Wyo. Code R. 046-0001-11
Mixed Martial Arts, Board of
Chapter 11: Requirements for Officials
Effective Date: 04/20/2026 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 046.0001.11.04202026
Section 1. Authority. These rules are promulgated under the Commission's authority under Wyoming Statute §§ 33-48-101(g) and 33-48-111.
(i) All officials listed in this Chapter shall apply for a certificate as provided in these rules and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Commission or the Commission Representative assigned to supervise the event.
(ii) No official shall in any manner display partiality for one (1) contestant over the other.
(iii) The official may not consume alcohol or drugs while acting as an official.
(iv) Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action and prohibition from officiating future events.
(i) Any person wishing to apply for an official's certificate must demonstrate experience in the combat sport and submit supporting documentation of such to the Commission. As part of the application, the applicant shall also report any of the events listed in Section 2(c) of this Chapter. A certificate may be denied to an applicant for any of the events listed in Section 2(c) of this Chapter. A certificate must be renewed annually. Each certificate is valid for one (1) calendar year from the date of issuance.
(ii) In the case of an emergency, the chairman of the Commission or Commission Representative may select a referee, judge, or inspector who does not meet the qualifications set forth in this Chapter if, at the discretion of the chairman of the Commission or Commission Representative, such person can demonstrate adequate skills and industry experience commensurate with the officiating position to which they are selected.
(i) Officials shall notify the Commission within forty-five (45) days of any of the following events:
(A) A disciplinary action imposed by another jurisdiction that licenses officials, including, but not limited to, a citation, sanction, probation, civil penalty, or a denial, suspension, revocation, or modification of a license whether it is imposed by consent decree, order, or other decision, for any cause other than failure to pay a license fee by the due date; or
(B) Revocation or suspension by another state regulatory agency, municipality, federal or state agency or any association who oversees combat sports.
(ii) The notice to the Commission shall state if the event is an action by a governmental agency (as described above), the name of the agency, its jurisdiction, the case name, and the docket, proceeding or case number by which the event is designated, and a copy of the consent decree, order or decision.
(iii) The licensee notifying the Commission may submit a written statement with the notice to be included with the licensee's records.
(iv) Any licensee may be subject to disciplinary action for any license discipline in another jurisdiction or by other authority that adversely relates to the integrity of mixed martial arts activity or competition.
(d) Conflict of Interest.
(i) Officials may not act in any other capacity during an event, unless given permission by the Commission.
(ii) Officials shall be excluded from officiating in any bout involving contestants with whom they have worked as manager, trainer, etc.
(iii) Officials shall notify the Commission immediately of any such conflict.
(a) At an event, a Commission Representative who is an appointed official by the Commission shall be authorized to supervise an event on behalf of the Commission.
(b) The Commission shall set the amount of compensation the Commission Representative(s) shall receive for each supervised event. The compensation shall be no less than $500.00 per mixed martial arts, boxing, or kickboxing event and no less than $2,000.00 per bare knuckle fighting, bare knuckle mixed combat, and lethwei event. The promoter is responsible to pay the Commission Representative's compensation.
(c) Within seventy-two (72) hours of an event, Commission Representative(s) must report to the Commission any violations of the Act or these rules that occur during the event.
(a) The Commission shall set the amount of compensation the inspector shall receive for each supervised event. The compensation shall be no less than $50.00 per event. The promoter is responsible to pay the inspector's compensation.
(b) The inspector must ensure that the Act and these rules are properly applied and enforced.
(c) Within twenty-four (24) hours of an event, inspectors must report to the Commission Representative(s) any violations of the Act or these rules that occur during the event.
(d) Inspector Qualifications. Inspector experience may be demonstrated by one (1) of the following:
(i) Evidence of completion of Commission approved training; or
(ii) One (1) year of professional experience in any of the positions listed above from a State Athletic Commission or a Tribal Athletic Commission that is a member of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, or upon approval of the Commission or Commission Representative.
(a) The referee shall enforce all Commission rules which apply to the execution, performance and conduct of contestants' and seconds while in the ring.
(b) Referee Qualifications:
(i) Referee experience may be demonstrated by one (1) of the following:
(A) Evidence of completion of Commission approved training; or
(B) One (1) year of professional experience as a referee from a State Athletic Commission, or a Tribal Commission that is a member of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, or upon approval of the Commission.
(ii) Other requirements for Referees:
(A) Prior to licensure, a referee must attest that they have read and understand the laws and rules covering professional the combat sport they are refereeing in this state;
(B) The referee must have also read and understand the rules of the various sanctioning bodies; and (C) A physical examination may be required at the discretion of the Commission to determine fitness to perform.
