![]() |
Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 1 fight with Bas Rutten Vs Ryushi Yanagisawa. This was Bas Rutten’s first MMA bout. |
For those that are confused about the old Pancrase fighting rules here is a breakdown.
Rules
Old rules
Aside from the traditional grappling rules (e.g., no biting, no eye-gouging) the rules were formerly as follows:
- No elbows to the head (neither while standing nor on the ground).
- No closed-fist strikes to the head (neither while standing nor on the ground).
- No knees to the head on the ground.
- No kicks/stomps to the head on the ground.
- If a participant gets too close to the ropes, he is stood back up on the feet. (as opposed to PRIDE’s recentering in the middle of the ring)
- Non-title matches consist of one 15 minute round; Title matches consist of one 30 minute round.
- If a participant is caught in a submission and taps out, (whether unable to reach the ropes or not) it is a loss.
- Five “escapes” are given to each fighter at the start of every match. An escape can be used when caught in a submission near the ropes, in which case the participant can grab them, be stood back on the feet and have one point deducted. Once a participant has used all of his escapes, it is a loss.
- For knockouts, a ten-count similar to boxing and kickboxing is used. If the participant is unable to answer the ten-count, it is declared a TKO and that fighter has lost the match. However, if the participant is able to answer the ten-count, the fight resumes and one point is deducted.
- If, at the end of regulated time, neither fighter has submitted, been knocked out, or lost all their points, a decision is rendered based on who lost fewer points. If neither fighter lost any points, or both lost the same number of points, the fight is declared a draw.
- In the 1994 King of Pancrase tournament, the rules were slightly different, in that the first round had one 10 minute round and three rope escapes, and the finals had one 20 minute round with three rope escapes.
- For a short period of time when Bas Rutten was the King of Pancrase, heelhooks were banned because of the frequency of injuries.
Present-day rules
Today, Pancrase uses mixed martial arts rules similar to the ones in Pride FC and Shooto.



