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ADXC Rules & Refereeing

The ADXC Rules aim to provide a clear set of professional Grappling. The framework of the rules was proposed and agreed upon by technical commission meetings and unanimously adopted by the ADXC.

TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS

The ADXC Rules aim to provide a clear set of professional Grappling. The Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC) is an International Grappling sporting event featuring high-level athletes from around the world from the prestigious AJP ranking system.

Grappling is a close range fighting technique that is used in a variety of martial arts that involves grabbing and holding an opponent. It can involve clinch fighting, throws, takedowns, and ground fighting. Grappling is an important element in martial arts and can be a useful skill for self defence or for competition.

There are basically 2 types of grappling Gi Grappling & NO-Gi Grappling. The game has features from several different fighting forms such as:

  • Judo
  • Sumo
  • Sambo
  • Ju-Jitsu
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
  • Wrestling (Freestyle and Greco-Roman)
  • Submission grappling

The ADXC brings together many of the greatest grappling fighters in history for memorable, competitive, and entertaining fights around the world.The top athletes that will fight for the first ADXC Titles will be selected and invited by the AJP, according to their results in the last Abu Dhabi World Pro, Abu Dhabi Grand Slams and Continental Championships and representation within the sport as a role model. Their charisma and posture both inside and outside the mats as well as their schedule availability will also be taken into account.

THE MAIN RULES OF ADXC:
  1. Judging criteria
  2. Fouls
  3. Weight Classes Divisions
  4. Fight Time
  5. Fighting Area
  6. Athlete Uniform and Equipment
1. JUDGING CRITERIA
  • Round winner will be decided under a 10 point must system similar to mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts.
  • If there is a submission at any time the match will end.
  • In the eventuality of the athletes arriving in a 50/50 situation the match will restart in the standing position.
  • Matches will be officiated under the latest version of the AJP Rules but without utilising its point system.
REFEREEING AND JUDGING

All bouts will be evaluated and scored by 3 Judges and 1 Referee who shall evaluate the contest from different locations around the fighting area according to the agreed rules of the commission.

The contests will be refereed by AJP International Referees and Judge Committee with ADXC rules in accordance with the Refereeing Rules of the AJP.

TYPES OF CONTEST RESULTS
METHODS OF VICTORY
1. Submission (SUB):
  • Physical or verbal tap out by one of dozens of methods of submission.
  • When the Referee stops the contest due to injury or unconsciousness due to a submission.
2. Knockout or Technical Knockout:
  • When an Athlete is knocked unconscious due to an impact from a legal technique. (KO)
  • The referee stops the contest due to an impact from a legal technique. (TKO)
3. Disqualification (DQ):
  • When an athlete commits a foul that leads to the referee stopping the contest.
Stopping the Contest

The referee is the sole arbiter of a contest and is the only individual authorized to stop a contest.

The referees may take advice from the matside physician and/or the Commission with respect to the decision to stop a contest.

The referees and the matside physician are the only individuals authorized to enter the fighting area at any time during competition other than the rest periods and subsequent to the contest ending.

4. Judges’ Decision
  • When a fight is not finished by a submission, knockout or disqualification, the judges will deliver their scorecards for a final decision.
  • Unanimous Decision – When all three judges score the contest for the same contestant.
  • Majority Decision – – When two judges score the contest for one contestant and the third scores the contest a draw.
  • Split Decision – When two judges score the contest for one contestant and one judge scores for the opponent.
  • Split Draw – When one judge scores the contest for one contestant, one scores it for the other, and the third scores it a draw.
  • Majority Draw –When two judges score the contest as a draw and the third scores it for one of the fighters.
  • Unanimous Draw –When all three judges score the contest as a draw.
5. No Decision / Withdraw / Walkover
  • A fighter can forfeit the match before the fight if they are injured and unable to fight.
  • If both fighters continually break the rules or if one fighter is injured unintentionally by an illegal action, a no contest can be called.
2. FOULS
adxc judging criteria/scoring
3. WEIGHT CLASS DIVISIONS
  • Except with the approval of the AJP Commission, or its executive director, the classes for the contests and the weights for the event may consist of title disputes in the following weight classes:
GI
  • MEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 69 KG)
  • MEN’S WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 77 KG)
  • MEN’S MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 85 KG)
  • MEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 120 KG)
  • WOMEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 55 KG)
  • WOMEN’S MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 70 KG)
  • WOMEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 95 KG)
GRAPPLING
  • MEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 69 KG)
  • MEN’S WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 77 KG)
  • MEN’S MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 85 KG)
  • MEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 120 KG)
  • WOMEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 55 KG)
  • WOMEN’S MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 70 KG)
  • WOMEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 95 KG)

In championship fights, the participants must weigh no more than that permitted for the relevant weight division.

*The fighters will eventually receive Title Belt, Trophy, Medals and Cash Prize by weight class.

4. FIGHT TIME
  • Prelims and Main Card matches will be decided in 3 rounds of 3 minutes (1 minute rest between rounds).
  • Main Event and Co Main Event matches will be decided in 5 rounds of 3 minutes (1 minute rest between rounds).
5. FIGHTING AREA REQUIREMENTS
  • The fighting area contests will be held in a cage platform.
  • A cage area used for a contest must be no smaller than 9 meters.
  • One corner shall have a blue designation and the corner directly opposite shall have a red designation.

The 750 square foot ADXC Cage measures 9m (30 feet) across and 1,85m (6 feet) high, and was created with both safety and fairness in mind. Its walls and padded surfaces protect fighters from falling out or being thrown out.

  • Diameter 9m (30 ft.)
  • Floor height 1m (3.2 ft.)
  • Wide catwalk 1m (3.2 ft.)
  • Floor padding 3cm

The standard cage has a diameter of 30 ft. (9.1m) with a 6 ft. (1.8m) high fence.The cage sits atop a platform, raising it 4 ft. (1.2m) from the ground. It has foam padding around the top of the fence and between each of the eight sections. It also has two entry-exit gates opposite each other. The mat, painted with sponsorship logos and art, is replaced for each event.

6. SPECIFICATIONS FOR GI AND NO-GI GRAPPLING APPAREL AND APPEARANCE
  • Gis should be Black, Blue or White, and each contestant shall have two Gis of same color (Red corner: White color a must, blue corner: blue or black GI).
  • Shirts are prohibited during competition except for rash guards provided by the Commission.
  • For No-Gi Grappling contests each contestant shall wear NO-Gi shorts (board shorts) or other shorts approved by the Commission.
  • Each combatant must be clean and present a tidy appearance.
  • A Fighter may not wear any jewelry or other piercing accessories while competing in the contest.