(c) Referees, if they so choose, and if they can demonstrate to the Commission that they need prescription eyewear, shall only wear eyewear appropriate for a sporting event. Appropriate in this situation means eyewear that will not easily dislodge from his face and will not break, shatter, interfere with referee's duties, or in any way unreasonably increase the risk of danger to the contestants.
(d) The Commission or Commission Representative shall approve the referee for each bout and the decision shall be final. The amount of money paid to the referee shall be negotiated between the promoter and the referee; however, it shall not be less than $150 per event, plus mileage. Referees are to be paid by the promoter. The Commission shall never be required to pay for referees but may do so at its discretion.
(e) Additional Duties.
(i) The referee shall inspect the gloves of the contestants in all events and make sure that no foreign substances have been applied to the gloves or bodies of the contestants that might be detrimental to an opponent.
(ii) Before the start of each bout, the referee will check with each judge and the timekeeper to determine if they are prepared to start the bout.
(iii) The referee is responsible for determining who will act as the chief second in each corner and shall hold them responsible for all conduct in the corners.
(iv) The referee in their discretion shall warn the seconds of rule violations, and if they do not comply, the referee shall warn them that further violations will result in point deductions, disqualification of their contestant, and subject them to disciplinary action.
(v) The referee shall instruct the judges to mark their scorecards accurately at all times.
(vi) The referee shall ensure that a bout moves to its proper conclusion. It should not be stopped or delayed, except in cases of damaging fouls or health and safety concerns.
(vii) The referee shall penalize contestants who delay or use avoiding tactics by deducting points or by immediate disqualification.
(viii) At the conclusion of all bouts and upon the announcement of the winner, the referee shall raise the winner's hand.
(f) Sole Arbiter.
(i) The referee is the sole arbiter of a bout and is the only individual authorized to stop a bout.
(ii) Referees shall stop a bout when they deem the following:
(A) The physical condition of a contestant so requires;
(B) When a contestant is out-classed; or
(C) A contestant is not demonstrating their best efforts.
(iii) In the event of any injury, the referee may seek a recommendation from the medical professional whether the bout should be stopped.
(g) Forfeiture and Withholding of a Contestants Purse. The referee shall recommend to the Commission or Commission Representative, the forfeiture or the withholding of half of a contestant's purse whenever a contestant fails to perform in good faith or maximum effort when competing.
(h) Knockdown Counts (may not apply to all combat sports such as mixed martial arts or bare knuckle mixed combat).
(i) When a contestant is knocked down as a result of a legal strike in a kickboxing, boxing, or bare knuckle fighting, leithwei, or other stand-up combat sports bout, the referee shall order the opponent to a neutral corner and may pick up the count from the timekeeper.
(ii) The referee shall audibly announce the passing of the count and accompany the count with motions of the referee's arm. The referee's count is the official count.
(iii) During any count, the opponent shall go to the farthest neutral corner and remain in that neutral corner until signaled by the referee. Should the opponent fail to stay in the neutral corner, the referee shall cease the count until the contestant returns to the corner, then the referee shall continue with the count from the point at which the count was interrupted.
(iv) The eight (8) count is mandatory for a knockdown in a kickboxing, boxing, bare knuckle fighting, leithwei, or other stand-up combat sports bout and a contestant may not resume fighting until the referee has finished counting to eight (8). The contestant may take the count either on the floor or standing.
(v) If the referee calls the count of ten (10) during a knockdown in a kickboxing, boxing, or bare knuckle fighting, leithwei, or other stand-up combat sports bout or the referee determines that a contestant is not able to continue, the referee shall wave both arms to indicate a knockout. A full count of ten (10) is not necessary when the health/safety of a contestant is at risk.
(vi) A contestant who has been knocked down by legal blows shall not be saved by the bell.
(vii) The referee will have sole discretion in determining a knockdown versus a slip. If a fighter goes down from what a referee indicates is a slip but fails to rise after the referee's repeated commands, the referee will initiate a count, and follow the procedures of a knockdown. If the fighter does not rise at the count of ten (10), it will be considered a TKO.
(viii) There is no standing eight (8) count.
(ix) In a boxing, kickboxing, bare knuckle fighting, lethwei, and other stand-up combat sports bout, a contestant may be stopped at any time by the referee to protect the health and safety of either contestant. A contestant who has been ruled by the referee to have been knocked down three (3) times in the same round shall lose by TKO. The three (3) knockdown rule may be waived at the sole discretion of the Commission Representative.
