GLORY WORLD SERIES REGULATIONS
1.2.7. When is a fighter ‘DOWN’
1.2.8. Legitimate techniques for scoring
1.2.9. Prohibited techniques, moves and conduct
1.2.10. Penalizing prohibited techniques, moves or conduct
1.2.11. Criteria on which the composition of the score by the judges is based
1.2.12. Examples of scores awarded
1.2.27. Familiarity with Rules
1.2.29. Over-ruling and unwritten rules
GLORY FOUR MAN TOURNAMENT FORMAT
1. GLORY WORLD SERIES REGULATIONS
1.1 General
All Glory World Series matches and events are organized under the auspices of and with the consent of the Glory Sports International and are subject to the GLORY World Series regulations.
To organize matches and events under the auspices of GSI, the written permission of the management of GSI is required, known as the match license.
Matches and events can only be organized by GLORY as the main promoter affiliated with GSI or promoters recognized as such by GSI that have been granted a so-called promoters license by GSI or by third parties to whom incidental written consent has been granted.
A. Those who wish to participate in matches organized by promoters recognized by GSI should be registered with GSI as fighters or contractually associated with GLORY Sports International and thus automatically registered as fighters with GSI. Upon application or contractual obligation, fighters must always provide GSI with a copy of their passport, their current address and the so-called record list and two passport photos.
B. A distinction is made between the following categories of participants:
· Aspirants aged 12 up to and including 15
· Juniors aged 16 up to and including 18
· Seniors aged 19 up to and including 49.
C. Contestants in matches should at all times be deemed to take part voluntarily and entirely at their own risk.
D. A novice contestant taking part in a match for the first time may not be older than 30.
E. Weight classes of contestants: The GLORY World Series organizes fights in the following weight classes:
· Featherweight: max 65 kg. max 143 lbs.
· Lightweight: max 70 kg. max 154 lbs.
· Welterweight: max 77 kg. max 170 lbs.
· Middleweight: max 85 kg max 187 lbs.
· Light Heavyweight: max 95 kg max 209 lbs.
· Heavyweight: over 95 kg over 209 lbs.
1.2 Match regulations
The match is a stand-up fight subject to the following regulations fought between two equally matched fighters at the same level and in the same specified weight class.
A. Matches take place in a square ring surrounded by four ropes interconnected by means of vertical cords or bands. The dimensions of the square of ropes should be at least 5 m x 5 m for minor events and no larger than 6 m x 6 m for large events.
B. The ring floor should be a safe construction and covered by canvas that should not be slippery before and/or during a fight. The ring floor is raised not less than 90 centimeters (3 feet) and not more than 122 centimeters (4 feet) above the ground.
C. The floor can have two sizes: Small size 6.40 x 6.40 square meters or large size: 7.00 x 7.00 square meters.
D. For International competition the large size ring shall be used. The ropes should be wrapped in a soft material and may not cause damage or injury to fighters moving alongside them. The ropes shall be at least 3 centimeters (1 inch) but not more than 5 centimeters (2 inches) thick. There shall be at least 4 ropes positioned 40, 80, 120 and 150 centimeters (16, 32, 48, 60 inches) respectively above the ring floor. The ropes shall be held rigid by 2 pieces of strong cloth, equally spread, so that the rope spacing shall not vary during the contest.
The opposite corners of the ring should be equipped with a black post for the contestants with two grey neutral corners in between. The white corner must always be on the left hand side of the main jury table (The Chief Official). The other two corners are the grey corners. The fighter currently listed higher in the official GLORY rankings shall be announced second, enter the ring secon and fight out of the white corner. The fighter listed lower in the official GLORY rankings shall be announced first, enter the ring first and fight out of the black corner.
The following items must be present in the white and black corners:
· A bucket for water;
· A bottle of drinking water;
· A towel;
· A second or “replacement” mouth guard for the fighter that may be used if the original mouth guard lost or misplaced
· A round iron container for water with a stool/seat for the fighter on which he sits during the intervals between rounds
· A small iron container/bucket with water close to the official in charge, to quickly wash mouth guards if they fall on the ground to minimize the delay.
· One set of steps each at the white and black corners are provided for the competitors and the cornermen.
