875—177.6 (90A) Procedural rules.
	 177.6(1) Inspection for foreign substances. The referee shall inspect the gloves, bandages, and bodies of the contestants and make sure that no foreign substances have been applied to the gloves, bandages, or bodies of the contestants that might be detrimental to an opponent.
	 177.6(2) Prohibited materials in ring. Contestants shall not take anything not permitted by these rules into the ring or pick up anything thrown into the ring and use the material or object in any way to gain an advantage over an opponent.
	 177.6(3) Fouls. As set forth in this subrule, the referee may penalize a contestant for fouls by disqualifying the contestant or by deducting points. The referee shall immediately determine if each foul is flagrant or accidental. “Flagrant” means the foul was intentional or reckless. “Accidental” means the foul was unintentional or incidental.
	  a.   	 Disqualification. If the referee determines that the foul was flagrant and the contestant who was fouled is unable to continue due to an injury resulting from the foul, the contestant who committed the foul shall be disqualified.
	  b.   	 Deduction of points. In determining the number of points to be deducted, the referee shall consider the nature and severity of the foul and its effect upon the opponent. As soon as practical after the foul, the referee shall notify the judges, contestants, and the commissioner of the number of points, if any, to be deducted from the score of the offender and whether the foul was flagrant or accidental. Points shall be deducted in the round in which the foul occurred.
	  c.   	 Continuation of match. This paragraph governs how a match shall be continued if a foul that does not result in disqualification occurs.
	 (1) 	 If a foul occurred but did not cause a serious injury, the referee may order the match to continue after a five-minute delay for recuperation. If subsequent fair blows aggravate the injury inflicted by a foul and the referee orders the contest stopped because of the injury, the outcome will be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the round during which the referee stopped the match.
	 (2) 	 If an accidental foul results in a concussive impact to the head, if a contestant’s chance of winning has been seriously jeopardized as a result of an accidental foul, or if a contestant is not able to continue the match due to an injury caused by an accidental foul, “no contest” will be declared or the winner will be determined based on points as set forth below.
	  1. 	 “No contest” will be declared if:
	  ● 	 The foul occurs during the first two rounds of a match scheduled for three rounds or fewer.
	  ● 	 The foul occurs during the first three rounds of a match scheduled for four or five rounds.
	  2. 	 The winner will be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the round during which the referee stopped the match if:
	  ● 	 The foul occurs during the third round of a match scheduled for three rounds.
	  ● 	 The foul occurs during the fourth or fifth round of a match scheduled for four or five rounds.
	  d.   	 Prohibited acts. Each of the following actions is a foul:
	 (1) 	 Butting with the head.
	 (2) 	 Eye gouging of any kind.
	 (3) 	 Biting.
	 (4) 	 Hair pulling.
	 (5) 	 Fishhooking.
	 (6) 	 Groin attacks of any kind.
	 (7) 	 Putting a finger into any orifice, cut, or laceration on an opponent.
	 (8) 	 Small joint manipulation.
	 (9) 	 Striking to the spine or behind the ears.
	 (10) 	 Striking using the point of the elbow.
	 (11) 	 Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
	 (12) 	 Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
	 (13) 	 Grabbing the clavicle.
	 (14) 	 Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
	 (15) 	 Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
	 (16) 	 Stomping a grounded opponent.
	 (17) 	 Striking the kidney.
	 (18) 	 Dropping or slamming an opponent on an opponent’s head or neck.
	 (19) 	 Throwing an opponent out of the cage or fenced area.
	 (20) 	 Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
	 (21) 	 Spitting at an opponent.
	 (22) 	 Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
	 (23) 	 Holding the ropes or the fence.
	 (24) 	 Using abusive language in the cage or fenced area.
	 (25) 	 Attacking an opponent during a break.
	 (26) 	 Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
	 (27) 	 Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the round.
	 (28) 	 Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
	 (29) 	 Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
	 (30) 	 Interference by a second.
	 (31) 	 Throwing in the towel during competition.
	 (32) 	 Threatening or intentionally striking or injuring any person other than the contestant’s opponent.
	 177.6(4) Mouth protection ejected. If the mouth protection is knocked from a contestant’s mouth, it shall be replaced with no penalty.
	 177.6(5) Spitting mouth protection. The referee shall caution a contestant who deliberately spits out a mouthpiece the first time and disqualify the contestant the second time.
	 177.6(6) Gloves. The gloves shall not be damaged or manipulated in any way by the contestants or their handlers. If a glove breaks or becomes undone during a match, the referee will instruct the timekeeper to take time out while the glove is being adjusted or replaced.
	 177.6(7) Injury. If a contestant claims to be injured or when a contestant has been injured seriously or knocked out, the referee shall immediately stop the fight and summon the attending ring physician to make an examination of the stricken fighter. If the physician decides that the contestant has been injured, the physician shall advise the referee of the severity of the injury. If the physician is of the opinion the injured contestant may be able to continue, the physician shall order a five-minute intermission, after which the physician shall make another examination and again advise the referee of the injured contestant’s condition. Managers, handlers and seconds shall not attend to the stricken fighter, except at the request of the physician.
[ARC 8916B, IAB 6/30/10, effective 8/4/10]