MMA rule preferences, Unified Rules or Pride/Dream/Japanese rules.

[Reddannihilation]

Being relatively new to MMA, (5 years casual viewing, about 1 1/2 years of thorough viewing) one of the things that always interested me about the sport is the difference in rules for Japanese promotions and the Unified rules. So for those unaware these are the differences;

Unified rules

In 2000, the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts were codified by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission.[1] The rules were originally drawn up by the California State Athletic Commission, who had worked extensively on regulation, but its sanctioning of MMA was not implemented due to state governmental issues surrounding the budgeting process.[2] California officially sanctioned MMA on December 28, 2005, using the ruleset it helped devise five years previously.[3]

Since then, to create uniformity in the United States, many state athletic commissions have assimilated these rules for mixed martial arts into their existing unarmed combat competition rules and statutes. For a promotion to hold mixed martial arts events in a state-sanctioned venue, the promotion must abide by the state athletic commission's body of rules. Promotions that hold events on Indian reservations are under the jurisdiction of the Indian tribe government, which may require sanctioning by their own commission.
[edit] Rounds

Every round is 5 minutes in duration with a one minute rest period in-between rounds. Non-title matches must not exceed three rounds. Title matches can be sanctioned for five rounds.
[edit] Attire

All competitors must fight in approved shorts, without shoes or any other sort of foot padding. Shirts, gis or long pants (including gi pants) are not allowed. Fighters must use approved light gloves (4-6 ounces) that allow fingers to grab.
[edit] Judging criteria

The ten-point must system is in effect for all fights. Three judges score each round and the winner of each receives ten points, the loser nine points or less. If the round is even, both fighters receive ten points. In New Jersey, the fewest points a fighter can receive is 7, and in other states by custom no fighter receives less than 8.
[edit] Legal techniques

The Unified Rules continue to allow all elbow strikes except those hitting downwards with the point of the elbow, or those to the back of the head. (See Fouls for details)
[edit] Fouls

The following are fouls, as set out by the Nevada State Athletic Commission:[4]

* Butting with the head
* Eye gouging of any kind
* Biting
* Hair pulling
* Fish hooking
* Groin attacks of any kind
* Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent. (see Gouging)
* Small joint manipulation
* Striking to the spine or the back of the head (see Rabbit punch)
* Striking downward using the point of the elbow (see Elbow (strike))
* Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea
* Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh
* Grabbing the clavicle
* Kicking the head of a grounded opponent
* Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent
* Stomping a grounded opponent
* Kicking to the kidney with the heel
* Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck. (see piledriver)
* Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area
* Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent
* Spitting at an opponent
* Engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent
* Holding the ropes or the fence
* Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area
* Attacking an opponent on or during the break
* Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee
* Attacking an opponent after the bell (horn) has sounded the end of a round
* Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee
* Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury
* Interference by the corner
* Throwing in the towel during competition

When a foul is charged, the referee in their discretion may deduct one or more points as a penalty. If a foul incapacitates a fighter, then the match may end in a disqualification if the foul was intentional, or a no contest if unintentional. If a foul causes a fighter to be unable to continue later in the bout, it ends with a technical decision win to the injured fighter if the injured fighter is ahead on points, otherwise it is a technical draw.
[edit] General conduct

* Fighters are tested for steroids and other illegal substances.

PRIDE Fighting Championships

Historically, PRIDE's rules (now defunct) have differed between main PRIDE events and Bushido events.[5]. However, it was announced on November 29, 2006 that Bushido events would be discontinued.[6] When holding events in the US, PRIDE abided by the Unified Rules, but added the prohibition against elbows to the head.
[edit] Rounds

The first round is ten minutes in duration and the second and third rounds are five minutes in duration. There is a two minute rest period between each round. Grand Prix matches are two rounds in length if more than one round is scheduled on one night.
[edit] Attire

