Streetbeefs Rules: The 4 Formats, Age Limits & Title System
Streetbeefs is the largest grassroots fighting organization in the United States, founded in 2008 by Christopher "Scarface" Wilmore in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on the philosophy of "Fists Up, Guns Down." Two people with a dispute can settle it in a refereed fight instead of on the street with weapons, and anyone who simply wants to test themselves gets a platform with no fee and no prerequisite experience.
What makes Streetbeefs unusual in the underground fighting world is that it has no single fixed ruleset. Fighters choose from four distinct combat disciplines, and the specific rules are agreed by both parties before the fight. If they cannot agree, the fight does not happen. This page lays out what each format allows and bans, the rules that apply to every bout regardless of format, who is eligible, how weight matching works, and what it takes to hold a title.
Streetbeefs Rules at a Glance
| Format | Gloves | Allowed | Banned | How the bout ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxing | 12-ounce boxing gloves | Punches to standard boxing targets, waist to top of head | Kicks, knees, elbows and all ground fighting; the referee breaks clinches and stands up a downed fighter | Knockout, referee stoppage, or an informal assessment of who won |
| Kickboxing | 12-ounce boxing gloves, or MMA gloves by agreement | Punches and kicks to head, body and legs; short clinch work if agreed | Ground fighting; head kicks in bouts that restrict kicks to body and legs | Knockout, verbal surrender, or referee stoppage |
| Jiu-Jitsu / Grappling | MMA gloves or none | Submissions only: chokes, joint locks and positional control | All strikes | Submission (tap or verbal), or referee determination of dominance |
| MMA | 4-ounce MMA gloves | Punches, kicks, knees, elbows, takedowns, ground fighting, submissions and the clinch | Whatever the two fighters negotiate out, such as elbows to the head on the ground or soccer kicks | Knockout, submission, verbal surrender, or referee stoppage |
Whatever the format, the same baseline applies. A referee is present for every fight and can end it by their own decision, on a knockout, on a submission, or on a fighter's verbal surrender. Both fighters show government-issued photo ID, sign a waiver, and agree the ruleset before the bout. In the three striking formats, rounds are typically three, with the duration set by agreement; grappling bouts run continuous or timed.
The Four Fight Formats
Streetbeefs offers four combat disciplines. The choice of format is made by mutual agreement between the two fighters before the bout, and both must agree on the rules within it.
1. Boxing Rules
The most common format at Streetbeefs events.
- Gloves: 12-ounce boxing gloves
- Striking: Punches only
- Targets: Standard boxing targets, waist to top of head
- Clinch: The referee breaks clinches
- Ground fighting: Not permitted; a fighter who goes down is stood back up
- Rounds: Typically three, duration agreed before the fight
Boxing at Streetbeefs follows the conventions of amateur boxing with some informality. There are no judges' scorecards in the traditional sense. A bout that runs its course is settled by an informal assessment of who won; the rest end by knockout or referee stoppage. The emphasis is on standing exchanges.
2. Kickboxing Rules
A step up in technique diversity from boxing.
- Gloves: 12-ounce boxing gloves, or MMA gloves by agreement
- Striking: Punches and kicks
- Targets: Head, body and legs, with specific restrictions agreed per bout
- Clinch: Short clinch work may be allowed, depending on the agreement
- Ground fighting: Not permitted
- Rounds: Typically three, duration by agreement
Kickboxing at Streetbeefs is not K-1 or Muay Thai. It is a generalized format that permits punches and kicks in whatever configuration the fighters agree on. Some bouts permit head kicks; others restrict kicks to the body and legs. The flexibility is the point.
3. Jiu-Jitsu / Grappling Rules
The least common format, available for fighters who prefer ground-based competition.
- Gloves: MMA gloves or none
- Striking: No strikes of any kind
- Techniques: Submissions only: chokes, joint locks and positional control
- Victory: Submission (tap or verbal) or referee determination of dominance
- Rounds: Continuous or timed, by agreement
Pure grappling bouts are less common than striking bouts because they produce less dramatic footage for YouTube. But the option exists, and fighters who specialize in jiu-jitsu or wrestling can compete under rules that showcase their skills.
4. MMA Rules
The most permissive format available at Streetbeefs.
- Gloves: 4-ounce MMA gloves
- Striking: Punches, kicks, knees and elbows, with specific restrictions negotiated per bout
- Ground fighting: Fully permitted
- Submissions: Fully permitted
- Clinch: Fully permitted
- Rounds: Typically three, duration by agreement
MMA rules at Streetbeefs approximate the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts used in the UFC, without the formal regulatory infrastructure. Fighters can strike standing or on the ground, execute takedowns, work from dominant positions, and submit opponents. The specific boundaries, such as whether elbows to the head on the ground are allowed, whether soccer kicks are permitted, or whether there is a standup for inactivity, are settled by pre-fight agreement.
Rules That Apply to Every Bout
Whichever format is chosen, Streetbeefs enforces a short list of conditions on every match:
- A referee is present for all fights. The referee can stop a match by their own decision, on a knockout, on a submission, or on a fighter's verbal surrender.
- Both fighters sign a waiver before competing.
- The ruleset is fixed before the bout. There is no unsanctioned "street rules" fighting. Every match has a defined ruleset that both fighters agreed to in advance.
- No weapons of any kind are permitted.
- No fighters under 18, no payment to fighters, no admission fees for spectators. The first is a safety line. The second and third are what keep the events outside the jurisdiction of state athletic commissions, covered below.
