PRIDE Fighting Championships

Match length

PRIDE matches make up of three rounds; the first round is ten minutes, and the second and third round are five minutes. Intermissions between each round were two minutes in length. In PRIDE US events, NSAC Unified MMA rules were used, with non-title matches consisting of three five minute rounds and title matches of 5 five minute rounds both having 60 second intermissions between rounds.

When two rounds of a Grand Prix took place on the same night, Grand Prix bouts consisted of two rounds; the first lasting ten minutes and the second lasting five. Intermissions between each round remained two minutes in length.

Weight classes

• Heavyweight (more than 93 kg / 205 lb)
• Middleweight (less than or equal to 93 kg / 205 lb)
• Welterweight (less than or equal to 83 kg / 183 lb)
• Lightweight (less than or equal to 73 kg / 161 lb)

RING

PRIDE used a five-roped square ring with sides 7 m in length (approximately 23 ft).

Fighter’s clothing

PRIDE allowed fighters latitude in their choice of clothing but open finger gloves, a mouthguard and a protective cup were duty. Fighters were allowed to use tape on parts of their body or to wear a gi top, gi pants (Judo, Jujutsu, Karate), wrestling shoes, kneepads, elbow pads, or ankle supports at their own discretion, though each was checked by the referee before the fight.

Victory

• Submission
• A fighter taps either his opponent or the mat three times
• Knockout
• A fighter falls from a legal blow and is either unconscious or unable to continue.
• Technical Knockout
• Referee Stoppage: the referee sees that one fighter is completely dominant to the point of endangering his opponent, the referee will stop the match.
• Doctor Stoppage: in the event that a fighter is injured (via fair methods) and cannot continue the match, his opponent will be declared the winner. The ring doctor will be the one to determine whether the fighter can continue or not. In the event that an injury was caused by illegal methods, the perpetrator will be disqualified.
• A fighter's corner throws in the towel.

Decision

If the match reaches its time limit then the outcome of the bout is determined by the three judges. The fight is scored in its entirety and not round-by-round. After the third round, each judge must decide a winner. Matches cannot end in a draw. A decision is made according to the following standard in this order of priority:

1. the effort made to finish the fight via KO or submission,
2. damage given to the opponent,
3. standing combinations and ground control,
4. takedowns and takedown defense,
5. aggressiveness, and
6. weight (in the case that the weight difference is 10 kg/22 lb or more).