MTAAC Rules & Format

Bout format

• C-Class (0–5 bouts): 3 × 90 seconds or 3 × 2 minutes, 1-minute rest between rounds.
• B-Class (6–15 bouts): 3 × 2 minutes or 3 × 3 minutes, 1-minute rest. B-Class titles are 5 × 2 minutes, 1-minute rest.
• A-Class / Elite (16+ bouts): 3 × 3 minutes, 1-minute rest. Title bouts are 5 × 2 minutes, 1-minute rest.
• Youth (under 18): follow the WBC Youth Competition Rules; youth title bouts run 5 × 2 minutes.
• Elbows: full-rules muaythai in all adult classes — C-Class and B-Class fighters wear elbow pads; A / Elite fights bare-elbow. Youth restrictions on elbows and knees to the head follow the WBC youth ruleset.
• Fouls in the clinch: throws, wrestling techniques, and sweeps or trips with the back of the leg are fouls. Both fighters shake hands before the first and final round in the spirit of sportsmanship.

Scoring · 10-point must

Three judges score each round on the WBC 10-point must system. They mentally start each round at 10–10 and judge only that round:

Judges weigh Damage, Dominance, and Disruption: effective aggression, ring generalship, and defense. Every weapon (fists, elbows, knees, kicks) counts equally — the more effective, powerfully-executed technique scores higher regardless of which weapon landed it. A clean, hard body kick outscores a soft counter punch; a hard, accurate counter punch outscores a soft kick. Clinch work scores only when strikes land on target with power.

Weight classes

MTAAC uses the ladder below. Youth divisions are listed in kilograms; adult classes use boxing-style names. Pound conversions are approximate. C-Class bouts and tournaments weigh in on the day of the event, 3–6 hours before the bell; B-Class-only events may weigh in the night before or same day; A / Elite bouts weigh in 24–30 hours before. Female fighters can request a private weigh-in with female officials, and the ringside doctor confirms each fighter is fit before the weigh-in.

Fight-day safety weight check. After any day-before weigh-in, all fighters step on the scale again on fight day. Regaining more than 10% of your weigh-in weight cancels the bout — WBC's hard cap on rapid rehydration and unsafe cutting practices.

Experience class: A / Elite · B · C

All fighters start in C-Class regardless of prior training and must be at least 17 years old to compete as an adult. Fighters under 18 follow the WBC Youth Competition Rules. Cross-class matches (A vs B, B vs C) are flagged by the matchmaker and require both head coaches' explicit consent in writing.

Required equipment

• Gloves: 10 oz up to Welterweight (67 kg / ≈147 lb); 12 oz Super-Welterweight and above. Gloves are provided and stamped by the equipment inspector before the bout.
• Hand wraps: soft bandage no longer than 6 m and no wider than 5 cm per hand. B-Class fighters may add strapping tape (max 2.5 m long × 2.5 cm wide) on the wrist or back of the hand, never across the knuckles. C-Class fighters use cloth hand wraps only — no tape. All wraps are inspected and stamped before the bout.
• Gum shield: form-fitted and mandatory; intentionally spitting it out is penalized. Backup recommended.
• Groin protection: metal cup mandatory for men in all classes. Female groin protector mandatory for C-Class and B-Class; optional but recommended for A / Elite.
• Shin guards: mandatory for C-Class; recommended for B-Class; not required for A / Elite. Ankle supports, if worn, must be cloth only with no padding.
• Approved Muay Thai shorts at half-thigh, not the same color as the opposite corner. No shirt, no shoes, no MMA shorts or compression pants.
• Youth add a head guard, elbow pads, shin guards and a body shield; female youth wear breast protection if no body shield.
• The Mongkon is worn only for the Wai Kru; a Prajiad armband may be worn during the bout.

Medical requirements

• Pre-fight physical completed within a year of the event, plus a ringside-doctor fitness check before the weigh-in.
• Mandatory rest between bouts: at least 7 days if you won in round 1 or 2; at least 14 days after any 3-round win or a 5-round bout. At least 30 days after a TKO or KO loss; 60-day suspension after a KO in a title context, and 120 days after two consecutive KOs. Title-fight eligibility requires no TKO loss in the prior 45 days and no KO loss in the prior 60 days.
• No sparring for at least 45 days after a concussion or serious head trauma (30 days after any other concussive event).
• Negative bloodwork (HIV, Hep B, Hep C) within 6 months of the event, required for all fighters 17 and over.
• Female fighters 16 and over must complete a pregnancy test or signed pregnancy declaration within 72 hours of the event, with supporting evidence.
• Anti-doping in line with VADA / WBC MuayThai rules; the ring doctor may test.
• Doctor / cutman holds: any flag from the medical team prevents the fighter being called to the ring until cleared. The matchmaker's tablet shows the hold in real time.

Conduct, fouls & waivers

• Fouls (warning → point deduction → disqualification): biting, eye-pokes, headbutts, spitting, strikes to the groin, strikes to the back of the head, neck or spine, throws, wrestling, sweeps or trips with the back of the leg, grabbing the ropes for advantage, and disobeying the referee.
• Both fighters shake hands before the first and final round.
• All fighters sign the MTAAC waiver and rules acknowledgment at registration. The e-signature is dated and stored.
• Be at the venue and ready to fight no later than 90 minutes before your scheduled bout.
• Withdrawal must reach the matchmaker at least 4 hours before the first bell. Late withdrawal forfeits the entry fee unless a documented medical reason is provided.
• Conduct outside the ring (corner behavior, equipment table, locker room) is held to the same code. Repeat violators may be suspended from future MTAAC events.

Decisions & stoppages

• On points: Unanimous (all three judges), Split (two judges to one), or Majority (two judges, one draw). Draws may be unanimous, majority, or split.
• Knockout (KO): a downed fighter who cannot continue by the count of ten.
• Technical knockout (TKO): a fighter who is outclassed, too injured to continue, withdraws, is knocked down three times in a round (or five in the bout), or falls from the ring and cannot return by the count of twenty.
• 8-counts: a mandatory 8-count follows every knockdown. Standing 8-counts are used in amateur and youth bouts to protect a fighter taking heavy damage.
• Disqualification / no-contest: for serious or repeated fouls, or a bout spoiled by both fighters.

Official WBC rulebook

MTAAC is sanctioned under WBC Amateur Muaythai. This page is a plain-English summary for fighters and coaches — the official WBC rulebook is the source of truth and may be revised by WBC at any time. If anything on this page differs from the current WBC PDF, the rulebook wins. Always check the current version before a title bout or an important match.