KSW RULES

KSW RULES
I.
Bout duration
1. Each round in KSW is 5 minutes with a period in-between the rounds that lasts 1 minute.
2. Bouts are contested over two or three rounds.
3. Title fights are contested over three rounds with a possible 5-minute overtime round in case of a draw.
II. Essentials
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A bout is held in a 8 meter X 8 meter square ring or in a cage
Each bout is supervised by the referee, who cares about the fighters safety and rules observance.
Fights are scored by three judges.
Usage of a mouthpiece and a protective cup is mandatory.
The gloves are supplied by the promoter. Any other gloves are forbidden.
A fighter is allowed to have a maximum of 3 corner men.
III. Categories of outcome
A fight can be won by:
1. Knockout (KO)
Applicable when a fighter is knocked down by a punch or a kick and is not able to continue fighting. The
opponent has to wait for in the neutral corner for referee’s decision.
2. Technical knockout (TKO)
a) A fight is stopped by the referee:
- when one fighter is clearly dominant over his opponent so he can’t efficiently defend himself
- when one fighter is overwhelmingly superior to his opponent and his health is severely endangered
- when the referee decides that an injury or damage to a fighter is so severe that it is impossible for
him to continue the fight
- when one fighter loses consciousness from a grappling hold
b) A fight is stopped by the cutman (ringside doctor). The referee calls for a time out and orders fighters to
go to the neutral corners (white color) so the cutman / ringside doctor can inspect the injured fighter. A bout
is stopped by the cutman / ringside doctor if the fighter is deemed unable to defend himself because of a
severe damage (e.g. broken bone) or an injury (e.g. severe cut) or his health is seriously endangered. The
injured fighter losses the fight. However, if a fight is stopped as a result of an injury from an illegal action by
the opponent, the injured fighter wins by disqualification or judges may determine the bout to be a “no
contest”.
c) A fight is stopped by a corner man. Fighter’s corner man announces defeat on fighter’s behalf by
throwing the towel during the fight or in-between rounds.
3. Submission (S)
Applicable when a fighter taps twice or more on the opponent’s body, on the mat, on his own body or submits
verbally (screams).
4. Technical Submission (TS)
Applicable when the referee stops a fight when he sees that a fighter applied a submission hold and his opponent
is not able to escape it, does not answer, screams in pain or the referee sees the hold being precise and leading
to a submission.
5. Disqualification
Each foul negatively affects judges scoring. Disqualification may be issued, after the referee consults it with a
chief judge, when:
a) a fighter unintentionally breaks the rules three times
b) a fighter intentionally breaks the rules
c) a fighter deliberately fouls his opponent so he is not able to continue the fight. Injured fighter wins by
disqualification.
d) a fighter breaks the fair-play rules
e) corner men behavior affects the outcome of the fight
6. Decision
After three rounds the chief judge sums up the points. The fighter who received more points is declared the
winner. When fighters receive equal number of points, the 5- minute extra round takes place (only in title fights).
If in the extra round the fight is even, the chief judge may declare the fight a draw.
The decision may be:
a) Unanimous – all judges scored the fight for one fighter
b) Split – two judges scored the fights for one fighter, the third judge scored the fight for his opponent
c) Majority – two judges scored the fight for one fighter, the third one scored the fight a draw
7. Draws
a) Unanimous – all judges scored the fight a draw
b) Majority – two judges scored the fight a draw
c) Split – one judge scored the fight for one fighter, second judge scored the fight for his opponent, third
judge scored the fight a draw
8. No Contest and Technical Decision
If I fighter is injured by his opponent’s unintentional foul and the referee stops the bout, the fight is declared
a no contest. In a three-round fight if the unintentional foul causes the stoppage after the two rounds are
completed, the fight ends with a technical decision. The fighter who leads on the scorecards wins the bout.
Both completed rounds and the round in which the fight was stopped are scored by the judges. In a tworound fight, if the fight is stopped after the three minute mark of the second round, the completed round and
the round in which the fight was stopped are scored by the judges.
IV. Round scoring
10-10 draw,
10-9 small advantage
10-8 clear advantage
10-7 domination
1. In case of an overtime the regular rounds do not affect the scoring of the overtime round. Only the actions in
the overtime round are taken into consideration by the judges when scoring the round.
2. In a title fight the judges may declare a draw after combined three rounds and the extra round. If a draw
occurs the belt stays with the title holder. If none of the fighters is the title holder, there is an unlimited number
of extra rounds. The fight is contested until one of the fighters wins an extra round on judges’ scorecards or
finishes his opponent.