(x) In a boxing and kickboxing bout, before a contestant's resumes after having been knocked, fallen, or slipped to the floor, the referee shall wipe any accumulated debris from the contestant's gloves.
(i) When a fallen contestant rises and falls again, without being hit again, in a boxing, kickboxing, bare knuckle fighting, lethwei, and other stand-up combat sports bout the referee shall continue the original count, rather than starting a new count.
(j) Contestants Down at the Same Time. If both contestants are considered down at the same time in a boxing, kickboxing, bare knuckle fighting, lethwei, and other stand-up combat sports bout, the count shall continue as long as one of them is still down. If both contestants remain down until the count of ten, the bout shall be stopped and the result shall be a technical draw.
(k) If both contestants fail to rise after being knocked out, the result shall be considered a technical draw.
(l) Leaving the Ring or Cage.
(i) A contestant shall not leave the ring or, if the bout is being held in a fenced area, the fenced area, during any period of rest that follows each round. If any contestant fails or refuses to resume competing when the bell sounds signaling the commencement of the next round, the referee shall award a decision of technical knockout to the contestant's opponent at the round that has last been finished, unless the circumstances indicate to the Commission or Commission Representative the need for investigation or punitive action, in which case the referee shall not give a decision and shall recommend that the purse or purses of either or both contestants be withheld.
(ii) If a contestant has been knocked or has fallen through the ropes and over the edge of the ring platform during a bout, both of the following shall apply:
(A) The contestant may be helped back by anyone except the contestant's seconds or manager. The referee shall stop the clock, assess the contestant's condition, and resume time once the contestant is able to safely reenter the ring.
(B) The contestant shall be given twenty (20) seconds to return to the ring.
(iii) For a contestant who has been knocked or has fallen on the ring platform outside the ropes but not over the edge of the ring platform, both of the following shall apply:
(A) The contestant shall not be helped back by anyone, including the contestant's second and manager. The referee may stop the clock and assess the situation until the contestant is able to return to the ring.
(B) The contestant shall be given ten (10) seconds to regain the contestant's feet and get back into the ring.
(iv) If the second or manager of a contestant who has been knocked down or has fallen helps the contestant back into the ring, this help may be cause for disqualification.
(v) If one (1) contestant has fallen through the ropes, the other contestant shall retire to the farthest corner and stay there until ordered by the referee to continue the bout.
(vi) Any contestant who deliberately wrestles or throws an opponent from the ring or who hits an opponent when the opponent is partly out of the ring and is prevented by the ropes from assuming a position of defense may be penalized.
(vii) In a boxing bout (may include other stand-up combat sports bout), the following additional rules shall apply:
(A) A participant shall receive a twenty (20) second count if they are knocked out of the ring and onto the floor by a legal strike. The participant is to be unassisted by the second(s). If assisted by the second(s), the participant shall be disqualified.
(B) A participant who has been wrestled, pushed, or has fallen through the ropes during a contest may be helped back by anyone and the referee shall allow reasonable time for the return.
(C) When on the ring apron outside the ropes, the participant shall enter the ring immediately.
(D) Should the participant stall for time outside the ropes, the referee shall start the count without waiting for the participant to reenter the ring.
(E) When one (1) participant has fallen through the ropes, the other participant shall retire to a designated corner and remain there until ordered to continue the bout.
(F) A participant who deliberately wrestles or throws an opponent from the ring, or who punches their opponent when they are partly out of the ring and prevented by the ropes from assuming a position of defense may be penalized, disqualified, and subject to disciplinary action.
(m) Assessing Fouls.
(i) The referee must weigh the cause as well as the act in assessing fouls.
(ii) When a foul is unintentionally inflicted, but intentionally received, it is applied to the deliberate recipient.
(iii) If a contestant receives a low blow as determined by the referee, the referee may use their discretion to permit a rest period for the recipient. Such period shall not exceed five (5) minutes. During the rest period, seconds may not assist or coach either contestant.
(iv) The offending contestant shall go to a neutral corner.
(v) The referee will give a warning for a low blow to the offending contestant if the contestant who received the low blow indicates they are ready to continue the bout.
(vi) The referee will give the command to continue after the end of the rest period. If the offended contestant refuses to continue after the rest period, their opponent may be named the winner.
(n) Penalty for Fouls.
(i) Referees may penalize or disqualify a contestant after any foul or a flagrant foul.
(ii) Fouls result in a point(s) being deducted by the official scorekeeper from the offending contestant’s score. (The judges should only make notations of points deducted by the referee, for each round.)
