PURPOSE: This rule defines the duties and responsibilities of promoters for mixed martial arts bouts/contests.

1. (1) No person, association, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or any other form of business entity shall promote any professional mixed martial arts contest without obtaining a license from the office. All promoters shall comply with the following requirements:

   1. (A) Promoters shall be liable for all contests held and for meeting all deadlines for permit and license applications;
   2. (B) Promoters shall supervise their agents, employees and representatives and shall be liable for the conduct of those employees and for any violation of Chapter 317, RSMo, or the rules of the office. The office shall deem any violation by an agent, employee or representative of a promoter as a violation of the promoter; and
   3. (C) Licensees shall not allow another to use their promoter’s license.

2. (2) Mandatory Insurance.

   1. (A) Before the office issues a promoter’s license, the promoter shall provide the office a surety bond in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or an irrevocable letter of credit in at least the same amount, from a lending institution approved to do business in the United States to guarantee payment of all state athletic taxes and fees to the state. The irrevocable letter of credit may only be released upon written approval by the office. An additional bond or irrevocable letter of credit may be required in the amount specified by the office where it may be reasonably expected that the five thousand dollar ($5,000) bond or irrevocable letter of credit may not provide sufficient protection to the state. It shall be the duty of each promoter to maintain all required bonds in a current status.
   2. (B) Before the office issues a permit license, the promoter shall provide the office proof of insurance coverage providing for payment to each contestant in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in the case of injury and ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in case of death. No contestant may waive the insurance coverage. Promoters shall be responsible for deductible payments, if any.
3. (3) Promoters shall be responsible for ensuring the maintenance of adequate public safety for all contests. Failure to ensure adequate public safety may result in cancellation of a contest, discipline against a promoter’s license and/or denial of future contest permits.
4. (4) Promoters shall provide all materials necessary to conduct the contest, such as a ring, stools, water buckets, bell, buzzer or whistle, timer, gloves, gauze, tape for handwraps and adequate scales.
5. (5) Promoter shall publicly announce all substitutions for contestants advertised for contests as soon as the substitutions are known.
6. (6) For adequate public safety, the promoter is responsible for ensuring that no bottled drinks, unless poured into disposable paper cups by vendors at the time of sale, are permitted in any hall or facility where any contest is being held. If the contest is staged outof-doors disposable paper cups also must be used on the site of the contest.
7. (7) Promoters and all licensed individuals and organizations associated with the contests shall be deemed to have knowledge of the applicable laws and rules of the state. The promoter shall be responsible for seeing that all rules promulgated by the office are strictly carried out.
8. (8) Any promoter that fails to pay a contestant a purse within forty-eight (48) hours shall be subject to discipline by the office.
9. (9) Promoters shall arrange for an ambulance to be on-site at each event with emergency personnel and proper resuscitation equipment. No professional mixed martial arts event may begin without the presence of a licensed medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic medicine approved by the office at ringside as provided in 20 CSR 2040-8.090.
10. (10) A mixed martial arts promoter may provide and prominently display at least two (2) video screens during any professional mixed martial arts bout or contest which meet the approval of the office and which allow patrons to view the action inside the ring or fighting area.

AUTHORITY: sections 317.001 and 317.006, RSMo 2000.* Original rule filed April 3, 2007, effective Oct. 30, 2007. *Original authority: 317.001, RSMo 1983, amended 1996 and 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996.