Eligibility: 18 to 60, With Government ID
Streetbeefs has a firm minimum age: fighters must be 18 or older, and proof of age via valid government-issued photo ID is required. This is non-negotiable. Wilmore has been explicit that underage fighters will not be matched, regardless of their willingness or apparent skill. HQ sets no upper age limit; its event pages say only "must be 18+ with ID". The "18 to 60" range often quoted is the rule at the Scrapyard branch in Gig Harbor, Washington.
04 / Up next / Weight Matching
Beyond age and ID, Streetbeefs is open to anyone. There is no requirement for prior fighting experience, gym membership, amateur record, or athletic licensing. The organization exists specifically to provide a platform for people who would not have access to traditional combat sports competition: people who cannot afford gym memberships, who have no amateur boxing program nearby, or who simply want to fight without navigating the bureaucratic infrastructure of sanctioned sports. The sign-up channels, the waiver, and what fight day involves are covered in how to join Streetbeefs.
Weight Matching
Fighters are weighed and matched against opponents of similar size, and the matchmakers also account for discipline and experience when pairing. The goal is competitive parity, two people of roughly similar size and perceived skill level, but the process relies on the judgment of Wilmore and his team rather than the protocol of a sanctioned promotion. Mismatches can and do occur, particularly when a fighter's skill level is significantly different from what their size suggests.
This approach is consistent with Streetbeefs' accessible, low-barrier-to-entry philosophy, and the size matching is the single biggest safety feature of the operation. For a comparison of weight class systems across the underground fighting landscape, see our weight class guide.
The Title System: 3+ Wins Required
Despite its grassroots nature, Streetbeefs has a structured title system. Fighters who accumulate three or more wins with strong performances become eligible to compete for division titles. A title committee manages contender lists and determines who has earned a shot at a championship bout.
The title system provides an aspirational framework for regular competitors. A fighter who shows up once and wins a single bout is a participant. A fighter who returns repeatedly, builds a record, and earns three or more victories is a contender. That progression turns Streetbeefs from a series of one-off fights into a competitive ecosystem with rankings and stakes.
Titles cover the major disciplines (boxing, kickboxing, MMA) and multiple weight divisions within each; Delvin "Kuntry Hoodlum" Hamlett's 205-pound heavyweight championship and Cornflake's heavyweight boxing title are two examples. Championship fights follow the same basic rules as regular bouts but carry additional prestige and community recognition, and champions defend at regular events against new contenders, creating the ongoing storylines that drive viewership.
Safety and Medical Provisions
The safety measures at a Streetbeefs fight are the referee, the gloves, the ID check, the waiver, and the size matching described above. What is not there is medical staff. There is no ringside physician, no pre-fight medical screening, and no post-fight medical examination. Basic first aid supplies are available, and fighters compete at their own risk.
This places Streetbeefs below BKFC (mandatory ringside physician), Strelka (medical worker required by law), and Top Dog (medical staff at arena events) on the safety spectrum. However, the use of gloves, the grass surface, and the available formats, which can be as restrictive as boxing-only rules, mean that Streetbeefs fights are generally less dangerous than bare-knuckle bouts on hard surfaces.
The organization's safety record over 15+ years of operation, while not formally documented, has not produced the kind of catastrophic injuries that would trigger legal intervention, which itself speaks to the effectiveness of the informal safety measures in place.
The Fighting Surface
Streetbeefs fights take place outdoors, typically on grass. The original location in Harrisonburg, Virginia, was a property known as "Satan's Backyard"; since January 2024 the monthly "OG Yard" cards have been held on private property in Winchester, Virginia. The outdoor grass setting has become the organization's visual signature.
Grass is a forgiving surface compared to the concrete used by KOTS or the hard arena floors of Top Dog. A fighter who is knocked down onto grass absorbs less impact on the secondary landing than one who falls onto concrete or asphalt. Grass is also uneven, though. Footing is less reliable than a canvas ring or a matted cage floor, which affects movement, pivoting, and defensive footwork. The outdoor setting adds weather, temperature, wind, sun glare, and uneven terrain, all accepted as part of the Streetbeefs experience.
Why Streetbeefs Is Legal: No Pay, No Admission, Private Property
The rules above sit inside a structure that has, so far, kept Streetbeefs outside Virginia's combat-sports licensing regime. That is not the same thing as a legal permission to fight. Three factors are usually cited:
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No admission fee. Spectators do not pay to attend. There is no ticket price, no cover charge, and no pay-per-view. Revenue comes from YouTube, not gate receipts.
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No fighter payment. Fighters do not receive a purse, a bonus, or any form of compensation. This is the one that carries legal weight. Va. Code § 54.1-828 is a definitions section: anyone who has fought for "money, compensation, or reward other than a suitably inscribed memento" is a professional, and professionals need authorization from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (§ 54.1-829). § 54.1-830 exempts amateur boxing and amateur exhibition bouts. Admission and private property are not tests the statute uses.
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Private property. Events take place on private property, with the owner's consent. Fighters are guests, not employees or contractors.
Because no money changes hands in either direction, the regulatory framework that governs BKFC or Rough N Rowdy does not apply. The status is not bulletproof. The licensing law grants no permission to fight: Virginia's assault and battery statute (§ 18.2-57) still applies, § 54.1-830's amateur martial-arts exemption covers only school, corrections and U.S. Olympic Committee events, and a prosecutor could argue that YouTube revenue constitutes commercial activity tied to the fights. Streetbeefs has operated continuously since 2008 without legal challenge, but that reflects enforcement discretion, not a ruling in its favor.
The no-pay rule also shapes the culture. Fighters compete for the experience, for the respect, for the video that gets posted on YouTube, and in some cases to settle a genuine personal dispute. There is no contract, no promotional obligation, and no financial penalty for declining a fight, so nobody is pressured to accept a bout they do not want, to compete while injured, or to move up faster than they are ready.