A third set of steps shall be provided at the neutral corner near the time keeper, provided for the referee, the MC and the doctor.
A. Contestants will wear kickboxing or other approved trunks that stop above the knee and have no pockets. In the case of male contestants the upper body is uncovered. Female contestants must wear an approved sports top (no t-shirts). Fighters are permitted to wear a short legging under the kickboxing trunks as long as the legging to not extend significantly below the hem of the trunks.
Logos and/or the names of sponsors on the short or clothing from the fighter and/or his cornermen are permitted provided that prior approval has been requested from the promoter and has been granted. Writing on the bare torso is not permitted. The kickboxing trunks should be checked for possible harmful materials before the match starts.
B. Contestants are obliged to wear mouth guards and groin guards during the fights. The mouth guards and groin guards need to have been approved by a regulation official.
C. Contestants will wear boxing gloves of equal weight. The primary color of the gloves should be the same as the color of the contestant’s corner (white or black). If the gloves colors that both fighters will wear are the same, then the tape color that secures the gloves shall be black or white, matching the contestant’s corner. The gloves should be taped in such a way that no laces or other loose ends are visible and should bear a regulation official’s stamp of approval.
D. The weight of the gloves is determined as follows:
· Featherweight max 65kg / 143 lbs. or lighter shall wear 8 oz. gloves
· Lightweight max 70 kg / 154 lbs. or heavier shall wear 10 oz. gloves
E. Corner men must be dressed in clean, undamaged sportswear and shoes. Jeans and shirts other than team shirts are not allowed.
Forms of matches:
Single match :
The match consists of three rounds of two minutes for class C matches, three rounds of three minutes for class B contests, three or five rounds of three minutes for class A matches, two or three rounds of two or three minutes for tournament matches. Class A matches may be extended by one or two extra rounds. One-minute intervals take place between the rounds. Additional rules may be applied to tournaments, the so-called ranking tournament rules as indicated in appendix A1, A2 and A3.
Tournament match :
The match consists of two or three rounds of two or three minutes in accordance with the tournament form, ranking tournament, Contender 4 man Tournament, World Championship 4 man Tournament, Slam or Grand Slam. One-minute intervals take place between the rounds. If after the scheduled rounds have been completed the judges’ decision is a draw, an extra “sudden-victory” round will be contested. The Tournament’s Final bout may be extended by as many as two extra rounds. In the event of an extra round or rounds, the scores of the previous rounds are cancelled out and only the score of the final round is used to determine which fighter advances, or in the case of the tournament final, which fighter is awarded the championship. Judges may not score the extra round(s) even (a draw). In the event that the extra round(s) fail for any reason to determine a winner, each judge will be provided a ballot on which to select an overall winner based on their impressions of the bout in its’ entirety.
Title matches :
A. A GLORY World Series International World Title fight always consists of five rounds of three minutes each. In exceptional cases of a draw after five rounds, the champion remains the champion. In the event of a vacant title, the title remains vacant unless a tie-breaking method is approved in advance by the presiding regulatory body. The rest interval time for title fights of five three-minute rounds is one minute.
B. Titles with a maximum weight can only be won or defended if both fighters are at or under the proper weight. If the champion cannot reach the right weight within two hours following the official weighing and he is obliged to defend his title, he loses his title. If the match is then won by the challenger, he is the new champion. If the reigning champion wins the match, the title becomes vacant as the champion cannot retain his title as he did not achieve the title weight. If the challenger is too heavy and the fight continues and the champion was at the required weight, then the latter will remain the champion irrespective of the result of the fight. If both fighters are too heavy and the champion is obliged to defend his title, the title is vacant after the match.
C. The champion is obliged to defend his title at least once a year if an official title defense offer is made. If an official title defense offer is made and the champion cannot defend the title within a year, it may become vacant.
D. Anyone challenging the champion must be among the first 5 fighters in the official GSI ranking.
E. All disputes concerning the title which have not been included in these regulations will be presented for arbitration to the GSI arbitration committee.
For reasons of safety, a fighter may never fight more than 13 three-minute rounds in one day. The rule for so-called ranking tournaments is that the total effective match time may not last longer than a total of 27 minutes on one and the same day.
