Can an MMA fighter grab the cage?
A · Advanced · Fouls · 2 of 4A fighter may touch and push off the fence but may not grab it with fingers or toes to control position. Holding the opponent's gloves or shorts is also a foul. If grabbing the fence has a real effect on the fight, the referee may take a point and restart the fighters standing in a neutral position.
How it works
- Legal: putting the hands on the fence and pushing off it, at any time.
- Legal: placing the feet on the cage, even with the toes through the mesh.
- Foul: fingers or toes going through the fence and gripping it to control one's own or the opponent's position.
- In a ring: a fighter may not grab the ropes, wrap the arms over or under them or step through them on purpose.
- Gloves and shorts: a fighter may not control the opponent by holding the material of their gloves or shorts.
- Still legal: gripping the opponent's hand itself, and holding one's own gloves or shorts.
- Penalty: a one-point deduction may follow if the fence grab had a substantial effect.
- Restart: if a point is taken and the foul left the offender in a better position, the fighters are restarted standing, in a neutral position.
The glossary has the holding the fence, the cage, the point deduction, the takedown, the wall walk and the foul.
Tricky cases
A fighter presses a palm flat against the cage to stay upright. Is that a foul?
No. A fighter may put the hands on the fence and push off it at any time. The foul is gripping it.
A fighter's toes hook through the mesh while pushing off. Is that a foul?
Only if the toes grab hold and start to control body position. Toes going through the mesh is allowed by itself.
A fighter stops a takedown by gripping the fence and ends up on top. What should happen?
The referee may deduct a point, and the fighters should then be restarted standing in a neutral position.
Can a fighter hold the opponent's wrist?
Yes. Gripping the hand or wrist is legal. Controlling the hand only by the material of the glove is not.
Why the rule exists
A grip on the fence can stop a clean takedown or let a fighter haul themselves up, which decides an exchange by something other than skill. The same goes for cloth: a handful of shorts is a handle the body does not offer. The restart takes away whatever the grab gained.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pushing off the fence | Legal | ABC Foul 14 |
| Gripping the fence | Foul; point may be deducted | ABC Foul 14 |
| Ring ropes | May not be grabbed or wrapped | ABC Foul 14 |
| Opponent's gloves or shorts | May not be held | ABC Foul 13 |
From the rule book
Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts (as amended 23 July 2024; California State Athletic Commission copy), fouls 13 and 14. Compared with the same association's text as amended 1 August 2018. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the association's Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts (adopted commission by commission).