Chapter 1

 

Definitions and General Rules

 

 

Section 1.  Authority. These rules are promulgated under the Commission's authority under Wyoming Statute §§ 33-48-101(g) and 33-48-111.

 

Section 2. Definitions.

 

(a) Act.  The Mixed Martial Arts Regulation Act, Wyoming Statute § 33-48-101 through -117.

 

(b) Amateur.  A contestant who has never competed as a professional in any combat sport.

 

(c) Bare Knuckle Fighting.  Bare Knuckle Fighting combines and incorporates the following recognized martial arts: boxing, Muay Thai, Greco-Roman wrestling, karate, judo, and folkstyle and freestyle wrestling. Bare Knuckle Fighting includes skill sets such as clinching, holding, hitting, striking with a closed fist, punching, and controlling the head, neck, arms, and upper body of opponents.

 

(d) Bout.  Match, exhibition, or contest between two (2) contestants.

 

(e) Commission. The Wyoming Combat Sports Commission.

 

(f) Commission Representative. A designee(s) of the Commission assigned to carry out any and all duties as assigned by the Commission and these Rules.

 

(g) Combat Sports. A competitive contact sport that involves one-on-one combat which includes mixed martial arts, boxing, bare knuckle fighting, bare knuckle mixed combat, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Lethwei, etc.

 

(h) Contestant.  Any individual who participates in a bout. 

 

(i) Contestant deemed down. A contestant shall be deemed to be down when either of the following occurs:

 

(i) The contestant constitutes a grounded fighter per the definition set forth in this Chapter; or

 

(ii) The contestant is hanging over the ropes without the ability to protect themselves, and the contestant cannot fall to the floor.

 

(j) Event.  A compilation of bouts that occur at one (1) location during a single day.

 

(k) Fraud.  Any licensee who cheats, obtains money or some other benefit by deliberate and willful deception, or intentionally misrepresents facts.

 

(l) Grabbing.  Holding the opponent with the thumb in combination with any other digit of the hand.

 

(m) Grounded Fighter. A contestant is considered grounded when any part of their body other than their hands or feet is in contact with the canvas (ground).

 

(n) Inspector.  An inspector is a licensed official who is authorized by the Commission or Commission representative to supervise an event in conjunction with the Commission or Commission representative and carry out assigned duties at a specific event in conjunction with the rules.

 

(o) Kick.  A strike using the foot or feet.

 

(p) Kickboxing.  Any physical bout between two (2) individuals striking with the hand and any part of the leg below the hip, including the feet, to outscore, knock out, or otherwise disable an opponent into submission.

 

(q) Knockdown. A knockdown occurs when a contestant touches the floor of the ring with any part of the body other than the feet following a strike, but is able to rise back up and continue fighting.

 

(r) Licensee.  A person who has been granted a license or certificate pursuant to the Act or these rules. Licensee includes promoters, contestants, and officials (referees, judges, and inspectors).

 

(s) Mixed Martial Arts.  Unarmed combat involving the use, subject to any limitations set forth by the Act or Commission rule, of a combination of techniques from different disciplines of the martial arts, including, without limitation, grappling, submission holds, kicking and striking. Also referred to as MMA.

 

(t) Muay Thai. Any physical bout between two (2) individuals striking with hands, knees, elbows, and/or any part of the leg including the feet to outscore, knock out, or otherwise disable an opponent into submission. Muay Thai shall also include the use of sweeps to disrupt the balance an individual. Muay Thai is a subset of Kickboxing.

 

(u) Non-Sanctioned organization.  An organization that is not governed by a state or tribal athletic commission.

 

(v) Official.  Any person who performs an official function during the supervision of a bout. This includes referees, judges, timekeepers, and inspectors.

 

(w) Professional.  A contestant who has received any form of payment for competing in a combat sports event.

 

(x) Promoter.  Any person, association, corporation, or organization licensed by the Commission to promote events.

 

(y) Purse.  Is a bout earning, a financial guarantee, or any other remuneration for which contestants are participating in a bout and includes the contestant's share of any payment received for radio broadcasting, television, or motion picture rights.

 

(z) Renewal.  The process of applying to renew a license or certificate as a Promoter, contestant, or official.  Each license or certificate is valid for one (1) calendar year from the date of issuance.

 

(aa) Sanctioning Organization.  An organization that sanctions professional or amateur bouts of combat sports by a state or tribal athletic commission.

