Bill Text: MO HB367 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes provisions regulating amateur unarmed combat competitions
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-13 - Public Hearing Completed (H) [HB367 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2011-HB367-Introduced.html
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES MEADOWS (Sponsor) AND WALTON GRAY (Co-sponsor).
0333L.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 317.001 and 317.006, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof twenty-six new sections relating to amateur mixed martial arts.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 317.001 and 317.006, RSMo, are repealed and twenty-six new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 317.001, 317.006, 317.050, 317.053, 317.056, 317.059, 317.062, 317.065, 317.068, 317.071, 317.074, 317.077, 317.080, 317.083, 317.086, 317.089, 317.092, 317.095, 317.098, 317.101, 317.104, 317.107, 317.110, 317.113, 317.116, and 317.119, to read as follows:
317.001. As used in sections 317.001 to [317.021] 317.119, the following words and terms mean:
(1) "Amateur", a person who competes in a boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate event who has not competed as a contestant for valuable consideration in any event in which similar boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate skills were used or allowed;
(2) "Amateur unarmed combat promoter" or "promoter", a person, association, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or any form of business entity licensed by the office who arranges, advertises, or conducts amateur mixed martial arts events and who is responsible for obtaining a permit for each contest and for payment of any state taxes associated with such contest;
(3) "Bout", one match involving professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing, or professional full-contact karate, including professional mixed martial arts;
[(3)] (4) "Boxing", the sport of attack and defense where contestants are allowed to only use the fist to attack or strike in competition;
[(4)] (5) "Combative fighting", a bout or contest, with or without gloves or protective headgear, whereby any part of the contestant's body may be used as a weapon or any other means of fighting may be used with the specific purpose of intentionally injuring the other contestants in such a manner that they may not defend themselves and in which there is no referee;
[(5)] (6) "Contest", a bout or a group of bouts involving licensed contestants competing in professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing, or professional full-contact karate;
[(6)] (7) "Contestant", a person who competes in any boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate event;
[(7)] (8) "Director", the director of the division of professional registration;
[(8)] (9) "Division", the division of professional registration;
[(9)] (10) "Exhibition", a boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate engagement in which persons are participating to show or display their boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate skill and in which no decision is rendered;
[(10)] (11) "Full-contact karate", any form of full- contact martial arts including, but not limited to, full- contact kungfu, full-contact tae kwon do, or any form of martial arts, mixed martial arts, combat or self-defense conducted on a full-contact basis in a match where contestants are allowed to deliver blows or strikes;
[(11)] (12) "Fund", the athletic fund established pursuant to sections 317.001 to 317.021;
[(12)] (13) "Kickboxing", any match in which contestants are allowed to use any form of boxing and are also allowed to use any part of the fist, foot, or leg, with or without shin guards or protective gear, or any combination thereof to deliver strikes above the waist and which does not constitute mixed martial arts as defined by this section;
[(13)] (14) "Mixed martial arts", any match in which any form of martial arts or self-defense is conducted on a full-contact basis and where other combative techniques or tactics are allowed in competition including, but not limited to, kicking, striking, chokeholds, boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, grappling, or joint manipulation. Professional mixed martial arts is a form of full-contact karate;
[(14)] (15) "Office", the division of professional registration, office of athletics;
[(15)] (16) "Professional", a wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, or full-contact karate bout or contest where the participants compete for any valuable consideration or a person who competes in any wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, or full-contact karate bout or contest for any such consideration;
[(16)] (17) "Sparring", any boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate conducted for practice and for which admission or other similar consideration, in any form, is charged to any member of the public;
[(17)] (18) "Unarmed combat", may include any amateur kickboxing match in which the competitors are not wearing protective gear. Unarmed combat shall not include any of the following:
(a) Any form of competition between human beings or one or more human beings and one or more animals in which:
a. One or more blows are struck which may reasonably be expected to inflict injury on a human being; and
b. There is some compensation or commercial benefit arising from such competition, whether in the form of cash or noncash payment to the competitors or the person arranging the competition; the sale of the right to film, broadcast, transmit, or view the competition; or the use of the competition to attract persons to a particular location for some commercial advantage or to promote a commercial product or commercial enterprise;
(b) Tough man fights, bad man fights, nude boxing, nude wrestling, patron boxing, patron martial arts, and patron wrestling;
(c) Professional boxing licensed under this chapter;
(d) Professional wrestling governed or authorized by an organization licensed or exempted from licensure under this chapter;
(e) Amateur boxing or amateur wrestling governed or authorized by any sanctioning body recognized by the office under this chapter as an amateur mixed martial arts sanctioning body;
(f) Any competition displaying the skills of a single form of an Oriental system of unarmed combative sports or unarmed combative entertainment, including, but not limited to, kickboxing, karate, or full-contact karate, that is held under the rules of that form and governed or authorized by an organization licensed by the office in accordance with this chapter; or
(g) Mixed martial arts fighting or other martial arts competitions otherwise governed or authorized under this chapter;
(19) "Wrestling", any performance of wrestling skills and techniques by two or more individuals. Participating wrestlers may perform without being required to use their best efforts in order to win and the winner may have been selected before the performance commences.
