ILLINOIS

Any and All AMATEUR Martial Arts (MA) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Events must be Sanctioned by an Illinois Commission Accepted AND Approved Amateur Sanctioning Body.
Rafael Caro II
Illinois State Professional Athletic Unit Division of Professional Regulation
Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation, 312.814.2721

APPROVED ILLINOIS AMATEUR SANCTIONING BODY
- MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS -
- RULES & REGULATIONS -

• As Confirmed By The Illinois Commission, The Following Rules & Regulations On This Page Apply to MMA ONLY:
  1. Blood Testing
  2. Attire And Equipment
  3. Gloves For Contestants
  4. Structure Of The Fighting Area
  5. Weigh-Ins
  6. Weight Classes And Allowances

• MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
  Administrative Rules Section 1371.150
  1. Minimum of one licensed Physician - Stationed ringside/cageside (MD licensed under the Illinois Medical Practice Act of 1987 [225ILCS] to practice medicine in all of its branches)
  2. Two Paramedics - Stationed ringside/cageside.
  3. Ambulance - Onsite for duration of event.
  4. Stretcher, oxygen and proper resuscitation equipment - Onsite for duration of event.
• ALL PRE FIGHT PHYSICALS MUST BE DONE BY AN MD

• MEDICAL TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTESTANTS
  Administrative Rules Section 1371.400 (1) (6-8)
  1. PHYSICAL: All contestants must submit proof of completion of a physical examination by a licensed physician (MD). The examining physician shall conduct examinations and tests necessary to attest to the fitness of the applicant to engage in contests. (Yearly)
  2. FEMALE CONTESTANTS: Pregnancy test taken within 24 hours of the start of the bout.
  3. BLOOD TESTING
     This mandatory requiremet is ONLY for Amateur MMA fighters of which all must be a minimum of 18 years old.
     The Blood Testing DOES NOT apply to Amateur Kickboxing or Karate Tournaments for competitors/fighters of ANY Age.
     
     1. HIV-1: A blood test that verifies the applicant is HIV negative. (Yearly)
     2. HEPATITIS B: A blood test that verifies the applicant is Hepatitis B (HBsAg) negative. (Yearly)
     3. HEPATITIS B: A blood test that verifies the applicant is Hepatitis C (HCVAb) negative. (Yearly)
• ALL PRE FIGHT PHYSICALS MUST BE DONE BY AN MD

• INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
  Administrative Rules Section 1371.30 (e) (3)
  1. Contestant's primary death and dismemberment insurance for not less than $25,000.
  2. Contestant's primary medical insurance for not less than $25,000.
  3. Public liability insurance: $500,000 minimum.
  4. Property damage insurance: $25,000 minimum.

• PUBLIC SAFETY / FACILITY REQUIREMENTS
  Administrative Rules Section 1371.80 (m)
  See 225 ILCS 105 Section 8(d)
  
  
  1. Administrative Rules Section 1371.80 (m): For adequate public safety, the promoter is responsible for ensuring that no liquid refreshments or bottled or canned drinks, unless poured into disposable 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 out-of-doors, disposable cups also must be used on the site of the contest.
     
     
  2. 225 ILCS 105 Section 8(d): The contest shall be held in an area where adequate neurosurgical facilities are immediately available for skilled emergency treatment of an injured contestant. It is the responsibility of the promoter to ensure that the building to be used for the event complies with all laws, ordinances, and regulations in the city, town, or village where the contest is to be held. The Department may issue a permit to any promoter who meets the requirements of this Act and the rules. The permit shall only be issued for a specific date and location of a contest and shall not be transferable. In an emergency, the Department may allow a promoter to amend a permit application to hold a contest in a different location than the application specifies and may allow the promoter to substitute contestants.