GSI has an official ranking that is based on the performance of a fighter. During the ranking year, ranking is determined by winning or losing so-called ranking points.
Ranking points can only be won in the so-called ranking tournaments or in the single matches indicated or recognized by GSI.
In addition to the match regulations, there are also ranking regulations; see appendix A4.
The match can be decided in the following ways:
Points Decision : Three or Five judges will evaluate the relative effectiveness of each fighter’s performance using a “10-Point-Must” system and record their scores for the fighters after each round. After the completion of the scheduled rounds the scores are tallied and the victory is awarded by the majority decision of the judging panel.
Knockout : If a contestant is struck in such a way that he or she is incapable of resuming the fight within the referee’s ten-count or if the referee declares a knockout before the count of 10 in order to bring in immediate medical assistance.
Technical Knockout : If a contestant shows no will to resume the fight or if the referee is of the opinion that the contestant is incapable of resuming the fight or has failed to intelligently defend themself.
Technical Knockout : If in a single-bout-match or a tournament final match a contestant has been knocked down three times in one and the same round or four times in one and the same bout. If in a tournament match including the reserve bouts a fighter has been knocked down twice in one and the same round or three times in one and the same bout.
Technical knockout : If a contestant is no longer capable of taking part in the fight owing to an injury not caused by a prohibited technique.
Technical knockout : If the contestant does not leave his corner to take part in the fight following the sounding of the bell.
Technical knockout : If the referee is of the opinion that a contestant is totally outclassed or is physically far less fit.
Technical knockout : If the doctor ascertains that a contestant has sustained an injury or damage, not caused by a prohibited technique, of such a serious nature that it is no longer safe for the contestant to resume the fight (Doctor’s stoppage).
Technical knockout : If a contestant or his coach/corner man gives up the fight. The contestant or his coach/corner man will indicate this to the referee or the regulatory representative assigned to his corner (The corner “throws in the towel”).
Disqualification : If the opponent is disqualified for reasons warranting disqualification.
Disqualification results if:
· A fighter deliberately uses a prohibited technique and the referee disqualifies him for that reason.
· A fighter uses a prohibited technique as described in Article 9 for which the referee disqualifies him.
· If a corner man enters the ring during the fight or touches one of the fighters during the fight.
Draw : If the match is allowed to end in a draw and if, following the end of all rounds, at least two of the three judges (or three of the five judges) do not pronounce one of the fighters a winner.
Draw : If both fighters go down at the same time and neither can resume the fight within the referee’s ten-count.
No contest : In a single-match-bout, if a fighter cannot continue as the result of an accidental foul and the bell has not yet sounded completing the second round of a three round bout, or the third round of a five round bout.
No contest : If the referee decides both fighters must be disqualified
If a bout ends prematurely due to an injury resulting from a foul:
· If a tournament bout other than the final ends due to an accidental foul, the fighter who is in condition to continue will advance unless the referee has good reason to disqualify him.
· If a tournament final ends due to an accidental foul the referee may assess a penalty point, the partial round is scored by the judges and the scorecards are tallied for a technical decision (regardless of the round). If the injury from the accidental foul is not severe enough to stop the bout but then later is further aggravated by legal techniques enough to warrant an end to the match, the partial round is scored and the score cards are tabulated for the technical decision (regardless of the round). If a majority of the judges have not agreed on a winner (a draw) the tournament champion will be determined by a comparison of their combined method of victories in the Reserve, Quarter Final & Semi Final Rounds as reflected in the points system below.
o Each KO or TKO will earn fighter 2 points.
o Each decision will earn a fighter 1 point.
o Each victory via survivor rule will earn a fighter 1⁄2 point.
If this method fails to determine a winner, the tournament victory shall be awarded to the fighter according to the following prioritized criteria:
A. The fighter who contested the most bouts on the way to the finals.
B. The fighter who secured their victories through knockout in the shortest amount of fighting time
C. The fighter who earned their combined victories by the greatest scoring margin (this would only apply to point decisions).
