875—177.4(90A) Event.
	177.4(1) Officials. Officials shall consist of three judges, two referees, the physician or physician assistant, and the timekeeper.
	177.4(2) Referee. The referee is charged with the enforcement of all rules of the commissioner which apply to the performance and conduct of contestants and their seconds while in the ring. The referee shall wear latex gloves at all times while in the ring.
	177.4(3) Timekeeper. The timekeeper shall keep an exact record of time taken out at the request of a referee for an examination of a contestant by the physician or physician assistant, replacing a glove or adjusting any equipment during a round. The timekeeper shall notify contestants at the beginning and end of each round. The timekeeper shall be impartial and shall not signal interested parties at any time during a match.
	177.4(4) Participants. The contestants, seconds and managers are subject to approval by the commissioner.
	177.4(5) Weighing of contestants. Rescinded IAB 6/30/10, effective 8/4/10.
	177.4(6) Scoring. Three judges shall score each match by evaluating striking, grappling, control of the cage, aggressiveness, and defense. The significance and number of legal strikes shall receive the greatest weight. The number of legal takedowns and reversals shall receive the second greatest weight. Control of the cage shall receive the third greatest weight. Aggression shall receive the fourth greatest weight. Defense shall receive the least weight. The winner of a round shall always receive a score of 10. The score for each round shall be one of the following:
	a. 	If the contestants were evenly matched and neither dominated the round, the score shall be 10-10.
	b. 	If a contestant won a round by a close margin, the score shall be 10-9.
	c. 	If a contestant overwhelmingly dominated a round, the score shall be 10-8.
	d. 	If a contestant totally dominated a round, the score shall be 10-7.
	177.4(7) Length of match. Each match shall consist of no more than three rounds with no more than five minutes per round. However, the commissioner may authorize experienced contestants to compete in up to five rounds of up to five minutes each. There shall be a one-minute rest period between rounds. An overtime round shall not be allowed.
	177.4(8) Persons allowed in the cage. No person other than the two contestants and the referee shall enter the cage during the match. However, the physician or physician assistant may enter the cage to examine a contestant upon the request of the referee.
	177.4(9) Seconds.
	a. 	Unless special permission is granted by the commissioner, there shall be no more than two seconds. Before the start of the match, each corner shall notify the referee of the name of the chief second.
	b. 	Seconds shall not enter the cage except as authorized by this paragraph. The chief second may enter the cage after the timekeeper indicates the termination of the round, and the chief second must leave before the beginning of a round.
	c. 	Before leaving the ring at the start of the round, the seconds shall remove all obstructions, buckets, stools, bottles, towels and robes from the ring floor and ring enclosure.
	d. 	Seconds shall not smoke in the ring or corners and shall not wear a hat or cap while working in the corner.
	e. 	Seconds shall wear latex gloves at all times while attending any contestant.
	f. 	Seconds shall not throw or splash water upon a contestant. Excess water on the floor of the cage shall be wiped up immediately. Water discharged from the mouth of a contestant shall be caught in a bucket.
	177.4(10) Decorum of officials and participants.
	a. 	Except as allowed in this subrule, a promoter, official, or participant shall not:
	(1)	Intentionally or recklessly strike or injure a person;
	(2)	Speak or act in a threatening manner toward a person; or
	(3)	Damage, destroy, or attempt to damage or destroy property.
	b. 	The commissioner may immediately suspend the promoter’s license if the promoter does not comply with paragraph 177.4(10)“a” or if the promoter does not take appropriate action to curtail activities in violation of paragraph 177.4(10)“a” by an official or a participant.
	c. 	The commissioner may immediately suspend the authorization to participate in the event of an official or a participant who does not comply with paragraph 177.4(10)“a.”
	d. 	A contestant is exempt from subparagraphs 177.4(10)“a”(1) and (2) while interacting with the contestant’s opponent during a round. However, if the round is stopped by the physician or physician assistant or referee for a time out, subparagraphs 177.4(10)“a”(1) and (2) shall apply to a contestant.
[ARC 8916B, IAB 6/30/10, effective 8/4/10; ARC 6760C, IAB 12/28/22, effective 2/1/23]