Rhode Island General Laws Title 41. Sports, Racing, and Athletics § 41-5.2-20. Fouls

(1) Butting with the head;

(2) Eye gouging of any kind;

(3) Biting or spitting at an opponent;

(4) Hair pulling;

(5) Fish hooking;

(6) Groin attacks of any kind;

(7) Intentionally placing a finger in any opponent's orifices;

(8) Downward pointing of elbow strikes;

(9) Small joint manipulation;

(10) Strikes to the spine or back of the head;

(11) Heel kicks to the kidney;

(12) Throat strikes of any kind;

(13) Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh, or grabbing the clavicle;

(14) Kicking the head of a grounded fighter;

(15) Kneeing the head of a grounded fighter;

(16) Stomping of a grounded fighter;

(17) The use of abusive language in the fighting area;

(18) Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent;

(19) Attacking an opponent on or during the break;

(20) Attacking an opponent who is under the referee's care at the time;

(21) Timidity (avoiding contact, or consistent dropping of mouthpiece, or faking an injury);

(22) Interference from a mixed martial artist's seconds;

(23) Throwing an opponent out of the fighting area;

(24) Flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions;

(25) Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his or her head or neck.

(1) Call time;

(2) Check the fouled mixed martial artist's condition and safety; and

(3) Assess the foul to the offending contestant, deduct points, and notify each corner's seconds, judges, and official scorekeeper.

(1) The referee shall verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.

(2) When the round is over, the referee shall assess the foul and notify both corners' seconds, the judges, and the official scorekeeper.

(3) The referee may terminate a bout based on the severity of a foul. For such a flagrant foul, a contestant shall lose by disqualification.