attack after the signal has gone to call the end of the round or fight
Cannot fight during the break or if a fighter is under medical care
The referee also has the ability to stand both fighters up if he doesn’t see enough work being done
The referees will allow a timeout to give competitors time to recover and make a decision on the fight if it should carry on.
The referee has the ability to call a warning or a round in someone’s favour due to different circumstances that a fighter does not met.
The referee has the ability to call a technical decision as well as a no contest if an injury occurs in the fight depending on which round it happens.
For example, if an injury occurs in the first two rounds it will be classed as a none contest if the score boards have both fighters even or the person winning cannot continue. If the fighter was losing, then it will go to a technical decision.
If it happens in the last round, the fighter ahead on the score cards will receive the technical decision.
Any strikes to the groin will result in a warning, then a DQ if it carries on.
3. Mandatory
Gloves needs to be a minimum of 6 ounces and a maximum of 8 ounces
Gloves much be open handed, with finger and thumb out for grappling
No lace boxing gloves allowed or head guards
Shin guards are optional for adults
Groin protectors are optional for adults
Mouthpieces are mandatory
Rash guards are allowed but must be short sleeve. No pants, shorts are required
Weigh-ins all done at the venue only (will accept no video weigh-ins) allowance will be 0.5kg max.
4. Ways to win:
Knockout (KO) or technical (TKO)
Submission (tap out)
Referee stoppage
DQ
Medical interference
Forfeit
Other team throwing the towel in
5. Match Times
Rounds will be 3 x 3 minutes for ages 18+
Overtime will 1 round for an extra 2 minutes
6. Scoring
Judging will be scored by the referee and an official on the judging panel
The judges will look for a few key points as the scoring system shows as follows (in no particular order)
Scoring order:
Striking (legal blows landed and effective impact by volume)
Takedowns
Throws
Submission attempts
Ground time (which fighter is more in control)
Pit control (which fighter is the most active and dominant fighter)
Effective use and application on technique
7. How will the fights be matched?
Weight categories (please use the below as a guideline) when match making we will set different weights for individual fights so both parties will meet to that weight. We will also ask for MMA records.
Weight Divisions (Guideline for men and woman are below)
-50kg (woman only)
-55kg (woman only)
-60kg
-65kg
-70kg
-75kg
-80kg
-85kg
-90kg
-95kg
-100kg
100kg+
We will take into consideration the below when match making so everyone is happy. We will also look at ages:
Adults 18+
Masters 35+
Senior 50+
Please note that all divisions can compete against each other depending on who enter the competition at the time. Men and women cannot compete against each other in any circumstances.
Traditional Male Categories (for reference)
• Strawweight
• Flyweight
• Bantamweight
• Featherweight
• Lightweight
• Welterweight
• Middleweight
• Light Heavyweight
• Heavyweight
•. Ultra Heavyweight
Traditional Female Categories (for reference)
• Atomweight
• Strawweight
• Flyweight
• Bantamweight
• Featherweight
• Lightweight
• Welterweight
If you have any questions on the ruleset please contact us for more details.