317.006. 1. The division shall have general charge and supervision of all professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing and professional full-contact karate contests held in the state of Missouri, and it shall have the power, and it shall be its duty:
(1) To make and publish rules governing in every particular professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing and professional full- contact karate contests;
(2) To make and publish rules governing the approval of amateur sanctioning bodies in accordance with sections 317.050 to 317.119;
(3) To accept applications for and issue licenses to contestants in professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing and professional full- contact karate contests held in the state of Missouri, and referees, judges, matchmakers, managers, promoters, seconds, announcers, timekeepers and physicians involved in professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing and professional full-contact karate contests held in the state of Missouri, as authorized herein. Such licenses shall be issued in accordance with rules duly adopted by the division;
(4) To charge fees to be determined by the director and established by rule for every license issued and to assess a tax of five percent of the gross receipts of any person, organization, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or association holding a promoter's license and permit under sections 317.001 to 317.021, derived from admission charges connected with or as an incident to the holding of any professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing or professional full- contact karate contest in the state of Missouri. Such funds shall be paid to the division of professional registration which shall pay said funds into the Missouri state treasury to be set apart into a fund to be known as the "Athletic Fund" which is hereby established;
(5) To assess a tax of five percent of the gross receipts of any person, organization, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or association holding a promoter's license under sections 317.001 to 317.021 derived from the sale, lease or other exploitation in this state of broadcasting, television, pay-per-view, closed-circuit telecast, and motion picture rights for any professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing or professional full-contact karate contest. Such funds shall be paid to the division which shall pay said funds into the Missouri state treasury to be set apart into a fund to be known as the "Athletic Fund";
(6) Each cable television system operator whose pay-per- view or closed-circuit facilities are utilized to telecast a bout or contest shall, within thirty calendar days following the date of the telecast, file a report with the office stating the number of orders sold and the price per order.
2. All fees established pursuant to sections 317.001 to 317.021 shall be determined by the director by rule in such amount as to produce sufficient revenue to fund the necessary expenses and operating costs incurred in the administration of the provisions of sections 317.001 to 317.021. All expenses shall be paid as otherwise provided by law.
317.050. 1. The division may only approve an amateur unarmed combat sanctioning body if the amateur sanctioning body meets the following minimum requirements:
(1) Is exclusively or primarily dedicated to advancing a particular sport;
(2) Limits its participation in its events to its registered members;
(3) Has a record of enforcing the rules governing a contest or exhibition;
(4) Has a record for safety; and
(5) Provides substantially similar protections for the health, safety, and welfare of its contestants as that required for professional boxing and professional mixed martial arts requirements within this state specifically designated to differentiate professionals from amateurs.
Any national amateur unarmed combat sanctioning body shall be a verified 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization established to follow the guidelines of the federal Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act.
