Unarmed Combat Sports

SPS 192.01 Authority and scope. The rules in this chapter are adopted under the authority in s. 440.03 (1), (1m), and (7m) and ch. 444, Stats., and, with the exception of amateur boxing, regulate unarmed combat sports conducted in this state. Note: The ABC[s unified rules are ava…

SPS 192.02 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) XABC[s unified rulesY means the unified rules of mixed martial arts, professional boxing, or other unarmed combat sport as adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions.

SPS 192.03 Bond required for promoter and club license. A promoter or club shall post a bond or other surety of Note: Applications are available from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Professional Credentialing, 1400 E. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 89…

SPS 192.04 Promoter[s license. (1) APPLICATION. A person, club, corporation, or association shall submit an application for a promoter[s license on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.03, Stats., prior to conducting an unarmed combat sports …

SPS 192.05 Matchmaker[s license. (1) APPLICATION. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a matchmaker at any unarmed combat sports event. The application form shall allow th…

SPS 192.06 Contestant[s license. (1) APPLICATION. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a professional boxer, a professional or amateur mixed martial arts contestant, or a …

SPS 192.07 Judge[s license. (1) APPLICATION. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a judge for any professional boxing bout, professional or amateur mixed martial arts bout…

SPS 192.08 Referee[s license. (1) APPLICATION. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a referee for any professional boxing bout, professional or amateur mixed martial arts …

SPS 192.09 Ringside physician[s license. (1) APA person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a ringside physician at any unarmed combat sports event. The application form shall all…

SPS 192.10 Second[s license. (1) APPLICATION. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a second at any unarmed combat sports event. The application form shall allow the applic…

SPS 192.11 Timekeeper[s license. (1) APPLICATION. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a timekeeper at any unarmed combat sports event. The application form shall allow th…

SPS 192.12 Term of license. (1) A license as a contestant shall expire 12 months after its date of issuance unless suspended or revoked under s. SPS 192.96. (2) Unless suspended or revoked under s. SPS 192.96, a license as a promoter, matchmaker, second, judge, referee, ringside …

SPS 192.13 Renewal of license. (1) To renew a license as a promoter, matchmaker, contestant, judge, referee, ringside physician, second, or timekeeper, an application for renewal shall be filed with the department. Except as provided under sub. (2), criteria and conditions for ap…

SPS 192.135 Reciprocal licenses for service members, former service members, and spouses of service members or former service members. SPS 192.14 Unarmed combat sports event permits. SPS 192.15 Permits, issuance and effect. SPS 192.16 Canceling an event. Subchapter III — Official…

SPS 192.14 Unarmed combat sports event permits. (1) A licensed promoter or club shall obtain a permit from the department prior to conducting an unarmed combat sports event. An application for a permit to conduct an event shall be submitted to the department at least 30 calendar …

SPS 192.15 Permits, issuance and effect. (1) All promoters and professional clubs who have obtained a permit from the department under s. SPS 192.14 shall, no later than 4 business days before the scheduled event, submit all of the following: (a) All complete and signed bout agre…

SPS 192.16 Canceling an event. (1) At any time during an event, the assigned department representative may cancel all or part of an event upon the occurrence of any of the following: (a) The commissioner or department representative reasonably believes that the event is not being…

SPS 192.17 Promoter duties. All promoters that have been issued a permit by the department to conduct an unarmed combat sports event shall comply with all of the following: (1) Have proof of complying with s. 444.035, Stats., and s. SPS 192.03, to ensure payment of the expenses i…

SPS 192.18 Inspectors[ duties. (1) Inspectors assigned to an event by the department represent the department and are delegated the department[s authority to conduct the event from the time of the weigh-in and pre-bout physical examination until 24 hours after the completion of t…

SPS 192.19 Judges[ duties. (1) The department shall assign the judges for all bouts. Once assigned to a bout, a judge has all of the following duties and responsibilities: (a) Shall render an independent decision at the end of each round. (b) Shall give their score card to the re…

SPS 192.20 Referees[ duties. (1) The department shall assign the referee for all bouts. Once assigned to a bout, a referee has all of the following duties and responsibilities: (a) Represent the department for the purpose of regulating contestants and others in the ring or cage a…

SPS 192.21 Ringside physician[s duties. Once assigned to an unarmed combat sports event, a ringside physician has all of the following duties and responsibilities relating to all bouts to which the ringside physician is assigned: (1) Be prepared to administer medical procedures t…

SPS 192.22 Second[s duties. The following provisions apply to seconds assisting a contestant: (1) A maximum of 3 licensed seconds will be allowed to assist any one contestant or be positioned in a designated area by the ring or cage during a non-championship bout. For championshi…

SPS 192.23 Timekeepers[ duties. Once assigned to an event, a timekeeper has all of the following duties and responsibilities relating to all bouts to which the timekeeper is assigned: (1) Provide 2 stopwatches that have been examined and approved by the inspector or department re…

SPS 192.24 Officials[ pay schedule. (1) The commissioner or department representative shall appoint all licensed officials for all unarmed combat sports events. Promoters shall compensate all officials appointed by the commissioner or department representative in accordance with …

SPS 192.25 General provisions. (1) To participate in a professional bout a boxer shall be licensed by the department under s. SPS 192.06 and comply with the requirements under s. SPS 192.26. (2) Each boxer shall present a completed Boxer[s Medical Examination Report form to the r…

SPS 192.26 Compliance with federal laws. Profes- weigh-in will be subject to a suspension of up to 120 days, as resional clubs, promoters, seconds and boxers shall comply with ported in the Association of Boxing Commissions[ national the Professional Boxing Safety Act and provide…

SPS 192.27 Weigh-in procedures and weight classes. (1) Boxers shall weigh in no more than 36 hours prior to the start time of the event in which they will compete. The weigh-in shall be conducted under the supervision of an inspector or department representative at a place design…