 

(bb) Second.  A person registered with the Commission to assist a contestant during a bout.  To be registered, a second must pay the Commission a fee per event of $10.00. Also referred to as corners.

 

(cc) Tap Out.  Forfeiting a bout by submitting to the opponent.  A contestant signals this forfeiture by signaling with any part of their body by tapping it on their opponent or the ground.

 

(dd) Commission Approved Sanctioning Organization. A nationally, internationally, regionally, state or tribal organization approved by the Commission or Commission Representative that may rank participants within each weight class or sanctions and approves contests or bouts in those weight classes.

 

(ee) Recognized Sanctioning Organization. Organization that is considered a governing body over a combat sport and recognized by a National Olympic Committee in good standing with the International Olympic Committee.

 

(ff) Medical Professional. A licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.

 

Section 3. Violations of Rules.  Violations of any provision of these rules may result in disciplinary action authorized by the Act and these rules including, but not limited to, conditional licensure, licensure denial, suspension, or revocation and/or immediate ejection from the bout and event and a ban from future bouts and events. Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of the contestants, corners, coaches, and managers may result in suspension or disciplinary actions against the contestant, corner, coach, or manager.

 

Section 4. Sanctioning Organizations.

 

(a) Recognized Sanctioning Organizations are required to register as a Promoter and are required to submit results to the Commission or Commission Representative within seventy-two (72) hours after each event. If a Recognized Sanctioning Organization is no longer recognized or in good standing with the International Olympic Committee, it must notify the Commission within thirty (30) days.

 

(b) Combative sports events or bouts not sanctioned by a Recognized Sanctioning Organization must submit the organization's by-laws and rules for review by the Commission or Commission Representative. If approved, the organization will be deemed a Commission Approved Sanctioning Organization and may apply for a permit. The organization must notify the Commission Representative of any changes to the organization's by-laws or rules and re-submit them for the Commission or Commission Representative's review at least thirty (30) days before any permitted event or bout.

 

(c) Combative sports events or bouts sanctioned or sponsored by an organization not recognized as either a Recognized Sanctioning Organization or a Commission Approved Sanctioning Organization are not permitted.

 

Section 5. Instant Replay.

 

(a) A Promoter and/or Commission Approved Sanctioning Organization may request the use of instant replay for a combative sports event or bout(s) and shall provide all necessary instant replay equipment. This request must be made to the Commission or Commission Representative and approved prior to the event.

 

(b) The use of instant replay shall be limited to the below criteria:

 

(i) Should the Commission or Commission Representative approve the use of instant replay prior to an event, only the referee may determine if the use of instant replay is appropriate.

 

(ii) The referee shall only use instant replay for the purpose of determining if a foul was committed that caused a "bout ending sequence" that brought about the final end of the fight or a "bout altering situation".

 

(iii) Based on the instant-replay review, the referee may make the final call with respect to the bout that could result in one (1) of the following decisions: a bout to continue, a bout to be stopped, a knockdown determination, a point deduction, a winner of the bout; a "no contest" determination; a disqualification; or a technical decision by the judges.

 

Section 6. Promotional Rules.  A Promoter may submit a request to the Commission or Commission Representative to make minor promotional rule changes to existing combat sports rules, which may include fouls, procedures, scoring, etc, for a specific event. The Commission or Commission Representative shall approve or disapprove the promotional rules on a case-by-case basis and notify all necessary parties prior to the event.

 

Section 7. Other Combat Sports.  The Commission or Commission Representative may approve a combat sports event that is not defined in the current rules. The Promoter shall submit the rule set to the Commission or Commission Representative for approval. The Commission or Commission Representative shall approve or disapprove the rules on the combat sport on a case-by-case basis.

 

Section 8.  Modification of Bout Result.

 

(a) The Commission may conduct a hearing on a result modification matter after the Commission, in its sole discretion, determines that one or more of the following incidents occurred:

 

(i) There were indications of collusion affecting the result of the bout;

 

(i) The compilation of the scorecards of the judges disclosed an error which showed that the decision was given to the wrong contestant;

 

(iii) As the result of interpreting the rules in error, the referee rendered an incorrect decision. An error interpreting the rules that may have resulted in an incorrect decision or that improper referee mechanics contributed to an incorrect stoppage; or

 

(iv) A positive test result reveals the use of a prohibited drug, substance, or method.

 

(b) In determining whether to modify a bout result, the Commission Representative may consider any information submitted. The Commission Representative may also use any additional outside opinions or resources to determine the modification of any results.