The 2026 ABC Conference is set to tackle potential changes to the Unified Rules of MMA when it convenes Aug. 3-5 at Caribe Royal in Orlando.
Following two days of official training courses, regulators will discuss and vote on several proposed rule adjustments, with any approved language to be implemented by ABC commissions in the months after the event.
One proposal focuses on clarifying the rule regarding vomiting, including distinctions between vomiting after fouls, between rounds, and during legal action. Another proposal aims to revisit the use of intentional and accidental designations for fouls and allow more referee discretion in outcomes.
The vomiting rule came under scrutiny after an incident at UFC 326 involving Xiao Long and Cody Garbrandt, which raised questions about how such situations are handled under the current framework.
Andy Foster serves on the ABC Rules and Regulations committee, which is involved in shaping the language that will be put before the membership. The conference agenda also includes guest speakers, medical presentations, and committee updates as commissions prepare for possible changes that "must" be formally voted in before taking effect, including any references to "vomiting."