SPS 192.28 Fouls. The following are fouls: (1) Hitting below the belt; and holding, tripping, or kicking. (2) A hit or blow with the head, shoulder, forearm, elbow, knee, or foot; pressing with arm or elbow in an opponent[s face or neck; or pressing the head of the opponent back …

SPS 192.29 Injuries sustained by fouls. (1) INTENTIONAL FOUL. (a) If an intentional foul causes an injury and the injured boxer is not able to continue, the boxer causing the injury shall lose by disqualification. (b) If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowe…

SPS 192.30 Procedures after knock-downs. (1) WHEN DOWN. A boxer is considered down if any of the following occur: (a) The boxer touches the floor with any part of the body other than the feet as the result of a blow or series of blows. (b) The boxer hangs helplessly on the ropes …

SPS 192.31 Head blows. (1) PROCEDURE. If a boxer has been knocked out in a bout as the result of head blows or received serious head blows, the boxer shall be examined by a ringside physician immediately. If the ringside physician determines that the boxer may have received head …

SPS 192.32 Attending a boxer injured or knocked out. (1) In the event of a knockout or serious injury, the referee shall immediately request the ringside physician to check the boxer[s condition and to render aid if necessary. A ringside physician shall enter the ring immediately…

SPS 192.33 Head injury slip. A head injury slip shall provide instruction to immediately contact a physician if any of the following symptoms occur: (1) Headache or dizziness lasting over 2 hours. (2) Increasing drowsiness or loss of consciousness following the bout. The head inj…

SPS 192.34 Mouthpiece and headgear. (1) All boxers shall wear a mouthpiece during competition. The round may not begin without the mouthpiece. If the mouthpiece is dislodged during competition, the referee shall call time and have the mouthpiece replaced at the first opportune mo…

SPS 192.35 Attire and appearance. (1) Boxers shall box in proper dress including an approved foul-proof protection cup for a male boxer, trunks with a belt line below or at the waistline, shoes of soft material, without spikes, cleats or heels, and socks which may extend to withi…

SPS 192.36 Gloves. (1) Gloves approved by the inspector prior to the contestants[ pre-bout rule meeting shall be worn by boxers in all bouts. Only thumbless or thumb-attached gloves shall be approved. (2) Gloves shall weigh no less than 8 ounces each when worn by a boxer weighing…

SPS 192.37 Preparation of hands. (1) Boxers may wrap their hands with gauze and tape prior to a bout. Boxers 12 choosing to not wrap hands prior to a bout shall notify the inspector or department representative. (2) Boxers shall use soft gauze cloth not more than 15 yards in leng…

SPS 192.38 Ring. All bouts shall be conducted in a ring which meets the following requirements: (1) The ring shall be a square of not less than 16 nor more than 20 feet on a side within the ropes. The apron of the ring floor shall extend at least 18 inches beyond the ropes. The r…

SPS 192.39 Corner equipment. (1) At least one second who works in a boxer[s corner may have the following equipment: (a) A bucket. (b) Clean towels. the chapter was last published. 13 SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES (c) Sterile gauze pads, sterile cotton, and cotton-tipped swabs…

SPS 192.40 Number of rounds in a bout. (1) No bout involving female boxers may be scheduled for more than 10 rounds with each round lasting 2 minutes and with a one-minute rest between rounds. (2) No bout involving male boxers may be scheduled for more than 15 rounds with each ro…

SPS 192.41 Consumables. (1) Only water or an approved electrolyte-replacement beverage may be consumed during the bout. Electrolyte-replacement beverages include GatoradeG, PoweradeG, PropelG, and SmartwaterG. All consumables are subject to approval by the inspector or department…

SPS 192.42 General provisions. (1) Male and female contestants may not compete against each other in a bout. (2) Each contestant shall present a completed medical examination report form containing the information in s. SPS 192.06 (2) (d) to the ringside physician at the pre-bout…

SPS 192.43 Weigh-in procedures and weight classes. (1) Professional and amateur contestants shall weigh in no more than 36 hours prior to the start time of the event in which they will compete. The weigh-in shall be conducted under the supervision of an inspector or department re…

SPS 192.44 Judging and scoring. (1) All bouts will be scored by 3 judges. (2) The ten-point must scoring system under the ABC[s unified rules shall be the standard system of scoring a bout. The winner of the round shall be awarded 10 points, and the loser of the round shall be aw…

SPS 192.45 Fouls. (1) The referee may caution, warn, or penalize a contestant for committing a foul. (2) The penalty for a foul may be a deduction of points or disqualification. Any points deducted for a foul shall be deducted in the round in which the foul occurred. Disqualifica…

SPS 192.46 Mouthpiece. All contestants shall wear a mouthpiece during competition. The round may not begin without the mouthpiece. If the mouthpiece is dislodged during competition, the referee shall call time and have the mouthpiece replaced at the first opportune moment, withou…

SPS 192.47 Appearance and attire. (1) Male contestants shall wear a groin protector that will protect them against injury from a foul blow. (2) Female contestants may wear groin and breast protectors. (3) Each contestant shall wear mixed martial arts shorts, biking shorts, or kic…

SPS 192.48 Gloves. (1) All non-amateur contestants shall wear grappling gloves that weigh a minimum of 4 ounces and not more than 8 ounces. Amateur contestants shall wear gloves that weigh a minimum of 6 ounces and a maximum of 8 ounces. (2) Gloves shall be supplied by the promot…

SPS 192.49 Preparation of hands. (1) Contestants may wrap their hands with gauze and tape prior to a bout. Contestants choosing to not wrap hands prior to a bout shall notify the inspector or department representative. (2) Contestants shall use soft gauze cloth not more than 15 y…