D. The fighter who was listed highest in the official ranking prior to the tournament
· If a tournament bout other than the final ends due to an intentional foul, the fouling fighter will be disqualified and the winner of the first reserve match will advance. (Please refer to Appendix A2 for tournament rules regarding the Order of Substitution)
· If a tournament final ends due to an intentional foul, the fouled fighter will be declared the winner by DQ. If the injury from the intentional foul is not severe enough to stop the bout but then later is further aggravated by legal techniques enough to warrant an end to the match, the partial round is scored and the score cards are tabulated for the technical decision (in any round). If the fouled fighter is ahead on the score cards, the fouled fighter will be declared the winner by technical decision. If the fouling fighter is ahead (or it is even) the tournament winner will be determined by the same methods described in the section above regarding a final that results in a draw.
· If a single match (non-tournament bout) ends due to an injury from an accidental foul: If it occurs after the bell sounds ending the 2nd round of a three round bout, or, after the bell sounds ending the 3rd round of a five round bout, the partial round is scored and the jury go to the score cards for the technical decision. If it occurs at any earlier time, the bout will be declared a “no contest” If the injury from the accidental foul is not severe enough to stop the bout but then later it is further aggravated by legal techniques enough to warrant an end to the match, if it occurs after the bell sounds ending the 2nd round of a three round bout, or, after the bell sounds ending the 3rd round of a five round bout, the partial round is scored and the judges go to the score cards for the technical decision. If it occurs at any earlier time, the bout will be declared a “no contest”.
Only in rare instances, such as subsequent to repeated warnings for the same foul, will the referee take a point or points from a fighter for an accidental foul.
- If a single-match (non-tournament bout) ends due to an injury from an intentional foul, the injured fighter will win by Disqualification. If the injury from the intentional foul is not severe enough to stop the bout but then later is further aggravated by legal techniques enough to warrant an end to the match, the partial round is scored and then we go to the score cards for the technical decision (the bout does not need to have progressed past a minimum number of rounds). If the fouled fighter is ahead on the score cards, the fouled fighter will be declared the winner by technical decision. If the fouling fighter is ahead or it is tied, the bout will be declared a “no contest”. An intentional foul which causes injury but does not cause disqualification requires a two point deduction.
1.2.7. When a fighter is ‘DOWN’
A fighter is deemed to be down when according to the referee’s evaluation, if as the result of a damaging attack any part of a fighter’s body other than their feet touch the floor or would have touched the floor if not for the ropes or holding the opponent. A fighter may also be considered “down” if a fighter goes down for another reason and fails to rise at the command of the referee.
If the referee decides that he is DOWN, then he will indicate this by the so called DOWN call and gesture. The referee starts the DOWN count after he has sent the opponent to the farthest removed neutral corner. The opponent waits in his neutral corner until the referee gives him permission to leave this corner and resume the fight. If the opponent leaves his neutral corner before the referee gives the sign, the counting stops and only starts again once the opponent has returned to his neutral corner.
During the DOWN count it is not permitted for either of the corner men to approach his fighter in any way.
The referee is obliged to continue counting until the eighth count and then assesses whether the fighter is capable of resuming the fight in a responsible manner. If that is the case, the referee gives the command FIGHT.
If, during the course of the count as described above, the time of the round ends, the timekeeper may not sound the gong/bell signaling the end of the round, but must wait until the referee has counted to the eighth count; if the referee gives the “fight” command, the timekeeper must immediately sound the gong/bell signaling the end of the round. If at the eighth count a fighter is incapable of resuming the match, the referee will then continue to count to ten, which means the fighter will lose on the grounds of TKO/KO. The timekeeper will then sound the gong/bell indicating that the official match time has ended (you may not be “saved by the bell” in any round).
If at the eighth count the fighter in question is, for whatever reason in the opinion of the referee, not standing in the proper position to resume the fight, the referee will continue to count to ten, which means the fighter will lose the match on the grounds of a technical knockout.
While the referee is counting it is not permitted for the coach or one of the seconds of the fighter who is down to throw in the towel or indicate in any way that the fight is being given up.
In the exceptional case of both fighters being knocked DOWN, the referee will begin counting for both fighters at once. After the eighth count, the referee will assess whether both fighters are deemed capable of resuming the fight. If, in the opinion of the referee, this is the case, then the match can be resumed. If one of the two fighters is still deemed incapable of resuming the match after the eighth count, but his opponent is deemed capable when the referee reaches the count of ten, then the latter wins by technical knockout. If neither contestant is capable of resuming the fight at the eighth (8th) count, then the referee will complete the count to ten (10) and if neither fighter can resume than the bout will be declared a draw.