2. In addition, an applicant for licensure as an amateur unarmed combat sanctioning body shall provide to the division its proposed policies, rules, and regulations for providing oversight of an event, which shall include:
(1) The fees to be charged by the applicant for providing oversight at an event;
(2) The criteria for assigning officials to amateur unarmed combat bouts at an event;
(3) Information concerning any training programs or certifications the applicant requires of officials it assigns to an event;
(4) Identification of the types of actions that will be considered a foul during an amateur unarmed combat bout;
(5) Information regarding weight classes, maximum weight differentials between opponents in different weight classes, and official weigh-in requirements;
(6) A procedure to ensure the promoter provides adequate security for the protection of the participants at an event;
(7) A procedure for the administration of screening tests for illegal drugs of amateur unarmed combat competitors participating in an event;
(8) A procedure to ensure that professional unarmed combat competitors do not participate in any amateur unarmed combat bouts;
(9) The proposed bout restrictions for nonchampionship and championship bouts, which shall not exceed:
(a) Three rounds of not more than three minutes duration per round for nonchampionship bouts; and
(b) Five rounds of not more than three minutes duration per round for championship bouts;
(10) The proposed mandatory rest period each amateur unarmed competitor shall take between competing in each unarmed combat event, which shall be no less than five days;
(11) The proposed scoring system to be used by judges of an amateur unarmed combat bout;
(12) A requirement that each amateur unarmed competitor competing in an event has obtained a mixed martial arts national identification card from any state, country, or tribal nation recognized by the Association of Boxing Commissions;
(13) A requirement that no participant in an event is less than eighteen years of age;
(14) A procedure for approving or denying fight cards;
(15) A procedure for verifying the time occurrence of prefight medical tests;
(16) A procedure outlining action to be taken against an amateur unarmed competitor who has been found to have a prohibited drug in his or her system;
(17) A procedure for ensuring that no amateur unarmed competitor participates in an event while under suspension in the website registry certified and operated by the Association of Boxing Commissions;
(18) A procedure for determining any suspensions against an amateur unarmed competitor which may be issued by the sanctioning body; and
(19) Any information necessary for the office to determine that the sanctioning body is suitable to ensure the integrity of amateur unarmed combat and the safety of amateur unarmed combat.
3. The office may deny a license to an applicant if the policies and procedures submitted to the office under this section are insufficient to ensure the safety of amateur unarmed combat competitors or the integrity of amateur unarmed combat.
4. In determining the sufficiency of an applicant's proposed policies, rules, and regulations, paramount consideration shall be given to whether the policies, rules, and regulations are likely to adequately ensure:
(1) The integrity of amateur unarmed combat; and
(2) The safety of the amateur unarmed combat competitors.
317.053. 1. The following persons shall not act as an event official for an amateur unarmed combat bout if they hold a promoter's license in this state:
(1) A sole proprietor;
(2) A company's principal owner, substantial owner, key person, an employee, or an agent.
2. (1) The promoter of an event shall provide a minimum of one advanced life support ambulance, fully equipped with neck brace, backboard, oxygen, and resuscitative equipment in accordance with medical personnel to staff such ambulance who are certified within this state to provide advanced life support patient care. Such ambulance and medical personnel shall be present onsite at all times to provide emergency medical services to the event participants while a bout is in progress.
(2) Certified medical personnel from the ambulance shall be present directly outside the fighting area with all equipment required by the current protocols established by the medical director to provide immediate emergency medical care at all times while a bout is in progress.
(3) The sanctioning body shall ensure that the proposed venue for the event is an appropriate distance from a hospital with a full-time emergency department and treatment facilities, as determined by the sanctioning body.
317.056. 1. The promoter of an amateur unarmed combat event shall obtain:
(1) Medical benefit coverage for each amateur unarmed combat competitor participating in a bout in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars, which shall provide for medical, surgical, and hospital care for injuries sustained by the competitor while participating in the bout. Deductibles for the required medical benefit coverage shall be paid by the fighter up to the first five hundred dollars, with the promoter paying any additional deductible, if necessary; and
(2) Accidental death benefit coverage for each amateur unarmed combat competitor participating in a bout in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars, which shall be paid to the competitor's estate in the event of the competitor's death resulting from participation in the bout.