• QUALIFIED OFFICIALS ASSIGNED TO EVENT
  All Officials must be trained/certified by an Illinois Approved Sanctioning Body or the ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions.)
  1. Referee: (RECOMMENDATION BY STATE OF ILLINOIS COMMISSION - NOT MANDATORY): 1 Referee to officiate a maximum 6 bouts per event.
  2. Judge: (RECOMMENDATION BY STATE OF ILLINOIS COMMISSION - NOT MANDATORY): 1 Judge to officiate a maximum 6 bouts per event.
  3. Timekeeper;
  4. Ring personnel (Set up & cleaning in between rounds if necessary)

• SANCTIONING BODY REPRESENTATIVES AT ALL EVENTS
  Administrative Rules Section 1371.100 (h)
  1. Minimum 2 representatives from the amateur sanctioning body at each contest.
  2. Sanctioning body representative will supervise and approve gloving of each contestant.
     • Administrative Rules Section 1371.100 (h): No contestant may be gloved outside the presence of an inspector. After approval of the gloving, the tape around the strings shall be initialed by the inspector present.

• SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE FOR CONTESTANTS
  • Administrative Rules Section 1371.180
    • All contestants shall present a clean and tidy appearance and shall comply with the following:
      1. Fingernails and toenails shall be sufficiently trimmed to avoid the risk of cutting or scratching an opponent.
      2. Hair shall be trimmed or tied back so that the hair does not interfere with the vision of the contestant or cover the contestant's eyes. The Division's representative shall determine whether a contestant's head and facial hair presents any safety hazard to the contestant or his or her opponent or would interfere with the supervision and conduct of the bout.
      3. Body grease, gels, balms or lotions applied to any part of a contestant is prohibited. Petroleum jelly or other similar petroleum based product may be applied to the facial area at cage side in the presence of an inspector, referee or person designated by the Division. The referee or Division representative shall cause any excessive petroleum jelly or other permitted substance or any foreign substance to be removed to his or her satisfaction. Any contestant applying anything to any part of his or her body outside the presence of an inspector, referee or person designated by the Division may be penalized a point or disqualified.
      4. No cosmetics shall be worn during a bout.
      5. Jewelry or piercing accessories are prohibited;.
      6. A contestant is prohibited from wearing corrective lenses or contact lenses in the fighting area.
         
         
  • Administrative Rules Section 1371.430
    • Attire and Equipment for Contestants All contestants shall comply with the following:
      1. Contestants shall wear athletic shorts that do not extend below the knee, such as mixed martial arts shorts, grappling or fighting shorts, boxing shorts or kickboxing shorts, as specified in the bout agreement.
      2. Each contestant shall have available for the contest 2 uniforms of contrasting colors, consisting of a body shirt, athletic jersey and shorts. No leotard or other such costume is permitted.
      3. Shirts or gis shall not be worn by a contestant during a bout, unless approved by the sanctioning body.
      4. Knee pads, elbow pads, chest protectors (for male contestants), shin guards, or footwear and shoes shall not be allowed.
      5. All contestants shall wear an individually fitted mouthpiece, which shall be subject to examination and approval by the Division:
         • All contestants shall have available 2 mouthpieces.
         • No round will begin until both contestants have their respective mouthpieces in place.
      6. Male contestants shall wear a foul-proof groin protector.
      7. Female contestants:
         • Shall wear a breast protector (Sports Bra) during the contest with both contestants wearing the same type. The breast protector shall be subject to examination and approval by the Division.
         • May wear a pelvic protector at the option of the contestant.
      8. Taping of hands, wrists and ankles is permitted.
      9. A contestant shall be prohibited from wearing any attire or equipment that contains any metal substance.
      10. All equipment and attire are subject to approval by the Division. An inspector or other Division representative may direct a contestant to change any attire or equipment that he or she determines gives unfair advantage or is a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the other contestant or the public.
          
