ABC Sets August Vote on Two Changes to MMA's Unified Rules

Overview

• The Association of Boxing Commissions, which meets Aug. 3–5 in Orlando, plans to vote on updates to the Unified Rules.
• One draft would clarify how officials handle vomiting by separating cases tied to a foul, between-round exhaustion, or legal strikes.
• The other proposal would replace strict intentional or accidental labels for fouls with referee discretion to rule a disqualification, a no contest, or a judges’ decision with possible point deductions.
• Discussions intensified after UFC 326 when Cody Garbrandt vomited following a groin foul during a timeout, revealing gaps in the current rule language.
• Exact wording is still being written, and any approved changes would roll out as state athletic commissions adopt the ABC’s model rules over the following months.