2. The promoter shall submit proof to the sanctioning body by the deadline established by such sanctioning body that the required medical and accidental death benefit coverage required under this section has been obtained for each amateur competitor participating in a bout.
317.059. 1. The office may consider, but is not limited to the factors listed in sections 317.050 to 317.119 and other factors such as national recognition and the number of years and type of experience the sanctioning body has accumulated overseeing amateur events when determining whether an amateur sanctioning body shall be approved.
2. (1) No organization, gymnasium, or independent club shall host a sparring match or competitive match where spectators may purchase or provide a paid sponsorship for holding or watching such matches unless such organization, gymnasium, or independent club registers with an approved Missouri state amateur sanctioning association and the Missouri office of athletics.
(2) The office shall register any organization, gymnasium, or independent club that the office deems qualified to host such matches. Applications for such registration shall be made on forms provided by the office and accompanied by fees established by the office.
(3) For purposes of enforcing the provisions of sections 317.050 to 317.119, the office or a representative of the office may inspect the facilities of any such organization, gymnasium, or independent club. The state attorney general, at the request of the office, may apply in the name of the state of Missouri for a temporary or permanent restraining of any organization, gymnasium, or independent club from operating in violation of any provision of sections 317.050 to 317.119 or any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(4) The office shall adopt such regulations as the office deems necessary for the conduct, supervision, and safety of sparring and competitive matches. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2011, shall be invalid and void.
317.062. 1. The promoter of an event shall submit to the sanctioning body by the deadline established by such sanctioning body the final proposed fight card for the event, including the following information for each amateur unarmed combat competitor:
(1) Name;
(2) Mixed martial arts national identification number;
(3) Laboratory results, not more than one year old from the date of the event, affirming the negative test results of the competitors for:
(a) Antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
(b) The surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus; and
(c) Antibodies to the hepatitis C virus;
(4) A written statement from a licensed physician, not more than one year old from the date of the event affirming that the competitor has undergone a thorough medical examination and is physically fit and qualified to participate in amateur unarmed combat; and
(5) For female competitors, laboratory results not more than five days old from the date of the event affirming the negative results for pregnancy.
2. The sanctioning body shall notify the office immediately if the promoter has failed to submit any information required under this section by the required deadline.
3. Any competitor who fails to have the documentation required under this section on file with the sanctioning body shall not be permitted to participate in a bout.
4. For every unarmed combat bout:
(1) There shall be present at each event a minimum of one licensed physician for an event who has been selected by the promoter and approved by the sanctioning body and the office;
(2) The sanctioning body, at its discretion, may require the promoter to provide additional licensed physicians for an event;
(3) An event physician shall be present at ringside directly outside the fighting area to provide immediate emergency medical care at all times when a bout is in progress;
(4) An event physician shall:
(a) Examine a competitor at ringside upon exiting the fighting area immediately after the conclusion of a bout; and
(b) Recommend to the sanctioning body any medical suspensions for competitors that the physician determines appropriate.
317.065. 1. All applications for licensure and renewal of licensure shall be subject to the following nonrefundable, nontransferable fees, which shall be paid to the office:
(1) For an amateur unarmed combat competitor to obtain or renew a mixed martial arts national identification card, the competitor shall pay a nonrefundable, nontransferable fee to the office;
(2) For replacement of a mixed martial arts national identification card, an amateur unarmed combat competitor shall pay to the office a fee of twenty dollars for each replacement card.
2. (1) When scheduled to participate in an amateur unarmed combat bout, a competitor shall be examined by the event physician prior to the scheduled start time of the event.
(2) If the event physician so finds, the physician shall certify in writing over his or her signature that the amateur unarmed combat competitor is physically fit to participate in the event. The physician's certification of physical fitness to participate shall be delivered to a sanctioning body representative prior to the event.
(3) Any competitor who fails to obtain such certification required under this subsection shall not participate in an unarmed combat bout.
