PURPOSE: This rule clarifies the duties and responsibilities of matchmakers with respect to professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional full-contact karate, professional mixed martial arts, amateur mixed martial arts, and amateur kickboxing.

1. (1) A licensed matchmaker is required to be AND INSURANCE

present at all professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate contests. In professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate, the office shall not allow a promoter and matchmaker to be the same person.

1. (2) The duties of the matchmaker shall include arranging the contest, matching the contestants as to weight and experience, and ensuring that all the equipment is in its place. While the contests are in progress, the matchmaker may work with the inspector and will be directly liable for the promoter s/he represents.

2. (3) All bouts shall be approved or disapproved by the office. A bout deemed to be a mismatch based on the record, experience, skill, and condition of the contestants as known or represented to the office at or before the bout, which could expose one (1) or both contestants to serious injury, will be denied. In addition all bout contestants must meet the following criteria to be approved:

   1. (A) Any contestant who has lost their last ten (10) bouts by decision, technical knockout, or knockout will not be approved to box in a bout;
   2. (B) Any contestant who has lost their last six (6) bouts by technical knockout or knockout will not be approved to box in a bout; and
   3. (C) All contestant’s records, skill, and experience must be verified through the national registry for their respective sport, which is appointed by the Association of Boxing Commissions or a similar organization.
3. (4) The office reserves the right to question any applicant for a matchmaker’s license, and, if in its judgment, the applicant does not have sufficient knowledge of the sport or is otherwise not deemed responsible to act, the license may be denied.
4. (5) No matchmaker in a specific contest may act in the capacity of a licensed second for that specific contest either directly or indirectly.

AUTHORITY: section 317.006, RSMo Supp. 2018, and section 317.015, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 40-4.020. Original rule filed April 30, 1982, effective Sept. 11, 1982. Rescinded and readopted: Filed March 2, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 15, 2001, effective May 30, 2002. Moved to 20 CSR 2040-4.020, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed March 20, 2018, effective Sept. 30, 2018. Amended: Filed Jan. 25, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019.

*Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996, 2007, 2018 and 317.015, RSMo 1996, 2007.