Low Blow

Last updated: July 7, 2026

What is a low blow in MMA?

A low blow covers more than a stray kick between the legs. Under the Unified Rules of MMA, the ruleset used by the UFC and most athletic commissions, foul number 11 bans “groin attacks of any kind.” That covers strikes, and it also outlaws grabbing or twisting the groin. The rule applies identically to male and female fighters.

The term comes from boxing, where hitting “below the belt” has been against the rules dating back to the Marquess of Queensberry rules of the 1860s. In MMA, the target area is the groin itself rather than everything below the waistline, because leg strikes are legal and common.

Low blows sit on the foul list for two reasons. The groin is one of the most injury-prone areas on the body, and a sport seeking mainstream legitimacy could not allow attacks there. Nearly all low blows in modern MMA are accidental, which is why the rules spend more time on what happens after one lands than on the ban itself.

What happens after a low blow?

The referee calls time as soon as they spot the foul. The fouled fighter then has up to five minutes to recover before the referee restarts the action. That window is a maximum, not a guarantee of rest: once the fighter says they are ready, the fight resumes.

The low blow holds a unique status here. Under the Unified Rules, it is the only foul that guarantees the fouled fighter access to the full recovery period. For other fouls, such as an eye poke, the referee or ringside doctor can stop the fight immediately if the fighter looks unfit to continue.

If the five minutes run out and the fighter still cannot continue, the fight cannot be restarted. The bout ends there, and the result depends on whether the foul was accidental or intentional.

The five-minute figure was set when the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, led by commissioner Larry Hazzard Sr., drew up the Unified Rules in 2000 and 2001. Hazzard told MEL Magazine the number was most likely carried over from boxing, which used the same recovery period for low blows.

Only the referee can call a low blow. If the referee misses it, the judges cannot factor the foul into their scoring, and the strike counts like any legal blow.

Penalties for a low blow

Recovery time and penalties are separate questions. A first accidental low blow usually draws only a verbal warning. Repeat offenses bring point deductions at the referee’s discretion, and a point is often the margin between winning and losing a three-round fight.

Intent changes the math. Under the Association of Boxing Commissions’ rules, an intentional foul that injures an opponent carries a mandatory two-point deduction if the fight continues. If the injury stops the fight, the offending fighter loses by disqualification.

The referee’s judgment is central at every step: whether the strike landed on the groin, whether it was deliberate, and how many points to take.

Accidental vs. intentional low blows

Intent decides how a fight that ends on a low blow goes into the record books. The table below shows the standard outcomes under the Unified Rules when a fighter cannot continue.

Scenario	Outcome
Accidental low blow, fight stopped before half the scheduled rounds are complete	No contest (the fight officially never happened)
Accidental low blow, fight stopped after half the scheduled rounds	Technical decision: judges score the completed rounds and the partial round
Intentional low blow, fighter cannot continue	Offending fighter loses by disqualification

One well-known example: at UFC 55 in 2005, Ron Faircloth’s inside leg kick strayed into Alessio Sakara’s groin, Sakara could not continue, and the bout was ruled a no contest.

A few jurisdictions complicate the picture. Illinois regulation 1370.630, applied when Thiago Tavares lost at PFL 2 in 2018, says a fighter hit with an accidental low blow who cannot continue within five minutes may lose by technical knockout. The rule assumes the mandatory groin protector should absorb the damage, a holdover from boxing-era regulation.

Low blow vs. inside leg kick

Most low blows in MMA start life as inside leg kicks. The inside leg kick is a legal strike aimed at the inner thigh, thrown to damage the lead leg and disrupt an opponent’s stance. When it rides a few inches too high, it becomes a foul.

Strike	Target	Legal?
Inside leg kick	Inner thigh	Yes
Low blow	Groin	No

Referees distinguish the two by where the strike lands, not where it was aimed. A kick that catches the cup makes a distinctive sound, and referees often rely on that, along with the reaction of the fouled fighter, to make the call. Knees in the clinch and body kicks that slip low can also land as low blows, though the errant inside kick remains the most common cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do MMA fighters wear groin protection?

Male fighters must wear an approved groin protector under the Unified Rules. Female fighters are prohibited from wearing one, though the low blow rule and the five-minute recovery window apply to them all the same.

Can a fighter win because of a low blow?

Not directly. A fighter can win by disqualification if an opponent lands an intentional low blow that ends the fight, but a fighter cannot claim victory simply by absorbing an accidental one. In most jurisdictions, that scenario produces a no contest or a technical decision.

Is a low blow an automatic point deduction?

No. First accidental offenses typically draw a warning. Point deductions come with repeat fouls or clear intent, at the referee’s discretion.

What does the referee say after a low blow?

Referees typically call “time,” send the offending fighter to a neutral position, and tell the fouled fighter they have up to five minutes. Fighters are reminded that the clock will not be extended.

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Sources

1. Association of Boxing Commissions. “Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.”
   https://www.abcboxing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/unified-rules-mma-july-2022.pdf. Accessed July 7, 2026.
2. UFC. “Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.”
   https://www.ufc.com/unified-rules-mixed-martial-arts. Accessed July 7, 2026.
3. Combat Sports Law. “Let’s Talk Thiago Tavares’ Low Blow Loss and Illinois Rules.”
   https://combatsportslaw.com/2018/06/22/lets-talk-thiago-tavares-low-blow-loss-and-illinois-rules/. Accessed July 7, 2026.
4. MEL Magazine. “Is Five Minutes Enough?: Who Decided on the Timeout Length for Groin Shots in MMA?”
   https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/ufc-groin-shots. Accessed July 7, 2026.
5. Fighters Only. “Below the Belt: Low blows hurt everyone.”
   https://www.fightersonlymag.com/latest-news/belt-low-blows-hurt-everyone/. Accessed July 7, 2026.
6. Elite Sports. “What Moves Are Banned in The UFC?”
   https://www.elitesports.com/blogs/news/what-moves-are-banned-in-the-ufc. Accessed July 7, 2026.

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