3. The fight is judged by three judges sitting on the different sides of the ring
4. After the fights, the chief judge collects the scorecards from ringside judges
5. Each round is scored separately and the sum of points decides the outcome of the fight: one fighter wins or
it’s a draw.
6. When the fight is decided by judges’ decision, the verdict is announced with adequate scores.
7. If the fighter receives the red card, the referee informs him and ringside judges about it. Receiving a red card
is equivalent to one point deduction on judges scorecards
8. The referee doesn’t score the fights
9. Fights are scored based on:
a) effectiveness of techniques used by the fighter
b) aggressiveness / dynamism of his grappling holds
c) fight area control
V. Weight classes
KSW Federation weight divisions for men :
featherweight
lightweight
welterweight
middleweight
light heavyweight
heavyweight
super heavyweight
- 145 lbs
- 155 lbs
- 170 lbs
- 185 lbs
- 205 lbs
205 lbs - 265 lbs
+ 265 lbs
KSW Federation weight divisions for women :
strawweight
- 125 lbs
There is no weight tolerance
A fighter has to stay in good physical condition and under his contracted weight limit
If a fighter fails to make weight, he or she forfeits % of his purse (depends on by how much he or she is over)
Fighter is:
over by less than 2 kg on his first try
over by 2.1 to 5 kg on his first try
over by more than 5 kg on his first try
10% (+ 20% if he fails to make weight after two hours)
20% (+ 20% if he fails to make weight after two hours)
30% (+ 20% if he fails to make weight after two hours)
In the championship bout both fighters have to make weight. If the champion fails to make weight, he loses the
title even if he or she is the declared the winner of the title fight. In this situation the bout is contested over three
5-minute rounds with a possible extra round.
If the contender fails to make weight, the fight loses its championship status and is contested over three 5-minute
rounds. Even if the contender is declared the winner, the title remains with the champion.
If both the champion and the contender fail to make weight, the champion loses the title even if he or she is the
declared the winner of the fight, while the bout loses its championship status and is contested over three 5minute rounds.
VI. General fight rules
1. Grounded opponent is any fighter who touches the ground with a different part of his body than a sole.
2. When both fighters are on the ground and land outside the ropes, the referee pauses the fight and moves
them to the centre of the ring, where the fight is restarted from the same position, if the same position is possible
to be recreated. (the fight clock is not stopped in this situation).
3. A fight may be stopped by the referee when one fighter is overwhelmingly superior to his opponent and his
health is severely endangered
4. A fighter shall thank his opponent after the bout regardless of the outcome
5. Fighters shall follow the fair-play rules. If they do not follow the fair-play rules, they may be disqualified by
the referee.
6. A mouthpiece and a cup are mandatory. Without them a fight won’t start.
VII. Medical requirements
Every fighter has to undergo pre-licensing medical tests required by KSW Federation
Medical tests after the fights
- Immediately after the fight every fighter has to examined by the appointed doctor.
- The fighter who refuses to be examined will be suspended and if he won the result of his fight will be
changed in favor of his opponent.
- All fighters may be appointed to undergo urinal tests for banned substances
- In addition to pre fight tests, the promoter may order to test fighter’s pre fight urine samples for banned
substances after the event.
- Urine samples are collected in the presence of the anti-doping agency official. If the fighter refuses to be
tested, he’s immediately disqualified and suspended indefinitely.
Penalties for using banned substances. A fighter who has a positive doping test is
a) suspended for 90 days after the first positive test
b) suspended for 180 days after the second positive test
c) suspended for 2 years after the third positive test
VIII. Illegal techniques
- all elbow strikes to the head
- 12-6 elbow strikes to the body
- strikes to the back of head
- strikes to the spine
- strikes to the kidneys
- punches and kicks to the groin
- twister neck crank
- pinching
- leaving the ring (cage) during the fight
- attacking the opponent when the referee is separating the fighters
- throwing the opponent out of the ring
- grabbing the ropes (fence)
- deliberately spitting out a mouthpiece (the referee pauses the bout only when the mouthpiece was spit out
unintentionally)
- scratching
- eye gouging
- hair pulling
- German suplex (allowed in the cage)
- head butts
- heel kicks to the kidneys
- attacks aimed at larynx and trachea
- grabbing opponent’s shorts and gloves
- attacking the opponent in-between rounds
- attacking the opponent after the bell
- not following the referee’s instructions
- grabbing and pulling opponent’s gloves (the fight is paused and the gloves are adjusted and the fight is
restarted in the same position)
Illegal techniques when one fighter is on the ground
-
kicks and knees to the head
stomps to the head
heel kicks to the kidneys
Additional notes
- Wearing footwear is prohibited. The use of any knee, ankle or elbow stabilizers has to be reported to the
cutman, who accepts it with his signature.