(iii) If a foul is committed:
(A) The referee may call time;
(B) The referee shall check the fouled contestant’s condition and safety and provide adequate time for the contestant to recuperate and resume fighting. Such time shall not exceed five (5) minutes;
(C) The referee shall then assess the foul to the offending contestant, deduct points, and notify the seconds, judges, and official scorekeeper.
(iv) For mixed martial arts bouts only, the fight may continue if a contestant in a bottom position commits a foul, unless the contestant in the top position is injured.
(A) The referee will verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.
(B) When the round is over, the referee will assess the foul and notify both seconds, the judges, and the official scorekeeper.
(C) The referee may terminate a bout based on the severity of a foul. For such a flagrant foul, a contestant shall lose by disqualification.
(o) Injuries Sustained by Fair Blows or Fouls.
(i) Fair Blows: If injury is severe enough to terminate a bout, the injured contestant loses by TKO.
(ii) Intentional Fouls:
(A) If injury is severe enough to terminate a bout, the contestant causing the injury immediately loses by disqualification.
(B) If an injury occurs and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee will notify the seconds, judges, and scorekeeper and may deduct points from the contestant who committed the foul. The number of points deducted shall be determined by the referee. In boxing bouts, point deductions for intentional fouls will be mandatory, and the deduction shall be two (2) points from the boxer who caused the foul.
(C) If injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the injured contestant will win by Technical Decision, if the injured contestant is ahead on the score cards.
(D) If injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the bout will result in a Technical Draw, if the injured contestant is behind or even on the score cards.
(E) If a contestant injures himself while attempting to foul his opponent, the referee will not take any action in his favor, and the injury will be the same as one that occurs by a fair blow.
(iii) Accidental Fouls: The bout becomes “Official” after the completion of the second round in a three (3) round bout and the completion of the third round in a five (5) round bout. For boxing, the bout becomes official after the completion of the second round in a three (3) round bout, after the completion of the third round in a four (4) round bout, after the complete of the third round in a five (5) round bout, and after the completion of the fourth round in any bout over six (6) rounds.
(A) Any injury severe enough for the referee to immediately stop the bout will result in a “No Contest” or “No Decision” if stopped before a majority of rounds have been completed in the bout, or as otherwise considered to be the official point in the applicable combat sport. a majority of rounds has been completed.
(B) Any injury severe enough for the referee to immediately stop the bout after the Official point in the bout, the bout will result in a “Technical Decision,” awarded to the contestant who is ahead on the score cards at the time the bout is stopped.
(C) If an injury stoppage occurs, an incomplete round will be scored.
(D) If an injury stoppage occurs, and the referee penalizes either contestant, the point(s) shall be deducted from the final score.
(E) In a boxing bout, if the judge(s) believes that a contestant did not engage in any action, the round should be scored as an even round at the discretion of the judges. A contestant who is hit with an accidental low blow must continue after a reasonable amount of time but no more than five (5) minutes or the contestant will lose by Technical Knockout (TKO).
(p) Low Blows - Recipient Named Winner. A contestant cannot be named the winner of a bout as a result of receiving a low blow unless the referee determines the blow was delivered deliberately and was of such force to seriously incapacitate the offended contestant so that they could not continue to compete. Under this condition, the offender shall be disqualified immediately.
(q) Deliberate Actions to Gain Advantage – Penalties.
(i) The referee shall warn or penalize contestants who use the ropes or deliberately dislodge their mouthpiece or use other unfair tactics to gain an advantage.
(ii) The referee shall not permit unfair tactics that may cause injuries to contestants.
(r) Medical Professional Engagement with Contestants During a Bout.
(i) No person other than the contestants and the referee shall enter the ring or cage during a bout. A second shall not stand or engage in any distracting actions while the bout is in progress. For each contestants’ seconds, a combined total of two (2) warnings for violating any requirement of this subsection shall result in the removal of the seconds from the ring or cage area, all of whom may be subject to discipline by the Commission or Commission Representative.
(ii) Before the referee requests the medical professional to aid or examine a contestant, the referee shall direct the timekeeper to stop the clock until otherwise directed by the referee. The time-out shall be determined by the referee but shall not last longer than five (5) minutes.
(iii) Any serious cuts or injuries to either contestant shall be treated by the medical professional. The medical professional shall determine whether to continue the bout as follows:
(A) The medical professional may enter the ring or cage if requested by the referee to examine an injury to a contestant.
(B) If serious cuts or injuries to either contestant occur, the referee shall summon the medical professional, who shall aid the contestant and decide if the bout will be stopped. The final authority to determine whether to continue the bout shall rest with the medical professional.
(C) If the medical professional determines that a contestant who is cut or injured by legal blows cannot continue, the referee shall announce that contestant loses by a technical knockout.
