<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".10" citation="COMAR 09.14.16.10" title_num="09" subtitle_num="14" chapter_num="16" heading="Fouls.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A mixed martial arts contestant who flagrantly or repeatedly commits a foul may be:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Disqualified in a contest by the referee; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Subject to disciplinary action by the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The following acts are fouls and may result in penalties:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Butting with the head;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Eye gouging of any kind;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Biting or spitting at an opponent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Hair pulling;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Fish hooking;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Groin attacks of any kind;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Intentionally placing a finger in any opponent's orifice, or into any cut or laceration of an opponent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Downward pointing of elbow strikes;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Small joint manipulation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Strikes to the spine or back of the head;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Strikes or kicks to the kidney;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Throat strikes of any kind, including the grabbing of the trachea;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>Clawing, pinching, or twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>Kicking the head of a grounded mixed martial arts contestant;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>Kneeing the head of a grounded mixed martial arts contestant;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>Stomping of a grounded mixed martial arts contestant;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>The use of abusive language in the fighting area;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(19)">
      <text>Attacking an opponent on or during the break;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(20)">
      <text>Attacking an opponent who is under the referee's care;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(21)">
      <text>Timidity, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Avoiding contact;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Continual dropping of the contestant's mouthpiece; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Faking an injury;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(22)">
      <text>Interference from a mixed martial arts contestant's second, including throwing in the towel during competition;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(23)">
      <text>Throwing an opponent out of the fighting area;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(24)">
      <text>Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(25)">
      <text>Spiking an opponent to the canvas on the head or neck.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Except as provided in §E of this regulation, if a foul is committed, the referee may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Call time;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Check the fouled mixed martial arts contestant's condition and safety; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Assess the foul to the offending contestant and deduct one or more points, based upon the severity and effect of the foul, by notifying, as soon as practical, but not later than the end of the round in which the foul occurred:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Both corners;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The judges; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The Commission table.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Subject to the discretion of the referee, a fouled mixed martial arts contestant may have up to 5 minutes to recuperate.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>If a bottom mixed martial arts contestant commits a foul, unless the top mixed martial arts contestant is injured, the contest shall continue, so as not to jeopardize the top mixed martial arts contestant's superior positioning at the time, and the referee shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Verbally notify the bottom mixed martial arts contestant of the foul; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Assess the foul and notify both corners' seconds, the judges, and the official scorekeeper of the same when the round is over.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>If the referee does not call a foul and deduct one or more points, the judges may not make such an assessment on their own or factor such an assessment into their scoring calculations.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>A deduction of one or more points by the referee shall result in that number of points being deducted from the offending mixed martial arts contestant's score by the official scorekeeper.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>