Rules for the Proper Conduct Of

RULES FOR THE PROPER CONDUCT OF

PROFESSIONAL COMBAT SPORTS CONTESTS IN VICTORIA

Contents

1.PURPOSE

2.DEFINITIONS

3.WEIGHT DIVISIONS

4.WEIGH-IN

5.THE RING

6.PROMOTERS

7.CONTESTANTS

7.1General requirements

7.2Contestant attire

7.3Jewellery

7.4Hand wraps

7.5 Gloves

7.6 Ankle wraps

8.TRAINERS

9.TIMEKEEPERS

9.4 Timekeeper equipment

9.5 The role of the Timekeeper

10.MEDICAL PRACTITIONER

10.2 Pre-Contest examination

10.3 During contests

10.4 Post-Contest examination

10.5 Medical equipment

10.6 Authority to stop a contest

10.7 Non-fight periods

11.REFEREE

11.2 Referee attire

11.3 Duties of a referee before a bout commences

11.4 Duties of a referee during a bout

11.5 Powers of a referee

11.6 Stopping the contest

11.7 Consulting the Medical Practitioner

12.JUDGES

12.1 Judge attire

12.2 The role of a judge

13.SCORING

13.1 Points

13.2 Judges’ decisions

13.3 Official outcomes

13.4 The decision is final

APPENDINX 1

APPENDIX 2

APPENDIX 3

APPENDIX 4

APPENDIX 5

APPENDIX 6

1.PURPOSE

1.1The purpose of these rules is to supplement the requirements of the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Act 1985 and the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Regulations 2008that apply to professional combat sports contests in Victoria.

1.2These rules are issued by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board of Victoria in the interests of safety and integrity of professional combat sports in Victoria.

1.3Combat sports comprise the disciplines of kickboxing, modified kickboxing, K1, Muay Thai and modified Muay Thai. Each of these disciplines is further defined in Appendix 1.

2.DEFINITIONS

2.1approved shorts means board shorts or other shorts approved by the Board.

2.2the Board means the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board as defined in section 14 of the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Act 1985.

2.3a foul means any of the following:

Using the head or elbow to deliver a strike, with the exception of Muay Thai (see relevant legal strikes section in Appendix 1)
Striking the opponent to the groin;
Striking the back of the head with a punch;
Delivering wrestling or judo throwing or submission techniques;
Thumbing, choking or biting the opponent;
Striking the opponent to the throat;
Striking the opponent while they are down or in the process of getting up;
Striking the opponent after the referee calls a break;
Holding the ropes during a bout;
Using abusive language in the ring;
Attempting to cause the opponent to fall out of the ring;
Voluntarily exiting the ring during the course of a bout;
Striking an opponent who turns around and shows their back;
Striking an opponent after the bell has sounded ending the round, or when the referee calls a break;
Charging inside the opponent's arms with the head held low (inducing a head-butt);
Holding the opponent's neck with hands, with the exception of Muay Thai, Modified Muay Thai and K1 (see relevant legal strikes sections in Appendix 1)
Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee; and
Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.

promoter means any person who promotes a professional contest.
promotion means an event consisting of one or more professional contests and includes any preliminary arrangements in connection with such an event.
recorder means a member of the Combat Sports Unit or a delegate appointed by the Unit who records the judges’ scores and provides final results to the announcer.
judge means a person who determines the points scored by each contestant in a professional contest and appointed by the Board.
referee means a person who controls, or exercises any form of control, over the conduct of professional contestants during a professional contest and appointed by the Board.
match-maker means a person who acts on behalf of a promoter to arrange professional contests between particular professional contestants.
seconds means a licensed trainer.
timekeeper means a person who measures time with the assistance of a clock or stopwatch for the purposes of signalling the beginning and end of a round of a professional contest and appointed by the Board.
trainer means a person who supervises the training or instruction of a professional contestant or who accompanies a professional contestant in the ring to give advice or assistance during a professional contest.

3.WEIGHT DIVISIONS

3.1Weight divisions are the currentlyrecognised weight divisions/classes for professional male and female combat sports contestants in Victoria, as set by the Board.

3.2Weight classes are defined in maximum allowable kilograms.

3.3The current weight divisions for professional male and female combat sports contestants in Victoriaare listed in Appendix 2.