          
    • Bandages/Handwraps
      In all weight classes, seconds must adhere to the following for wrapping hands:
      1. The bandages/handwraps shall consist of soft gauze type cloth that is no more than 15 yards in length and 2 inches in width and held in place by no more than 6 feet of surgeon's tape, provided that the tape shall be no more than one inch in width for each hand.
      2. The surgeon's tape shall be placed directly on each hand for protection near the wrist.
      3. Bandages shall be evenly distributed across the hand.
      4. The binding of surgeon's tape must not be applied within one half inch of the knuckles of the contestant's hand.
      5. Bandages and tape shall be placed on the contestant's hand in the dressing room prior to the bout in the presence of the inspector. The opposing contestant for a title may also witness the bandaging of the opponent's hands. This privilege may be waived.
      6. The Division official shall approve all bandages and taping prior to gloves being placed on any contestant and after gloves are removed. Under no circumstances are gloves to be placed on the hands of a contestant before approval by the inspector.
         
         
    • Gloves for Contestants
      1. Contestants competing against each other in the same bout shall wear the same sized gloves.
      2. Gloves shall be whole, clean and in good condition. Broken gloves are prohibited during any bout or contest.
      3. Gloves that are padded in the palm or fingertip area are prohibited.
      4. All gloves shall be inspected and approved by the inspector prior to each bout. The inspector or a designee of the Division may inspect gloves at any time.
      5. All gloves shall be furnished by the promoter. For all title bouts gloves shall be new. Promoters must have extra sets of gloves in each size used during the contest to be used in case gloves are broken or in any way damaged during the course of a bout. Promoters are prohibited from furnishing gloves provided by a contestant.
      6. Gloves shall be appropriate in size for the contestant and shall be no less than 4 ounces and no more than 6 ounces in weight.

• STRUCTURE OF THE FIGHTING AREA FOR CONTESTS
  Administrative Rules Section 1371.440 (b) (1) - (3)
  • The fighting area shall meet the following requirements:
    
    
    • The fighting area:
      1. Shall be constructed in a manner that does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or health of any person. The fighting area must be circular or have as many as eight equal sides for a contest. The fighting area shall be no smaller than 16 feet wide and no larger than 32 feet wide within the ropes, cage or fenced area.
      2. Shall have a corner with a blue designation and the corner directly across shall have a red designation.
      3. Floor shall extend at least 24 inches beyond the ropes or other barrier. The floor must be of a canvas, duck or similar material that shall be padded with at least a 1 inch layer of foam padding that shall extend over the edge of the platform of the fighting area. Vinyl or other plastic rubberized covering is prohibited. Materials that may gather in lumps or ridges during the bout or contest are prohibited.
      4. Platform shall be no more than 4 feet above the floor on which it is standing and must have suitable steps or ramps for use by officials and the contestants.
      5. Shall have 5 fighting area ropes, when fighting area ropes are used, not less than 1 inch in diameter and wrapped in soft material. The lowest rope must be no higher than 12 inches from the fighting area floor.
      6. Must not be obstructed by any object, including, without limitation, a triangular border, on any part of the fighting area floor.
         
         
    • When fighting area ropes are used, the post:
      • Must be made of metal no less 3 inches and not more than 6 inches in diameter, and must be properly padded in a manner approved by the Division.
      • Must be 18 inches away from the fighting area ropes.
        
        
    • The fence or cage specifications for martial arts and mixed martial arts are:
      1. The fence or cage shall be made of material that will prevent a contestant from falling out or breaking through the fighting area onto the floor beneath the fighting area or onto spectators. The enclosure may be composed of vinyl-coated chain link fencing or other similar material.
      2. Any exposed metal on the interior of the fenced or caged area must be covered and padded in a manner approved by the inspector or Division representative. The covering shall not be abrasive to the contestants.
      3. Any metal parts used to reinforce the fenced or caged area enclosure shall not interfere with the safety of the contestants.
      4. The enclosure shall provide 2 separate entries onto the fighting area canvas that are sufficient to allow easy access to the fighting area by officials and emergency personnel. The entrances must be padded or covered so that there is no exposed metal on the interior of the fence or caged area.
      5. The enclosure shall not obstruct or limit the supervision and regulation of the bout by officials or Division representatives.
      6. The enclosure shall not inhibit the judging of the bout in any manner.