- Use of oils, vaseline, ointments and all slippery substances is forbidden. The use of one of these substances
must be reported with justification to the cutman no later than a day before the fight. Cutman after the fighter
examination decides whether it was necessary and acceptable
IX. Legal techniques
X.
Knees to the head are allowed only, when the opponent is in a standing position
Elbows to the body are allowed both standing and on the ground (with exception of 12-6 elbows)
Half suplex
Full suplex (only in the cage)
Stomps to the body and feet
Penalties and warnings
Using illegal techniques results in:
a) a warning, when the fouled fighter is able to continue fighting.
b) with another warning a fighter is deducted 1 point on judges’ scorecards. The referee informs every judge
about the deducted point.
c) the following warning results in disqualification after the referee consults it with the chief judge.
Disqualification may be also issued when the fighter intentionally fouls his opponent and makes him unable to
continue fighting
d) disqualification, when the fouled fighter is not able to continue fighting
Additional notes
1. When the fighter is timid and is not engaging in the fight (in the stand-up) he may receive a warning. After
the first warning, another verbal warning may be issued. Every following warning results in one point
deduction on the judges’ scorecard.
2. When both fighters are deducted a point for timidity, the fight may end only with a (technical) knockout,
submission or disqualification. If the fight goes to the scorecards it’s automatically declared a draw.
XI. Cuts and hand wraps
1. When a cut or an injury occurs, the fighter is ordered to go to the neutral corner. The fight clock is stopped
and the fighter’s ability to continue fighting is decided by cutman in case of a cut or by the ringside doctor in
case of other injuries.
2. Any ankle wrapping has to be approved by the cutman
3. hand wrapping is allowed.
4. hand wraps are made only in the presence of the appointed cutman. Cutman has to accept and sign the
wraps. Before they are signed, opponent’s representative (not the fighter himself / herself) may inspect the
wraps.
5. Fighter can use 6 x 4 meters of 5 centimeter wide gauze and 2 x 10 meters reels of 25 millimeter tape.
6. The referee may pause the fight when one fighter is severely bleeding. The fighter is then sent to the neutral
corner where the cutman works his cut. Fighters have the right to three cut-related interventions during the
fight. In the period in-between the rounds, to stop the bleeding each corner is allowed to use help only from
the official cutman.
XII. Corner man behavior
1. There can be only three corner men
2. Fighter is allowed to be helped by his corner men during, before and after the fight
3. In between rounds one corner man can enter the ring, the other two have to stay outside (if the fight is
contested in the cage, two corner man can enter it)
4. Corner men have to supply the following
- cup
- mouthpiece
5. During the fight the corner men are obliged to stand outside the ring platform in the appointed place
6. Corner men have to clean the corner after the period in-between rounds, wipe the water etc.
7. During the fight (round) corner men are not allowed to
-
enter the ring platform
enter inside the ropes
grab the ropes (fence)
go around the ring
slur at the referee or the fighter
use help from other people
touch a fighter without permission of the referee
8. During the period in-between rounds the corner men are not allowed to
-
both enter the ring (in the fight is held in the cage, two corner man may enter)
talk directly to the referee
go to the opposite corner
give their fighter any pills
give their fighter a drink in the bottle made of glass
sew or glue cuts
9. During the fight (round) corner man are allowed to
- give their fighter advice from outside of the ring
- prepare equipment to use in-between rounds (water, ice etc.)
10. During the period in-between rounds the corner men are allowed to
-
give their fighter advice
help their fighter regenerate
use water to chill and clean their fighter
put vaseline on fighter’s face, stop their fighter’s bleeding
For breaking those rules corner men as well as their fighter may warned or disqualified
XIII.
the first warning is issued after the first violation of the corner men behavior rules
second warning results in the yellow card for the corner men and is equivalent to 10% deduction from their
fighter’s purse
third warning results in the red card for the corner men who is sent out to the locker room and is equivalent
to 20% deduction from their fighter’s purse.
every following warning results in fighter’s disqualification
fighter may be disqualified immediately if corner men’s behavior affected the outcome of the fight
Appeals
1. Fighter’s lead representative may issue a written protest regarding the outcome of the fight no later than 48
hours after the fight. In order to do that he has to deposit 1000 euro to KSW Federation.
2. The Appeal Commission consists of:
- the chief judge
- the referee
- one of the ringside judges
The review the protest in 48 hours since it was issued.
3. If the protest is rejected KSW Federation doesn’t return the deposit
4. If the protest is accepted KSW Federation returns the deposit
KSW Federation

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