4.WEIGH-IN

4.1There will be one official weigh-in unless otherwise approved by the Board.

4.2The weigh-in will be held no more than 24 hours before the scheduled start time of the promotion unless otherwise approved by the Board.

4.3If any bout of a promotion is postponed for more than 24 hours after the original scheduled date, all contestants for those bouts postponed must weigh in again.

4.4Scales

The scales used for weigh-ins shall be provided by the Board.

A fight will not be allowed to proceed if the weight difference between matched contestants is as follows:

If the lighter contestant’s weight is less than 57.15 kilograms then the difference in weight between the two contestants must be no more than two kilograms
If the lighter contestant’s weight is between 57.15 and 72.57 kilograms then the difference in weight between the two contestants must be no more than five kilograms
If the lighter contestant’s weight is between 72.57 and 79.38 kilograms then the difference in weight between the two contestants must be no more than six kilograms
If the lighter contestant’s weight is between 79.38 and 90.72 kilograms then the difference in weight between the two contestants must be no more than eight kilograms
Contestants are allowed two hours after the official weigh-in commencement time to make the required weight and are allowed any number of times on the scales during that time.
If a contestant is unable to make the agreed weight, the trainer of that contestant’s opponent may accept or refuse the bout at their sole discretion.
For a title fight, if the title holder fails to make the weight after the allowed two hours, the fight can proceed as a non-title contest.
If the challenger fails to make the weight after the allowed two hours the fight can proceed with the following ramifications:
If the titleholder wins, the titleholder retains the title; and
If the challenger wins, the title will be declared vacant and the challenger cannot claim the title.
If the contest is for a vacant title and one of the co-challengers fails to make the weight, the contest will go forward as a championship contest, however, only the boxer who has made the weight can win the title if he/she wins the contest.

5.THE RING

5.1All Professional combat sports contests in Victoria must be conducted in a ring.

5.2Specifications of the ring

The ring used in a contest of professional combat sports must meet the following requirements:

not be less than 4.9 metres squared nor more than 6.1 metres squared by measurement taken inside the ropes.
The platform mustbe strongly constructed level, free from any obstructing projections and extend for at least 0.5 metres outside the line to the ropes and not more than 1.2 metres above the floor.

The ropes must:
be four in number and each not less than 0.025 metres in diameter;
be tightly drawn from the corner post and heights at approximately 0.32 metres, 0.65 metres, 0.97 metres and 1.3 metres from the ring floor;
be covered in a soft, smooth material; and
where sisal or similar ropes are used they must be joined vertically on each side at equal distance by two pieces of close textured canvas 0.03 to 0.04 metres wide and must not slide along the ropes, the turnbuckle must be well padded.
The platform must:
have a rubber (jig-saw mat) or similar material not less than 0.015 metres thick; and
a canvas apron which must be stretched tightly and secured to the outer edges of the platform.

6. PROMOTERS

6.1The promoter must ensure compliance with all of the conditions on their promotion permit.

6.2The promoter must also ensure the following:

That the ring complies with the specifications outlined herein;
Proper steps are provided for contestants to enter the ring;
The contestant’s corners are marked red and blue or otherwise approved by the Board;
The contestant’s gloves are red or blue or otherwise approved by the Board;
All contestants are registered;
All trainers hold and display a current trainer’s licence;
All judges, the timekeeper and referee(s) are licensed and display their license with exception of the referee
That there is no more than four Seconds in a contestant’s corner at any one time;
Ringside security is maintained;
The lighting is adequate for the conduct of the contest;
A bucket is placed in each contestant’s corner;
A spinal board is kept ringside;
Sufficient number of clean buckets are available for the use of the contestants;
Any water or liquid spilt is wiped up between rounds; and
Stools are available for contestants between rounds.

7.CONTESTANTS

7.1General requirements

Contestants must be over the age of 18 to compete in any professional combat sports contest.
At all times during a bout a contestant must wear a mouth guard as fitted by a dentist or an advanced dental technician.
All male competitors must wear an approved groin protector.
Contestants shall use no facial cosmetics and have their hair secured with soft and non-abrasive materials.
A contestant must not commit a foul during a bout.
No contestant will leave the ring during the rest period between rounds. If this occurs the fight is deemed to be over on the basis that the contestant is disqualified.
If a non-fight period (see section 10.7) is imposed by the medical practitioner or the Board, a contestant must not enter any contests during the non-fight period.