The referee ensures that in counting to eight (8) or ten (10) that a full second must pass between each count.
1.2.8. Legitimate techniques for scoring
Punches – striking with the padded part of the glove to a legal target: i.e. straight punches, hooks, uppercuts, spinning back-fist (only if executed with the padded, back of the glove);
Kicks – striking with the foot or lower leg to a legal target: i.e. front kicks, low kicks inside and outside the leg, middle kicks, high kicks, sidekicks, back kicks, ax kicks, spinning kicks, jumping kicks;
Knees – striking with the knee to a legal target: i.e. front knee, round-house knee, jumping knee, knee on the leg inside and outside (please note the clinch limitations explained below regarding the use of knee strikes).
1.2.9. Prohibited techniques, moves and conduct
· Head butts, or coming in too low with one’s head
· All techniques targeting the back of the head or back or the torso
· Techniques targeting the groin;
· Linear or thrusting kicks directed at knee (i.e. front kick, side kick, back kick)
. Biting
· Elbow strikes; Striking with any part of the arm or wrist above the padded portion of the glove
· Hitting or punching with open gloves or the palm side of the glove or jabbing an opponent’s eye with the thumb of the glove
· Wrestling or judo techniques, strangulation techniques or submissions;
· Throws, leg sweeps, foot sweeps or pushing of any kind as an effort to off-balance or down an opponent; any attempt to off-balance or down an opponent with anything other than a legal strike may be considered a foul.
· Grabbing, or holding for any reason other than to immediately attack with a knee strike (or strikes) is a foul; this includes holding to rest, or grabbing an opponent in order to stop them from striking.
· A fighter may clinch in order to immediately attack with a legal knee strike (or strikes). If the knee attack and/or counter attack by the opponent is continuous and productive the referee may allow it to continue for in his estimation up to five seconds; otherwise the fighters should disengage the clinch and continue to fight. If a fighter clinches and fails to immediately attack with a legal knee strike or completes the knee attack and does not release the clinch this may be considered “holding” which is a foul and will result in a caution, warning or penalization.
· If a fighter clinches and fails to immediately attack with a legal knee strike the referee shall “break” the fighters, and may caution, warn or penalize the offending athlete.
· Holding on to an opponent’s leg without striking; a fighter may grab an opponent’s leg in order to immediately execute a single legal strike that may be accompanied by a single step in any direction. The leg must be released immediately after that single legal strike.
· Pulling an opponent towards one with both arms in the lower back
· Pushing or pushing off an opponent without following up with a strike or strikes
· Continuing to fight if someone has any other part of his body other than his feet on the ground
· Techniques used following the command “Break” or “Stop” by the referee
· Techniques used if the opponent is outside the ring or tied up in the ropes
· Throwing or pushing an opponent backwards over the ropes
· Holding on to the ring ropes for any reason; including as an asset for offense or defense or locking in an opponent.
· Actions/moves that are used to evade or hold off the fight; this includes but is not limited to continuously pulling up the front leg or stretching out the front arm without carrying out a particular technique
· Passivity; this includes but is not limited to fighting only when the opponent attacks.
· Continuously allowing oneself to fall to the ground
· Deliberately falling on the opponent in any way
· Deliberately evading or deliberately halting the fight
· Voluntarily leaving the ring during the match;
· Unsportsmanlike conduct including but not limited to spitting, cursing, talking, making rude sounds or obscene gestures
· Insulting the referee, officials, opponent or his team
· Deliberately ignoring the referee’s commands;
· Undisciplined conduct of any kind
· Unnecessarily causing danger to oneself or an opponent
· Simulating being hit too low
· Deliberately spitting out the mouth guard
1.2.10. Penalizing prohibited techniques, moves or conduct
Caution ; A caution is given in the event of a minor violation. It may occur without stopping the action of the bout.
Official Warning ; In the event of repetition or a more significant violation, the referee will issue an official warning. The referee will stop the action and make it clear and obvious that that the fighter has been warned for their infraction.