317.068. 1. At least two representatives from the sanctioning body shall be present at each event to provide for the onsite regulation of the event. The sanctioning body may send as many representatives to an event as it determines necessary.
2. Each sanctioning body representative assigned to an event under this section shall be responsible for ensuring that all provisions of sections 317.050 to 317.119 are strictly observed.
3. Office representatives shall be admitted to an event free of charge upon presentation of credentials issued by the office for the event.
4. Fighting area apron seats shall be provided to office representatives who have been assigned by the office to observe the event.
5. The sanctioning body representative or office representative assigned to an event may cancel or delay the event if it does not meet the requirements of sections 317.050 to 317.119.
317.071. For each event at which a sanctioning body is responsible for providing onsite regulation, the sanctioning body shall file with the office a completed event report on forms prescribed by the office within five business days of the conclusion of the event.
317.074. 1. An amateur unarmed combat competitor shall not participate in an event if the competitor has a prohibited drug in his or her possession or control.
2. The sanctioning body may require a competitor scheduled to participate in an event to submit to a test for the detection of a prohibited drug.
3. Each competitor participating in a championship bout shall submit to a test for the detection of prohibited drugs upon request of the sanctioning body.
4. On the day of the event, a representative of the sanctioning body shall inform the competitor whether he or she has been selected for testing. The competitor shall submit to such test at the conclusion of the bout.
5. Test results shall be submitted by the laboratory processing the test directly to the sanctioning body within fourteen days of the event. The sanctioning body may grant an extension if the test results cannot be timely obtained.
6. No competitor shall refuse to submit to a test under this section. If a competitor refuses to submit to such test, the competitor shall be deemed to have failed the test.
7. For purposes of this section, "prohibited drugs" means any drug which falls into one of the following classes or types of substances:
(1) Opiates;
(2) Methadone;
(3) Barbiturates;
(4) Amphetamines;
(5) Benzodiazepines;
(6) Propoxyphene;
(7) Cocaine;
(8) PCP;
(9) Anabolic steroids;
(10) Performance enhancing drugs;
(11) Any drug identified on the most current edition of the prohibited list published by the World Anti-Doping Agency;
(12) Any drug other than one which has been:
(a) Purchased legally without a prescription if a medical professional acting within the scope of his or her license or certification has certified that the drug will not affect the competitor's ability to participate safely in a bout and the event physician agrees; or
(b) Obtained by the competitor under a valid prescription or order of a licensed or certified medical professional acting within the scope of his or her license or certification if the medical professional has certified that the drug will not affect the competitor's ability to participate safely in a bout and the event physician agrees.
317.077. 1. If an amateur unarmed combat competitor has a confirmed positive drug test result from a sample taken immediately following a bout or fails to submit to such test and such competitor was declared the winner of the bout, the official bout results shall be changed to no contest.
2. If an amateur unarmed combat competitor has a confirmed positive drug test result from a sample taken immediately following a bout or fails to submit to such test and such competitor was the loser of the bout, the official bout results shall remain unchanged.
317.080. 1. The sanctioning body responsible for providing oversight of an event shall:
(1) Ensure the provisions of sections 317.050 to 317.119 are enforced;
(2) Immediately advise the office if the event promoter violates a provision of sections 317.050 to 317.119; and
(3) Submit the official results for all amateur mixed martial arts bouts and recommended medical and nonmedical suspensions of any competitors to the office within two business days after the event for entry into the website registry certified and operated by the Association of Boxing Commissions.
2. Failure of the sanctioning body or promoter to comply with the provisions of sections 317.050 to 317.119 may result in:
(1) Cancellation of a professional-amateur unarmed combat event or an amateur unarmed combat event; and/or
(2) Disciplinary action, including the promoter's license suspension, revocation, or denial.