PRIDE allows fighters latitude in their choice of attire but open finger gloves, a mouthguard and a protective cup are mandatory. It is within a fighter's discretion to tape parts of their body or to wear a gi top, gi pants, wrestling shoes, kneepads, elbow pads, shin guards and ankle supports, though each is checked by the referee before the fight.
[edit] Judging criteria

If the match reaches its time limit then the outcome of the bout is determined by the three judges. The fight is scored in its entirety and not round-by-round. After the conclusion of the bout, each judge must decide a winner. Matches cannot end in a draw. A decision is made according to the following criteria in this order of priority:

1. the effort made to finish the fight via KO or submission,
2. damage given to the opponent,
3. standing combinations and ground control,
4. takedowns and takedown defense,
5. aggressiveness, and
6. weight (in the case that the weight difference is 10 kg/22 lb or more).

If a fight is stopped on advice of the ring doctor after an accidental but illegal action, e.g., a clash of heads, and the contest is in its second or third round, the match will be decided by the judges using the same criteria.
[edit] Legal techniques

PRIDE allows the following techniques:

* Stomps to a grounded opponent.
* Soccer kicks to the head of a grounded opponent.
* Knees to the head of a grounded opponent.

[edit] Fouls

In addition to the common fouls, PRIDE Fighting Championships considers elbow strikes to the head and face to be fouls.

In the event that a fighter is injured by illegal actions, then at the discretion of the referee and ring doctor, the round is resumed after enough time has been given for the fighter to recover. If the match cannot be continued due to the severity of the injury then the fighter who perpetrated the action will be disqualified.
[edit] General conduct

* If both fighters are on the verge of falling out of the ring or become entangled in the ropes, the referee will stop the action. The fighters must immediately stop their movements and will then be repositioned in the center of the ring in the same position. Once they are comfortably repositioned, they resume at the referee's instruction.
* If fighters commit the following actions, they shall be given a yellow card by officials: Stalling or failure to initiate any offensive attack, making no attempt to finalize the match or damage the opponent, and holding the opponent's body with the arms and legs to produce a stalemate. A yellow card results in a 10% deduction/fine of the fighter's fight purse.

[edit] Bushido rules

PRIDE Bushido events instituted distinct variations to the full PRIDE rules:

* Bushido bouts consist of two rounds; the first lasting ten minutes and the second lasting five. Intermissions between each round remain two minutes in length.
* In full PRIDE rules, a total of three yellow cards results in a red card (disqualification). In Bushido, yellow cards can be given out in an unlimited number without disqualification.

PRIDE discontinued Bushido events in late-2006 and their rules were last used for lightweight and welterweight fights at PRIDE Shockwave 2006.. As the lightweight and welterweight divisions will now be on the main PRIDE shows, the rules for the lighter classes are also changing to reflect standard PRIDE rules.

Also just to cover the difference in Dream and Pride;

Round length

2 Rounds

* 1st Round = 10 minutes
* 2nd Round = 5 minutes

In events where a cage is used, the rounds are three 5 minute rounds
[edit] Judging

* Fights will be judged in their entirety by three judges, not on a round-by-round ten-point-must basis (more common to North American promotions).
* A winner will always be declared, as draws are not possible.

Fouls and violations

* Stomps and football kicks to the head of a grounded opponent are not allowed (unless both fighters are on the ground), but they are allowed to the rest of the body.
* Elbows to the head are prohibited.
* If there is a 15 kilograms (33 lb) or more weight difference between the fighters, knees to the head of a grounded opponent are not allowed.
* A grounded opponent is defined as one in a three-point position. If a fighter has, for example, both knees and one hand on the floor facing the mat, then no kicks to the head are allowed.

Tournament substitutions

* In case of a "No Contest" or injury, the fighter who can continue will go through to the next round, if neither fighter is able to continue the promoter will choose a replacement fighter to go through.

So my question WZ MMA fans, is do you personally prefer one set of rules to the other? And do you feel that difference in the rules can effect the outcome of a fight?