ISCF Semi-Contact MMA

RULES - REGULATIONS - INFORMATION

ISCF SEMI-CONTACT MMA: DIVISIONS

  • Age & Weight

    • Divisions separated by age and weight.

    • Juniors (ages 8–17) compete within a 2-year age spread.

  • Gender

    • All competitors are separated by male / female divisions.

  • Catchweight Options

    • ISCF & Event Matchmaker may create catchweight divisions to ensure fair competition.

    • Catchweights allowed only if fighters remain within the spread of the lightest fighter’s division.

  • Amateur Status

    • All competitors must be amateur fighters.

    • Amateur = never received payment (purse or direct compensation) for a bout.

RULES BRIEFING

  • All competitors and their coaches must attend the mandatory rules meeting before competition.

  • Failure to attend may result in removal from the event.

    • Takedowns, Ground Control, Submission holds, and Strikes ARE allowed.

    • ALL SEMI-CONTACT MMA fighters MUST wear ISCF Approved Headgear.

    • Matches are won by score or by properly applied submission technique.

    • Strikes must be focused/delivered in a controlled manner ensuring proper placement.

    • There are NO knockouts and NO chokeouts. You will be disqualified!

    • NO strikes to the head if one or both fighters are grounded (NO ground & pound).

    • NO knees, elbows, forearms, headbutts, or strikes with the head.

    • NO strikes to joints, kidneys, back, spine, groin, rear ribs, or other vital points.

    • Strikes are allowed to the head (3rd tier only), body, and legs (chest, stomach, ribs, arms, thighs, calf).

    • Punches, hammer fists, and kicks (instep, bottom, blade, or ball of foot) are allowed.

    • All strikes to the face must be with padded area of the glove or shin guard.

    • NO spinning back-fists.

    • Stomping on a downed opponent and up-kicks from the bottom are NOT allowed.

    • NO ground & pound.

    • Slamming, spiking to the head, or “back splashing” to escape a submission are NOT allowed.

    • Open “flying scissors” style takedowns are NOT allowed.

    • NO body twisting.

    • Submissions must be applied with pressure, not cranked.

    • Referee will break a submission after 3–10 seconds and award points.

    • Catches (locks, armbars, chokes) are allowed, but once control is shown, referee stops and awards points.

    • NO wrist locks.

    • NO heel hooks, leg locks, or twisting knee submissions.

    • Guillotine chokes must have the arm in.

    • Neck cranks and spine submissions are prohibited.

    • “Can openers” must have the arm in and cannot be used as a submission.

    • Potentially dangerous takedowns, throws, and injury-based submissions are NOT allowed.

    • “Jumping guards” are prohibited.

  • All fighters MUST complete 10 ISCF Semi-Contact MMA sparring bouts before competing with head contact.

    • All fighters MUST wear tight-fitting headgear, approved by ISCF.

    • If a fighter’s headgear falls off, their opponent cannot strike to the head.

    • Referee will wait until the first opportune moment, without interfering with the action, to call a timeout for the trainer to replace the headgear.

    • At the referee’s discretion, points may be deducted or disqualification rendered in the following situations:

      • Headgear purposely pulled off by the fighter.

      • Corner fails to ensure headgear is in place or delays replacing it after it falls off.

      • Not following the direction of the ISCF referee during the bout.

    • Stalling or executing excessive non-scoring techniques.

    • Maliciously causing injury to an opponent.

    • Bending/twisting fingers, biting, scratching, pulling hair, clothing, or pinching/pulling skin.

    • Disrespectful conduct (verbal or physical) during the bout.

    • Arguing with any official.

    • Refusing to obey the direction of any official.

    • Showing disregard for one’s or opponent’s safety.

    • Continuing the bout outside the competition area or after referee calls halt.

    • Any condition for which referee believes a penalty should be imposed.

    • Strikes to joints, kidneys, back, spine, groin, or other vital points are prohibited for ALL fighters.

⚠️ Knockouts and chokeouts are strictly prohibited — attempt = disqualification.

ISCF Semi-Contact MMA: Match Time Lengths

  • All Bouts: Two (2) rounds. If a draw occurs after two rounds, a third round may be held to determine the winner.

  • Junior Bouts: 90-second rounds with 1-minute rest between rounds.

  • Adult Bouts: 2-minute rounds with 1-minute rest between rounds.

  • Match Outcome: Winners are determined by the judge’s scorecards, unless the match ends early due to disqualification, injury, quitting, or any other reason as outlined by the rules or referee.

ISCF Semi-Contact MMA: Matted Competition Area

  • The competition area must be a minimum of 20 feet x 20 feet.

