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17 hours ago
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If you haven't participated in pillow fighting yourself, such as with your siblings or friends growing up, you've probably seen it in TV shows in movies. For whatever reason, it's pretty fun to swing a cushioned object as hard as you can at another person, knowing it won't hurt them very much.
But did you know pillow fighting is a professional sport?
The Pillow Fight Championship is an official pillow fighting league that features professional fighters going head-to-head, pillows in hand, for some friendly competition that doesn't have as many health risks as traditional MMA fighting. However, there are still some key rules to know when understanding the unique sport.
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From a ban on taking your opponent's pillow to a scoring system that values hits to the head and knocking your opponent down, there's a lot that goes into the Pillow Fight Championship, which will be featured in ESPN 8: The Ocho in 2025.
Here is a full breakdown of the rules for the Pillow Fight Championship league.
Pillow Fight Championship rules, explained
Here's a look at some of the key rules of Pillow Fight Championship.
When a fighter breaks one of the rules, the referees will often provide a warning, then deduct a point from any repeat offenses. Three points will be deducted for another offense, then if it happens again, the fighter forfeits the match.
Fights last 90 seconds, and the referee is allowed to stop the fight to ensure the match lasts the full time.
Pillows are inspected prior to each fight and during each rest period, but if a fighter is found damaging the pillow in any way other than striking their opponent, they will forfeit the match.
Only strike with pillows
One of the more basic rules in the Pillow Fight Championship league: hits are only allowed with pillows. You cannot hit an opponent with any part of your body, and there is no pushing/charging your opponent.
While it's encouraged to swing the pillow as hard as you can, there is no striking unless it's with a pillow.
One of the small exceptions to the "no physical contact" rule is that fighters may use their non-pillow holding arm to push or move the opponent's non-pillow holding arm. However, grabbing the arm is not allowed.
Straps are held with one hand
When fighters are in a match, they hold one pillow that includes six straps with one hand. There is no striking with the pillow with both hands.
Pillows are also not allowed to be held stationary over one's head.
No dropping your pillow or grabbing/taking opponent's pillow
For the entire fight, dropping your pillow is against the rules (which would also defeat the purpose anyway). You're also not allowed to grab, hold onto, or take your opponent's pillow. For the duration of the match, pillows must be in one hand for both fighters.
No two-handed overhead strikes
As the rule in holding the pillow with one hand indicates, there are no two-handed overhead hits with the pillow allowed.
Overhead hits are allowed, if not encouraged, but they must come with one hand on the pillow.
Knocked-down fighters have 10 seconds to get up
When a fighter gets knocked to the floor, for whatever reason, they have 10 seconds to get up before the match is over by knockout.
Fighters must keep four feet apart
Throughout the duration of the fight, the two fighters must keep four feet between them. This rule prevents crowding and makes it easier for the officials to judge the fight.
No extending non-pillow arm
The non-pillow arm cannot be fully extended in front of a fighter, whether as a means to defend themself or not.
While the non-pillow arm can be used to push or move their opponent's non-pillow arm, it cannot be fully extended or used to grab the opponent's arm.
No standing still past three seconds
In an effort to keep the fight active, fighters cannot stand still for more than three seconds.
No open wounds, jewelry, foul language, etc.
Among the more general rules that usually apply to MMA-style leagues, no open wounds, long fingernails, or jewelry are allowed to prevent injuries.
Additionally, sportsmanship is expected, including no spitting, cursing, foul language, etc.
Pillow Fight Championship scoring
Here's a breakdown of how scoring works in the Pillow Fight Championship. It is a points-based system, and all strikes must come at "full force" to count for a point. Three judges score each match.
Strike to head = 1 point
When a fighter strikes their opponent with the pillow on their head, it results in one point.
There is an important note to this rule: it does not matter if the fighter who was hit by the pillow in the head tried to block it. If a fighter is defending their head with their non-pillow hand and their opponent strikes still strikes their head area with full force, then the opponent still gets a point.
The only way to avoid a strike to the head, and your opponent getting a point from it, is to dodge the strike.
360 Strike to the head = 3 points
If a fighter pulls off a 360-degree move, then strikes their opponent's head, they are awarded three points. It just has to be a 360-degree spin before the strike, and the same rules about blocking the head strike apply.
The league also encouraged "showmanship," which it defines as "acts such as repeatedly dodging a series of strikes from opponent, or performing an acrobatic-type move, such as a summersault or cartwheel that ends with a strike." That will also result in a fighter receiving one point.
Knockdown = 5 points
If a fighter knocks down their opponent with a strike from the pillow, they are awarded five points. It's key that the opponent actually falls down due to the fighter's strike; if the opponent falls to the floor for another reason, no points are awarded.
Leg strike unbalanced = 1 point
If a fighter strikes their opponent, and the opponent then becomes "unbalanced" for a moment due to a leg strike, then the fighter is given one point.
Break the pillow = 3 points
If a fighter breaks the pillow from striking their opponent, they are awarded three points. This does not count if the handles are broken.
Tiebreaker round
If two fighters are tied in points after the 90-second round, then they'll commence in a 30-second tiebreaking round, with the same rules.
Below is a detailed video breakdown of the Pillow Fight Championship rules:
English (US)