317.083. The enclosed area for competition shall:
(1) Be constructed in a manner that does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or health of any person;
(2) Be circular or have as many as eight equal sides for a contest;
(3) Be no smaller than sixteen feet wide and no larger than thirty-two feet wide within the ropes, cage, or fences area;
(4) Have a corner with a blue designation and the corner directly across shall have a red designation;
(5) Have the floor extend at least twenty-four inches beyond the ropes or other barrier. The floor shall be constructed of canvas, duck, or other similar material which shall be padded with at least a one-inch layer of foam padding which shall extend over the edge of the platform of the fighting area;
(6) Not contain materials that may gather in lumps or ridges during the bout or contest;
(7) Have a platform which is no more than four feet above the floor on which it is standing and shall have suitable steps or ramps for use by officials and the competitors;
(8) Have five fighting area ropes when fighting area ropes are used, not less than one inch in diameter and wrapped in soft material. The lowest rope shall be no higher than twelve inches from the fighting area floor and shall not be obstructed by any object, including without limitation, a triangular border or any part of the fighting floor;
(9) Have fence or cage specifications for mixed martial arts which meet the following criteria:
(a) Shall be made of material that will prevent a competitor from falling out or breaking through the fighting area onto the floor beneath the fighting area or onto spectators;
(b) May be composed of vinyl-coated chain link fencing or other similar material;
(c) Any exposed metal on the interior of the fenced or caged area shall be covered and padded in a manner approved by the inspector or sanctioning body representative;
(d) The covering shall not be abrasive to the competitors and any metal parts used to reinforce the fenced or caged area enclosure shall not interfere with the safety of the contestants;
(e) The enclosure may provide two separate entries onto the fighting area canvas which are sufficient to allow easy access to the fighting area by officials and emergency personnel;
(f) Entrances shall be padded or covered so there is no exposed metal on the interior of the fence or caged area;
(g) The enclosure shall not obstruct or limit the supervision and regulation of the bout by officials or sanctioning body representatives and shall not inhibit the judging of the bout in any manner;
(h) Spectator seats shall be at least eight feet from the performance area or platform;
(i) The promoter shall cordon off an area suitable to the sanctioning body to provide a minimum of six feet clearance from the performance area or platform and shall have at least two entrances. The space immediately within the cordoned off area shall be under the jurisdiction of the sanctioning body or the promoter for use by designated working officials, competitors, their seconds, timekeepers, judges, referees, physicians, announcers, and medical representatives; and
(j) The promoter shall be responsible for ensuring that the working area is controlled and free of nonessential personnel.
317.086. 1. The following protective equipment shall be required for all competitors in an unarmed combat bout:
(1) A double arch bi-molar mouth guard;
(2) Open finger gloves of good quality, which are a minimum of seven ounces and acceptable to the sanctioning body and the office;
(3) Only gauze may be used to wrap the hands of a competitor, which shall be secured by surgical white adhesive tape at least one-half inch behind the knuckles;
(4) For kickboxing, competitors shall use twelve ounce boxing gloves, and protective competition boots and shin guards;
(5) All male competitors shall wear a groin protector; and
(6) The promoter shall provide surgical gloves for the referee as needed.
The promoter shall supply the same type, brand, and quality of equipment to each competitor for each match.
2. A competitor may apply light petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, to the face at ringside only prior to entering the competitive area. No such petroleum jelly shall be applied between rounds or to any other part of the body.
3. The following items are prohibited:
(1) Shoes of any kind;
(2) Metal zippers;
(3) Shirts, except for female competitors;
(4) GI pants or tops for mixed martial arts, GI pants above the waist for kickboxing, and shorts for low kick and K1;
(5) Taping of the fingers, toes, foot, or ankles; and
(6) Hard braces. Soft braces on knees and ankles are permitted with the agreement of the opponent.