Penalty ; In the event of violation the referee may assess a penalty point or points. The referee will stop the action and send the fighter who will not be penalized to the farthest neutral corner. He will than indicate to the fighter and to the officials the nature of the reason for the penalty and the point(s) deduction.
Disqualification ; At the referee’s discretion he may disqualify a fighter based on repetitive or severe fouling.
The referee has the discretion to issue Cautions, Warnings, Penalties or Disqualification based on the nature, severity and repetition of the fouling behavior. In doing so, the referee must have thoroughly considered whether the fighter has, through his violation, damaged his opponent’s chances of victory and if the violation was deliberately committed;
1.2.11. Criteria on which the composition of the score by the judges is based
The minus points accrued from penalization are first deducted from the points scored before the final score is made known. Three or five judges will evaluate the relative effectiveness of each fighter’s performance according to the following prioritized criteria.
A. Number of knockdowns.
B. Damage inflicted on the opponent.
C. Number of clean strikes with spectacular techniques (flying and spinning techniques, etc.)
D. Number of clean strikes with normal techniques.
E. Degree of Aggressiveness or Ring Generalship (whichever has greater impact on the round)
It should be noted that in assessing the general impression, attack is valued higher than defense.
1.2.12. Examples of scores awarded
· 10-10: Not even a marginal advantage can be determined according to the established criteria
· 10- 9: One fighter has demonstrated an advantage in effectiveness
· 10- 8: One fighter has demonstrated an advantage in effectiveness by merit of a knockdown
· 10- 7: One fighter has demonstrated an advantage in effectiveness by merit of two knockdowns
For more thorough explanation of the scoring criteria please refer to the Official GLORY Judges Manual
In the event that a completed tournament match other than the final ends in a draw, the match is extended by one, “sudden victory” round. The scores of the previous rounds are cancelled out and only the score of the sudden victory round is used to determine which fighter earns the win. Judges may not score the extra round even (a draw). If for any reason the “sudden victory” round fails to determine the winner, the judges will be provided an additional ballot on which they will select the fighter that they feel have earned victory by merit of the match in its’ entirety. The tournament final may be extended by a maximum of two sudden victory rounds if necessary to determine the winner before the emergency ballot would be used.
Other rules apply to the so-called ranking tournaments and are specified in appendix A1, A2, A3.
1. The referee must suspend the match if:
A. The discrepancy between the strength or skill of the participants is so great as to make it unreasonably dangerous for the weaker fighter who is outclassed. In that case, the best fighter becomes the winner by way of intervention. (Referee Stops Contest).
B. The referee is of the opinion that to continue the match between the two participants would be unreasonably dangerous due to exhaustion.
C. The match between the two participants escalates into a common brawl within the ring with no regard for the regulations. No result is made known. (NO CONTEST).
D. In his opinion continuation of the match for other reasons could be unreasonably dangerous for one of the contestants. His opponent is pronounced the winner by (Referee Stops Contest).
2. The referee must suspend the match for medical reasons if:
A. One or both contestants has sustained a more or less ostensibly serious injury, and if, after consulting with the ring doctor, the latter advises him to suspend the match.
B. The ring doctor, without having first been consulted, advises him to stop the match.
C. A contestant sustains an injury such that continuation of the match would put the sport in a negative light.
In the event the referee wishes to consult the ring doctor regarding an injury sustained by one of the fighters, he will stop the match and refer the uninjured fighter to a neutral corner. He will then request the ring doctor to enter the ring in order to examine the injury. The trainer must not enter the ring. The ring doctor will advise the referee whether or not to continue the match. The referee is obliged to follow the ring doctor’s advice.
3. If the referee decides to suspend the match, he must inform the regulatory supervisors of his decision and provide the reasons for this decision.
4. The referee is the responsible person during the match. Overseeing the match is the exclusive task of the referee.
5. If a match must be terminated prematurely owing to irregularities in the hall, a defect in the ring, lighting failure and other such circumstances; if the bell has already sounded ending the 2nd round of a 3 round bout or the 3rd round of a 5 round bout the judge’s score cards will be evaluated for the technical decision otherwise the bout will result in a No Contest.
6. The referee is authorized to suspend the match if language and/or shouting can be heard from the hall that is/are in conflict with the morals, values and standards of society.