• WEIGH-INS
  Administrative Rules Section 1371.190 (b) (1) - (4) and (h)
  • No contestant may lose more than 5 pounds in a 2 hour period for contestants 170 pounds and under.
  • No contestant may lose more than 7 pounds in a 2 hour period for contestants 171 pounds and over.
    • (b) Prior to engaging in a contest, all contestants must submit to a weigh-in and a physical examination by the physician at the time and place approved by the Division.
      1. The physical examination given to contestants shall include, at a minimum, the following:
         • Weight
         • Pulse
         • Blood Pressure
         • Examination of the Lungs and Heart.
         • General Physical Condition.
      2. Contestants shall disclose all medical history and conditions to the physician during the physical examination. All female contestants must submit to a pregnancy test. Any female contestant who tests positive for pregnancy shall be prohibited from fighting.
      3. The physician shall conduct examinations and tests necessary to attest to the fitness of the contestants engaged in the contest. The physician shall certify in writing on a form prescribed by the Division those contestants who are in good physical condition to compete.
      4. If, upon physical examination, a contestant is determined by the physician to be unfit for competition, the contestant shall be prohibited from competing during that specific contest.
    • (h) - there is no (h) listed on this rules page shown HERE.
      
      
• ALL PRE FIGHT PHYSICALS MUST BE DONE BY AN MD

• WEIGHT CLASSES and ALLOWANCES
  See Administrative Rules 1371.320
  1. ISCF ILLINOIS Amateur Weight Classes - Click HERE.
     • Not more than 10 pound differences per weight classes.
     • Allowances:
       • 135 and under - 3 pounds.
       • 136-170: 5 pounds.
       • 171-205: 7 pounds.

• APPROVAL OF MATCHES AND CONTESTANTS
  1. All contestants' status must be verified on the official recordkeeper designated by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) (prior to competing) or other recordkeeper designated by the Division.
  2. ALL contestants' records must be comparable for even matchmaking.
  3. A contestant shall not compete in more than one contest within a 5 day period unless the contestant is fighting in a tournament event at the same venue - and if so, the contestant must be examined by the Licensed Medical Doctor prior to his/her next bout.

• SUSPENSIONS AND MANDATORY REST PERIODS
  See Administrative Rules Section 1371.260 (a) (1) - (5)
  • The Division shall report all contestants' suspensions and mandatory rest periods to Fight Fax (the official recordkeeper designated by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC)) or other recordkeeper designated by the Division.
    1. Physician's suspension:
       • A licensee who is determined by the physician to be unfit to compete or officiate shall be immediately suspended until it is shown that he or she is fit for further competition or officiating.
       • Prior to reinstatement, any contestant suspended for his or her medical protection shall satisfactorily pass a medical examination upon the direction of the Division. The examining physician may require any necessary medical procedures during the examination.
       • Failure to report or comply with the post-contest examination by the physician will result in a minimum suspension of 90 days.
    2. Knockout suspension: In the event of a knockout (KO) by a blow to the head, the contestant shall be immediately suspended for a period of not less than 45 days. The Division may also suspend a contestant from contact sparring.
    3. Technical Knockout suspension: In the event of a technical knockout (TKO), the contestant shall be immediately suspended for a period of not less than 30 days. The Division may also suspend a contestant from contact sparring.
    4. Disqualification suspension: In the event a contestant is disqualified for any reason, that contestant shall be suspended for a minimum of 45 days. The Division may also suspend a contestant from contact sparring.
    5. There is no (5) listed on this rules page shown HERE.

• OTHER
  • Referee must wear disposable rubber, plastic or latex gloves.
  • During a bout or contest, contestants shall only be permitted to drink water.

• For Additional Illinois Info Please Contact:
  • Rafael Caro
  • Illinois State Professional Boxing Board
  • Division of Professional Regulation
  • Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation
  • 100 W. Randolph, Suite 9-300
  • Chicago, IL 60601
  • Rafael.Caro@illinois.gov
  • 312.814.2721
  • 312.814.3145- Fax