4. The ring or cage shall be clean and dry prior to the start of an event and shall remain clean before each bout.
5. If a boxing ring is used for the event, it shall have five ropes.
6. The referee, physician, sanctioning body, or office representative may stop a bout or event.
317.089. The following restrictions shall apply to competitors:
(1) Hand strikes shall be with a closed fist only;
(2) Competitors may strike with their knees, except to the head, otherwise knees, shins, and feet are allowed to all other parts of the body when the fight is standing up. When a competitor's knee touches the ring floor, no kicks are allowed to such competitor's head and the competitor shall be considered on the ground. A competitor is considered on the ground when his or her knee touches the ring floor or is otherwise not supported by his or her two feet alone supporting him or her in a standing or crouched position;
(3) All wrestling, judo, and jujitsu throws and takedowns are permitted, as long as no hard slams affecting the neck or head are delivered;
(4) Elbow, shoulder, wrist, and knee locks are allowed. No twisting ankle locks are allowed;
(5) All chokes shall be done with the arms and legs; and
(6) Wrists, knees, and shoulders are large joints and are allowed.
317.092. 1. If a competitor flagrantly breaks any rule, the official ring referee shall immediately disqualify the competitor; except that, if the foul is not severe or intentional, the official ring referee shall issue a warning or point deduction from the offending competitor.
2. The following are illegal techniques for mixed martial arts and kickboxing:
(1) Butting with the head. No use of the head as a striking instrument in any form is allowed;
(2) Eye gouging of any kind. Intentional use of the fingers, thumb, or chin as a gouging instrument is considered eye gouging;
(3) Biting;
(4) Hair pulling;
(5) Fishhooking. Any attempt by a competitor to use his or her fingers in a manner that attacks the opponent's mouth, nose, or ears, and stretching the skin to that area is considered fishhooking. Fishhooking is generally placing of fingers into the mouth of an opponent and pulling the hands in the opposite direction while holding onto the skin of the opponent;
(6) Groin attacks of any kind;
(7) Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent;
(8) Small joint manipulation of less than three fingers or less than three toes and twisting ankle lock manipulations;
(9) Striking to the spine or back of the head. No direct striking attacks are allowed to the spine or the back of the head. A direct strike is an aimed and executed attack to the area. The back of the head is considered any strike in which the glove does not strike the ear;
(10) Striking in any manner using the point of the elbow or forearm shall result in disqualification;
(11) Throat strikes of any kind, including without limitation grabbing the trachea. Direct throat attacks include a competitor pulling an opponent's head in a manner which opens the neck area for a striking attack. No competitor shall gouge his or her fingers or thumb into his or her opponent's neck or trachea in an attempt to submit to an opponent;
(12) Clawing, pinching, or twisting the flesh;
(13) Grabbing the clavicle, which shall be considered another form of gouging. No competitor shall use his or her fingers to gouge into or grab the clavicle;
(14) Kicking the head of a grounded opponent shall result in disqualification. A downed opponent is any competitor who has more than just the soles of the feet on the ground. If a competitor is in a crouched position where the ring ropes or fence are the only thing keeping the competitor from the ground, the competitor shall be considered a downed opponent. A competitor may be kicked to the body when he or she is on the ground;
(15) Kneeing to the head of an opponent in any position shall result in immediate disqualification;
(16) Kicking to the kidney with a heel;
(17) Kicking when both competitors are grounded;
(18) Stomping a grounded opponent. An axe kick is not considered a stomp;
(19) Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck shall result in disqualification. Any throw that has an arc is a legal throw. A competitor shall not pick up an opponent, invert them placing the opponent's feet straight up in the air and the head straight down and pile drive the opponent into the canvas. A competitor using a takedown or throw against an opponent is allowed to throw an opponent to the ground regardless of whether the opponent's head makes contact with the canvas prior to another part of the body as long as the competitor does not place the opponent into a pile driver position;
(20) Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area, which shall result in disqualification;
(21) Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent. A competitor may hold or grab onto an opponent's hand as long as the hand is not controlled using the material of the glove, but actually gripping the hand;
(22) Spitting on an opponent;
(23) Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes injury to an opponent;
(24) Holding the ropes or fence. A competitor may use their hands to push off of the ropes or fence at any time. If a competitor's fingers go through the cage and grab hold of the fence and start to control his or her body position or an opponent's body position, the referee shall issue a warning to the competitor to let go of the fence. If the competitor does not let go, the referee shall attempt to quickly pull the contestant's hand off the fence. If this does not immediately produce results, the referee shall issue a foul against the violating competitor. A competitor shall not hold onto the ropes to gain an advantage over an opponent or to keep an opponent from being successful during a takedown attempt. The referee shall issue a warning to the competitor to let go of the ropes. If the competitor does not let go of the ropes, the referee shall attempt to quickly pull the competitor's hands off the ropes. If this does not immediately produce results, the referee shall issue a foul against the violating competitor;
(25) Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area. A competitor shall not entice an opponent with abusive language during the ring introductions or the actual bout. The referee shall give one warning to the violating competitor and then issue a foul for every violation thereafter;
(26) Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee;
(27) Attacking an opponent on or during a break;
(28) Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded for the end of a bout period;
(29) Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee;
(30) Timidity, including without limitation avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or constantly dropping the mouth guard, or faking an injury;
(31) Interference by the corner;
(32) Throwing in the towel during competition;
(33) A grounded competitor shall not kick directly to the head or the knees of a standing competitor. A grounded competitor may kick up to an opponent's body and legs for defense until both competitors are grounded to grapple or the referee stand the competitors to restart; and
(34) Stomping on an opponent's foot shall result in immediate disqualification.
