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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" citation="COMAR 09.14.16.09" title_num="09" subtitle_num="14" chapter_num="16" heading="Method of Judging.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>All mixed martial arts contests shall be evaluated and scored by three judges.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The 10-Point Must System shall be the standard system of scoring a mixed martial arts contest where:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The winner of each round receives 10 points and the opponent proportionately less;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If a round is even, each mixed martial arts contestant receives 10 points; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Fractions of points may not be awarded.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Judges shall evaluate mixed martial arts techniques, including:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Effective striking;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Effective grappling;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Control of the fighting area;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Effective aggressiveness; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Defense.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Except as provided in §K of this regulation, when scoring each round, the judges shall evaluate the mixed martial arts techniques set forth in §C of this regulation by assigning the most weight to the technique in the order it appears in §C of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Effective striking shall be judged by determining the total number of legal heavy strikes landed by a contestant.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Effective grappling shall be judged by considering the number of successful executions of a legal takedown and a legal reversal including:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A takedown from the standing position to a mount position;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Passing the guard to a mount position; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A bottom position mixed martial arts contestant using an active, threatening guard.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Fighting area control shall be judged by determining which mixed martial arts contestant is dictating the pace, location, and position of the bout, including:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Countering an attempted takedown by remaining standing and legally striking;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Taking down an opponent to force a ground fight;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Creating a threatening submission attempt;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Passing the guard to achieve a mount; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Creating striking opportunities.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Effective aggressiveness means moving forward and landing a legal strike.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>Effective defense means avoiding being struck, taken down, or reversed while countering with offensive attacks.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>The following objective scoring criteria shall be utilized by the judges when scoring a round:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A round shall be scored as a 10-10 round when both mixed martial arts contestants appear to be fighting evenly and neither mixed martial arts contestant shows clear dominance in a round;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A round shall be scored as a 10-9 round when a mixed martial arts contestant wins by a close margin, landing the greater number of effective legal strikes, grappling, and other maneuvers;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A round shall be scored as a 10-8 round when a mixed martial arts contestant overwhelmingly dominates by striking or grappling in a round; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A round shall be scored as a 10-7 round when a mixed martial arts contestant totally dominates by striking or grappling in a round.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>Judges shall use a sliding scale and recognize the length of time the mixed martial arts contestants are either standing or on the ground, as follows:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If the mixed martial arts contestant spent a majority of a round on the canvas, then:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Effective grappling is weighed first; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Effective striking is then weighed;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the mixed martial arts contestant spent a majority of a round standing, then:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Effective striking is weighed first; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Effective grappling is then weighed; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If a round ends with a relatively even amount of time spent standing and on the canvas, striking and grappling shall be weighed equally.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>