Mixed Martial Arts Rules
Do all the MMA leagues have different rules?
All the mixed martial arts organizations in America, pretty much have the same rules. The only thing I would say is the IFL. The international Fight League is different because they have a four minute round and they took the elbows out. That is pretty much the biggest difference. Around the world, before Pride was here, Pride was there it's now bought by the UFC. Pride had also different rules. There were kicks to the face allowed on the ground and knees to the head allowed on the ground. That was not allowed in America. Also, Pride had the first ten minute round and then two 5 minute rounds overtime. That was for a title fight. One five minute round overtime for a normal fight. So , most of the time, that's where the differences are, in the time and with or without elbows or with kicks or knees to the head once an opponent is down.
Do all the MMA leagues use the same weight classes?
All of the orginizations that are around the world have the same weight classes. There are five weight classes, but I think that they should add maybe two more. I should say super heavy weight, that is over 265 pounds, and I would say maybe a 145 pound weight class. Right now, you have got 155, 170, 185, 205 and you have got above 205, but that's going to 265. When I say from 265, you always get these really big guys, although they are hard to find. However, they will pop up eventually and then at that moment you're going to need the super heavy weight class.
What are illegal MMA strikes?
No eye gouging. No fish hooking, pulling like this. You cannot grab in the nose and pull it up. It's also very effective to put your hand underneath there. You cannot strike the back of the head, the back of the neck, your back. The whole back you cannot strike. That would be it pretty much. Spiking down elbows is not allowed. When you're on top, elbows from north to south are not allowed. They are allowed if you're on your back, because now it goes from east to west, and then you can do those. It's a rule you can bypass. Officially, they would say it's illegal, but no, the rules say you cannot do north to south. They don't say east to west, so you can do that. With the submissions, anything is legal right now. The only thing you cannot do, if somebody shoots in and let's say he grabs around your waist. You grab him up, and you pull his legs up and his head is down. You cannot spike him into the ground. You cannot drop him on the head. That's an illegal move. And obviously, that's there to protect the guys, because you don't want to get dropped on your head. You die or you break your neck. So we've been very fortunate in mixed martial arts right now. There has been one death, but it was in an unsanctioned fight in Russia, and it was an American guy who took the fight on a five day notice. He should have never done that. Also from what I heard, from what I understand, he wasn't tested. They did not run any tests on him. No EKG tests, no nothing, and he had weak spots in his skull, and he broke his skull.
What is the mandatory equipment for a pro MMA fight?
The equipment for a professional fight is the gloves; the open hand gloves so you can grab people. A mouthpiece is mandatory, and each fighter needs groin protection. And that's pretty much it. For the rest, you cannot wear normal jeans, of course. You cannot wear anything that has pockets, where people can get stuck in with their fingers or something. It needs to be all smooth, no pockets, and that's about it.
Are pro MMA fighters required to take drug tests?
Yes, fighters are required to take a drug test. Right now they pick them randomly. I truly believe that they should just test every fighter. Every fighter should be tested before the fight and they should test them after the fight. Right now it is going to be a little bit of an expensive thing. I was talking about it yesterday in an interview and they asked me and I said, "You know if you really want to stop it, and you want to stop it in every sport but its going to be very expensive, you got to run blood tests; very simple." Because apparently if you stop so many weeks, a certain amount of weeks before a fight and using steroids; its out of your system in your urine test. But in a blood test they can go back like three months for whatever search you see so that's why I say just take a blood test.
How is an MMA win decided?
A win is decided by knockouts, by submission, and by tap-out. So most of the time, a submission, but again it can also be by strikes; if I tap somebody and I start hitting, he can also tap that says, "ok I can never escape from this position." I'd rather tap than be knocked out. And then of course the referee can stop the fight. And of course the corner can throw in the towel and then you win also. If his corner throws in the towel.