Shootfighting regler;
Competition area
Ring
Bout duration
1. Normal bouts shall be one round.
2. Prestige, Super and Championship bouts shall be two rounds.
3. Rounds will be five minutes in duration.
4. A one-minute rest period will occur between the rounds.
Equipment
1. Approved gloves (taped).
2. Approved shin protection (taped).
3. Approved fighting shorts (vale tudo shorts or sprawl shorts).
4. Groin cup.
5. Mouth piece.
6. Rash guard (optional).
7. Knee protection (optional).
8. Wrestling shoes (optional).
Approved techniques
1. Punches and round kicks to head, body and legs along with knees and straight kicks against body are approved in stand-up fighting.
2. Throws and takedowns are approved.
3. Submission techniques are approved.
Specific fouls
1. Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
2. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
3. Striking using the elbow or forearm.
4. Kneeing the head of a standing opponent.
5. Striking of any kind during ground-fight. If a competitor has a knee on the floor one has to either wrestle or let the opponent stand up.
6. Jerking when attempting a submission (all submissions should be pulled not jerked).
7. Heel-hooks.
General fouls
1. Rubbing the body with liniment or similar.
2. Excessive use of Vaseline (more then needed in the face)
3. 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, clawing/pinching/twisting the flesh, spitting at an opponent.
4. Small joint manipulation (fingers and toes)
5. Throwing/spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
6. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area or matted area.
7. Throwing an opponent with a grip of head/neck only.
8. Holding the ropes or fence.
9. Holding the shorts and equipment of an opponent.
10. Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
11. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
12. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
13. Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
14. Using abusive language.
15. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
16. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
17. Interference by the corner.
Restart of the fight
The referee may restart the fight if the fighters reach a stalemate and do not work to improve position or finish.
Knockdown
At the second knockdown of a fighter within the same round the fight is stopped.
Ways to win
1. Submission (by physical or verbal tap out).
2. Opponent's corner-crew throws in the towel.
3. Technical knockout (the referee stopping the contest).
4. Knockout (KO, competitor is not fit to fight on a count to 10).
5. Decision (via the scorecards of three point judges: 10-9 must).
6. Opponent is disqualified
Judges decision - Scoring criteria
1. Activity during the fight
2. Technical skill
3. Sportsmanship
Rewarding activity and skill
Shootfighting competitions are meant to develop the fighters’ skill in three areas: Stand-up, clinch and on the ground. A fighter can not expect to win showing skills in only one and a half of these areas. A competitor concentrating on stopping all takedown attempts, not showing skills on the ground, should get the win only if he/she clearly has the upper hand of the stand-up fighting in technical skill and activity. Same goes for a fighter that only wants to fight on the ground, completely avoiding stand-up fighting.
Guidelines for point judges
1. A successful takedown – skill and activity points
2. An unsuccessful clinch or takedown – neutral situation (activity vs. skill)
3. Counter takedown including establishing position – skill point
4. Jumping to guard – neutral situation
5. Submission attempt – activity point
6. Successful reversal – skill point
7. Minus for brawling – minus points for a fighter that doesn’t show good controlled boxing/kicking techniques. Ignoring warning for brawling may result in disqualification. If both fighters are brawling the fight may be judged no contest.
No contest
A fight can be declared as a "no contest". This can be done during the fight or after the match.