EFC Rules

To ensure that our fighters enjoy worldwide acclaim, EFC™ strictly follows the international standard rules for mixed martial arts events and championships.

Weight Classes
  • Flyweight – below 57 kg.
  • Bantamweight – over 57 kg. to 61 kg.
  • Featherweight – over 61 kg. to 66 kg.
  • Lightweight – over 66 kg. to 70 kg.
  • Welterweight – over 70 kg. to 77 kg.
  • Middleweight – over 77 kg. to 84 kg.
  • Light Heavyweight – over 84 kg. to 93 kg.
  • Heavyweight – over 93 kg. to 120 kg
Fouls
  • 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.
  • Small joint manipulation.
  • Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
  • Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
  • 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.
  • Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
  • Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
  • Spitting at an opponent.
  • Engaging in an 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 has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
  • 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.
Download PDF Rules
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Bout Duration
  • All non-championship bouts shall be three rounds.
  • All championship bouts shall be five rounds.
  • Rounds will be five minutes in duration.
  • A one-minute rest period will occur between each round.
Ways to Win
  1. Submission by:
    • Physical tap out.
    • Verbal tap out
  2. Technical knockout by the referee stopping the contest.
  3. Decision via the scorecards, including:
    • Unanimous decision [all judges pick the same fighter as the winner].
    • Split decision [One judge picks one fighter, the other two judges pick the other fighter].
    • Majority decision [Two of three judges pick the same fighter as the winner, the final judge says the fight was a draw].
  4. Draw, including:
    • Unanimous draw.
    • Majority draw.
    • Split draw.
  5. Technical decision.
  6. Technical draw.
  7. Disqualification.
  8. Forfeit.
  9. No contest.
Referee may restart the round
  • If the fighters reach a stalemate and do not work to improve position or finish.