  • Mats must be of wrestling, judo, or jiu-jitsu style with at least 1-inch foam padding.

  • The matted area must extend at least 3 feet beyond the competition area.

  • All mats must be securely joined (by design or tape) with no gaps.

  • Mats must be clean and in good condition.

  • Padding must be approved by the ISCF Event Representative and Event Referee(s).

  • If the competition area is elevated, it must not exceed 36 inches (3 feet) above the venue floor.

  • Elevated areas must have steps or a ramp for participants.

  • A minimum 5-foot warning border is required around elevated competition areas.

  • The ISCF promoter may make any necessary adjustments to the competition area as deemed appropriate by the ISCF Event Referee and Representative.

ISCF Semi-Contact MMA: Weigh-Ins

  • Official weigh-ins may take place either the day before or the day of the event.

  • Both participants in a bout must weigh in on the same day and during the scheduled weigh-in time. (Unless prior arrangements are approved.)

  • Every fighter and trainer has the right to witness their opponent’s weigh-in.

  • Weigh-in windows are limited to 2 hours (except for tournaments). Fighters who miss this window may be scratched from the event unless a valid reason is provided to the ISCF Representative.

  • Weigh-ins must be conducted by the ISCF Event Representative at a location and time agreed upon with the Event Promoter.

  • Prior to weigh-ins, scale accuracy must be verified with a 10 lb fixed weight provided by the promoter.

  • All fighters must weigh in.

  • Fighters may wear shorts, shirt, and socks only (no pants, jackets, or shoes).

  • Fighters must weigh in within the weight class agreed upon during matchmaking. No bouts should be scheduled on a “single” weight.

  • Fighters in title bouts must weigh in within the title weight limits. No weight allowance is permitted.

  • Weight Separations: For all bouts, including catchweight bouts, fighters must be within the allowed spread according to ISCF Semi-Contact MMA rules.

ISCF SEMI-CONTACT MMA: WEIGHT CLASSES

ISCF Semi-Contact MMA: Fighters Clothing and Equipment

Health & Safety Check

  • All competitors will be examined for contagious skin conditions, trimmed nails, and open wounds prior to competition.

1. Dress Code

  • Fighters must wear shorts or spats (short or long) only—no pants.

  • Shorts cannot contain metal, zippers, buttons, or sharp objects, and should not have pockets.

  • Approved shorts include fight shorts without buttons, zippers, or hard objects.

  • Male competitors wear short or long sleeve rash guards.

  • Female competitors wear short or long sleeve rash guards with sports bras underneath. Sports bras must not have braces, metal, or hard materials.

  • Any other clothing must be approved by the ISCF referee; apparel may be taped or secured for stability.

  • No apparel or equipment with metal, hard plastic, or edges that could cause injury is allowed.

2. Gloves

  • Fighters must wear ISCF-approved gloves.

  • Ages 8–17: 8 oz gloves. Ages 18+: 8–10 oz gloves.

  • Gloves must be taped for stability during the bout.

3. Groin Protection

  • Male fighters must wear an ISCF-approved groin cup for all matches.

4. Mouthpiece

  • Fighters must wear an ISCF-approved mouthpiece during bouts.

  • Strongly recommended to have two form-fitted mouthpieces available.

  • The round cannot begin without the mouthpiece properly in place.

  • If dislodged, the referee will call a timeout at the first safe opportunity to replace it.

5. Shoes

  • Wrestling or martial arts shoes are not allowed.

6. Body Equipment

  • Fighters may wear ISCF-approved shin or instep pads, taped for stability and approved by the ISCF Representative.

7. Head Equipment

  • All ages must wear tight-fitting ISCF-approved headgear, such as Top 10 MMA Headgear.

8. Body Art

  • No body jewelry or piercings.

  • No henna or temporary tattoos.

  • No excessive makeup.

  • No advertisements on the skin.

  • Any masks, costumes, or props must be pre-approved.

9. Vaseline

  • Light application of Vaseline on the face is allowed at the mat entrance under referee supervision.

  • No oils, greases, or tar on any other body parts.

10. Fingernails & Toenails

  • Must be trimmed and clean prior to any bout.

11. Hair

  • Long hair must be tied back using soft materials.

  • Facial hair must be trimmed or cut if deemed a health, safety, or sanitary issue by the ISCF Event Representative.

ISCF SEMI-CONTACT MMA: SUSPENSIONS

• ISCF SEMI-CONTACT MMA Rules and Regulations will be STRICTLY ENFORCED.


Light contact must be maintained. The first violation will initiate a hard warning.
The second violation in the same match will give the Referee the discretion to take away points, disqualify the fighter and/or suspend them.