(D) The referee may request that the attending medical professional examine a contestant during the bout. The medical professional may order the referee to stop the bout and time shall be called. The referee shall then render the appropriate decision regarding the outcome of the bout.
(E) Except at the request of the medical professional, no second shall be permitted to aid a stricken contestant.
(iv) If a contestant loses a dental appliance or mouthpiece during a round, the referee may call a time-out. If the referee calls a time-out for this reason, the referee may direct the contestant’s second to replace the dental appliance or mouthpiece.
(a) The Commission or Commission Representative shall approve the judges for each bout and the decision shall be final. The amount of money paid to each judge shall be negotiated between the promoter and the judge; however, the amount shall not be less than $100.00 per event, plus travel expenses. The judges are to be paid by the promoter. The Commission shall never be required to pay for judges but may do so at its discretion.
(b) Judge Qualifications. Judge experience may be demonstrated by one of the following:
(i) Evidence of completion of Commission approved training; or (ii) One year of professional experience as a judge from a State Athletic Commission or a Tribal Commission that is a member of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, or upon approval of the Commission or Commission Representative.
(c) Judges are responsible to familiarize themselves with and review the method to be used when scoring bouts which may vary by sport. The Commission or Commission Representative may approve alternative scoring criteria on a case-by-case basis.
(d) The bouts shall be scored to determine the winner through the use of the ten-point must system. In this system, the winner of each round receives ten points and the opponent a proportionately lower number. If the round is even, each contestant receives ten points. No fraction of a point may be given.
(e) Scorecards are provided by the Commission and only those shall be used.
(f) Each judge shall accurately complete their scorecard and in accordance with the provisions of the rules governing the sport they are judging.
(g) At the end of each bout the scorecard shall be totaled and signed by each judge.
(h) The outcome of a bout shall be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the round during which the referee stops the bout if an accidental foul renders a contestant unable to continue the bout if the foul occurs past the mid-point of the scheduled bout.
(i) Incomplete rounds shall be scored by the judges. If the referee penalizes either contestant in an incomplete round, the appropriate points shall be deducted.
(j) Number of Judges. All bouts will be evaluated and scored by three (3) judges.
(k) Position of Judges. The judges shall sit alone at ring or cage side and will reach their own decision without conferring in any manner with any other official or person.
(l) Removal of Judges. Judges of bouts will be under the control and jurisdiction of the Commission or Commission Representative. The Commission, Commission Representative, or inspector reserves the right to remove a judge if the judge is inefficient or is otherwise unable to act as a judge.
(a) The timekeeper is responsible for keeping accurate time of all bouts. The timekeeper shall keep an exact record of the time taken out at the request of the referee for the examination of a contestant by the medical professional, replacing a glove, or adjusting equipment during a round, and report the exact time of the bout being stopped. The timekeeper shall use an audible device to indicate the conclusion of every round. The timekeeper shall not sound the bell during an active count by the referee for a downed contestant. The amount of money paid to the timekeeper shall be negotiated between the promoter and the timekeeper; however, the amount shall not be less than $100.00 per event, plus travel expenses.
(a) Rendering Bout Decisions. A decision rendered at the end of any bout shall not be changed by the Commission or Commission Representative, unless one of the following occurs:
(i) The Commission or Commission Representative determines that there was collusion affecting the result of the bout.
(ii) The compilation of the scorecards of the judges discloses an error showing that the decision was given to the wrong contestant.
(iii) The referee has rendered an incorrect decision as the result of an error in interpreting a provision of these regulations.
(b) Recording of Bout Results.
(i) Submissions occur by either a Tap Out, Verbal Tap Out or Verbal Surrender
(ii) TKO’s occur by a referee stopping the bout.
(iii) KO’s occur by failing to rise from the canvas.
(iv) A TKO by medical stoppage occurs if a contestant visibly loses control of a bodily function – vomit, urine, or bowels – during a round and the referee completes a mandatory eight count. If the loss of control occurs between rounds, a medical professional must clear the contestant to compete.
(v) Decision via score cards occur by:
(A) Unanimous: All three (3) judges score the bout for the same contestant.
(B) Split Decision: Two (2) judges score the bout for one (1) contestant and one (1) judge scores for the opponent.
(C) Majority: Two (2) judges score the bout for the same contestant and one (1) judge scores a draw.
(vi) Draws:
(A) Unanimous: All three (3) judges score the bout a draw.
(B) Majority: Two (2) judges score the bout a draw.
(vii) Disqualification occurs by a referee disqualifying a contestant.
(d) The results of all bouts will be stored in a national database of the Commission’s choosing.