7.2Contestant attire

The following items of clothing are prohibited during competition:

Gi
Gi pants
Shirts
Long pants.

All females must compete in a sports bra, fitted lycra, rash guard or equivalent.
No clothing can be comprised of any solid or hard material of any kind.

7.3Jewellery

Contestants may not wear any jewellery or other piercings accessories while competing in a contest.

7.4Hand wraps

A soft surgical bandage or similar material not exceeding 5 centimetres in width may beworn on each hand.
One layer of adhesive tape no more than 2.5 centimetres in width may be placed on the back of each hand to protect that part of the hand near the wrist but must not extend past the base of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist.
Adhesive tape up to 1.5 metres in length and 2.5 centimetres in width may be used to secure the bandage between the wrist and the knuckles but must not extend past the base of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist.
A thin strip of adhesive tape may be placed between the fingers to help keep the bandages in place
No liquid, powder or any other substance is to be applied to the hands before or after they are bandaged
All bandaging and taping must be performed in the dressing room and be approved and signed off by a Board member or a person delegated by the Board to perform this function.

7.5 Gloves

All contestants in weight divisions Super Welterweight and above must wear regulation 10 ounce (283 gram) gloves.
For fights in weight classes Welterweight and below contestants must wear regulation 8oz (227 gram) gloves.
The gloves must have attached thumbs and be clean and serviceable.
The gloves for all title bouts must be new or as new condition.

7.6 Ankle wraps

Ankle wrapping is not mandatory.
If used, ankle wrappings must be totally concealed by ankle supports.
For each ankle no more than 5 metres of soft surgical bandage no more than 5 centimetres wide is to be used.
No more than one metre of adhesive tape with a maximum width of 3 centimetres to be used to complete the wrappings for each ankle.
Instep padding can be used but must be approved by a Board member prior to the contest at the promotion.

8.TRAINERS

8.1During any bout each contestant is entitled to four Seconds.

8.2Only one trainer can accompany the contestant to the centre of the ring during the referee’s instructions.

8.3During the round the trainers must be seated.

8.4Before the round begins, one trainer must remove any towels, buckets, stools, etc. from the platform of the ring and wipe away all excess water from the platform.

8.5Between rounds only one licensed trainer can enter the ring and communicate directly to the contestant.

8.6The trainers must remain out of the ring between rounds.

8.7A trainer may seek to terminate a bout when they consider their contestant to be in difficulty by throwing a towel into the ring however, the referee will be the final arbiter of the termination of the bout.

8.8Trainers must ensure that no excessive use of grease or any other foreign substance is to be used on the face or body of a contestant.

9.TIMEKEEPERS

9.1A timekeeper must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs whilst officiating.

9.2A timekeeper must not consume alcohol or take drugs while officiating.

9.3Timekeeper attire

A timekeeper must wear the following clothing:
Trousers, long and black coloured;
Collared shirt, long or short sleeved, black or white in colour.
Attire should not feature any distinguishing badges, pockets, names, logos, trademarks, distinctive signs etc. of any kind, except where prior approval of the Board has been granted.
A timekeeper’s license must be displayed at all times.

9.4 Timekeeper equipment

The timekeeper is responsible for providing their own equipment for a contest which comprises:

a bell
a stopwatch
a whistle

9.5 The role of the Timekeeper

During a contest, the Timekeeper is required to:

sound the bell at the end of each round.
stop the time if a contest has been stopped by the referee by calling “stop”
restart the time when the referee calls “fight” to restart the contest
sound the whistle ten seconds before the end of the one minute rest period between rounds.
advise the announcer to call “Seconds out” and announce the number of the ensuing round before sounding the whistle.

9.6 Cessation of a count

If at the end of any round, except for the final round, a contestant is down and the referee is in the course of counting over the fallen contestant, the bell indicating the end of the round must not be sounded by the timekeeper.

If the fallen contestant rises before the count of 10, and the referee gives the command to continue indicating the continuation of the bout, the bell must then be sounded by the timekeeper.

10.MEDICAL PRACTITIONER

10.1The medical practitioner is required to complete a professional contest-related medical examination using Form 6 under the Professional Boxing and Combat Sport Act 1985.