MMA Grapplix Youth Rules & Guidelines
1. Age Divisions & Rule Modifications
Ages 6–8
No head strikes
No slams out of subs (not allowed) slam takedowns are fine
No ground-and-pound
No leg or ankle locks
Only arm-in chokes permitted
No knee bars
You are classed as grounded if your against the side of the mats in the pit for all ages
Jumping guard is allowed for all ages
Back kicks are allowed
Ages 9-11
No head strikes
Slam takedowns are allowed, just not out of subs and no spikes
Ground and pound allowed (body only, no head strikes)
Ages 12–15
No head strikes
Slam takedowns are allowed, not out of subs and no spikes
Ground-and-pound allowed (body only, no head strikes)
Straight foot locks allowed (14+ allowed but both fighters must be the same age)
Front headlocks allowed; under-14 must be arm-in
No knee bars
Knee strikes to the body is fine
Ages 16–17
Head shots allowed stood up
Slams are allowed
Ground-and-pound allowed (body strikes and head shots)
Straight foot locks allowed 14+
Front headlocks allowed
No knee bars
No toe holds
Knee strikes to the body is allowed
2. Fouls & Disqualifications
Immediate Disqualification
Biting or spitting
Strikes to the spine or back of the head
Attacking after the bell
Warning or possible Disqualification
Knee strikes
Elbow strikes
Head butts
Eye gouging
Fish hooking
Hair pulling
Throat or groin strikes
Grabbing opponent’s shorts or gloves
Foot stamping
Disagreeing with the referee
Fighting during breaks or under medical care
Use of strong or abusive language
Other Conduct Rules
Stalling: warning for lack of engagement; fighters ahead on points may circle, trailing fighters must engage
Referee may stand fighters up if action stalls
Timeouts permitted for recovery
Referee may warn or award a round for rule infractions
Referee may declare a technical decision or no contest if injury occurs, based on round and scoring
3. Banned Techniques (Unless Otherwise Noted)
Knee bars (only for adult blue belts and above)
Heel hooks and toe holds
Twisters
Neck cranks and can openers
Bicep and calf slicers
Scissor takedowns
Reaping (applying pressure across knee can be dangerous)
Half Nelson
Standing guillotine chokes (only allowed on the ground)
Jumping guard
Flying submissions (allowed only 16+)
Wrist locks
4. Legal Techniques
Striking: punches and kicks to the body (no groin strikes, you can kick to the opponent on the ground but not to the head)
Takedowns: single/double leg, throws, body locks, judo techniques
Submissions: straight armbar, Americana, kimura, rear naked choke, triangle choke, Ezekiel choke, anaconda choke, D’arce choke, omoplata, bow-and-arrow choke
Grappling: double guard pull, ground guillotine (permitted age-wise)
5. Equipment Requirements
Gloves: 6–8 oz, open-palm (no lace-up gloves or headgear)
Shin guards: mandatory (foot-covering models recommended) 16+ is optional
Mouthguard: mandatory
Groin protector: mandatory
Rash guard: short sleeve only
Weigh-ins: on-site only, with a 0.5 kg allowance
6. Match Outcomes
Knockout (KO) or Technical Knockout (TKO)
Submission (tap-out)
Referee stoppage
Disqualification
Medical stoppage
Forfeit or towel-throw
7. Match Duration
Ages 14 and under: 2 × 2‐minute rounds
Ages 15–17: 3 × 3‐minute rounds
Overtime (all ages): 1 × 2‐minute round
8. Scoring Criteria
Effective striking (legal blows landed, impact, volume)
Takedowns and throws
Submission attempts
Ground control (dominance on the mat)
Pit control (overall activity and dominance)
Effective technique execution
9. Injury & Technical Decisions
Rounds 1–2
Even score or injured leader → No contest
Injured fighter was losing → Technical decision
Final Round
Fighter ahead on scorecards wins by technical decision
10. Weight Categories
Important: Final match weight will be determined by the matchmaker after consulting both parties. The following categories are used as a guideline for matchmaking.
Male Weight Divisions (Guideline)
• Under 20 kg
• Under 25 kg
• Under 30 kg
• Under 35 kg
• Under 40 kg
• Under 45 kg
• Under 50 kg
• Under 55 kg
• Under 60 kg
• Under 65 kg
• Under 70 kg
• Under 75 kg
• Under 80 kg
• Under 85 kg
• Over 90 kg+
Traditional Male Categories (for reference)
• Strawweight
• Flyweight
• Bantamweight
• Featherweight
• Lightweight
• Welterweight
• Middleweight
• Light Heavyweight
• Heavyweight
Female Weight Divisions (Guideline)
Traditional Female Categories (for reference)
• Atomweight
• Strawweight
• Flyweight
• Bantamweight
• Featherweight
• Lightweight
• Welterweight
If you have any questions on the ruleset please contact us for more details.
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