317.095. The following medical personnel and equipment shall be required:
(1) At least one medical doctor licensed in the state of Missouri to be stationed at ringside or cageside;
(2) Two paramedics stationed at ringside or cageside;
(3) An ambulance onsite for the duration of the event; and
(4) A stretcher, oxygen, neck brace, backboard, and proper resuscitation equipment onsite for the duration of the event.
317.098. The following medical tests are required for all mixed martial arts competitors:
(1) An annual physical. All competitors shall submit proof of a completion of a physical examination by a licensed physician who shall conduct such examinations and tests as necessary to attest to the fitness of the competitor;
(2) An annual HIV-1 test to verify the competitor is HIV negative;
(3) An annual hepatitis B test to verify the competitor is hepatitis B negative;
(4) An annual hepatitis C test to verify the competitor is hepatitis C negative; and
(5) For female competitors, a pregnancy test taken within five days of the scheduled event date.
317.101. 1. All officials shall be trained or certified by a Missouri-approved sanctioning body or the Amateur Boxing Commissions.
2. The following officials shall be assigned to an event:
(1) Referee, the qualifications and number of bouts to be approved by the sanctioning body;
(2) Judge, the qualifications and number of bouts to be approved by the sanctioning body;
(3) Timekeepers; and
(4) Ring personnel for set up and cleaning of the competitive area between rounds if necessary.
317.104. A minimum of two representatives from the amateur sanctioning body shall be present at each event. The sanctioning body representative shall designate, supervise, and approve gloving of each competitor.
317.107. The sanctioning body shall establish the safety requirements and physical appearance for all competitors.
317.110. 1. The following shall apply for weight classes and allowances for mixed martial arts:
(1) Not more than ten pound differences in weight classes; and
(2) All fighters shall be required to fight within their designated weight class. The following allowances within the weight class shall apply:
(a) Within weight class one hundred thirty-five pounds or less, a maximum variance of three pounds;
(b) Within weight class one hundred thirty-six to one hundred seventy pounds, a maximum variance of five pounds; and
(c) Within weight class one hundred seventy-one pounds to two hundred five pounds, a maximum variance of seven pounds.
2. (1) No competitor weighing one hundred seventy pounds or less shall lose more than five pounds in a two-hour period.
(2) No competitor weighing more than one hundred seventy pounds shall lose more than seven pounds in a two-hour period.
317.113. 1. All competitors' status shall be verified by the official recordkeeper designated by the Association of Boxing Commissions or other recordkeeper designated by the office prior to competing.
2. All competitor's records shall be comparable for even matchmaking.
3. No competitor shall compete in more than one bout within a five-day period.
317.116. Suspensions and mandatory rest periods shall be administered at the direction of the attending physician or by the sanctioning body for a violation of rules which designates a required suspension or rest period.
317.119. 1. All referees shall wear disposable rubber, plastic, or latex gloves during a bout.
2. During a bout, competitors shall only be permitted to drink water.
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