MMA RULES AND REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS

EVENT REQUIREMENTS

• Illinois - 3-27-05: Pro & Amateur MMA: Not regulated by the boxing commission but must be Sanctioned by a Nationally Recognized Sanctioning Body.

12-20-06: From Mr. Rafael Caro, Illinois Professional Regulation Department: This "New" MMA requirement list has been created to better reflect the requirements per the State of Illinois' Professional Boxing Act. This should alleviate some stress and make the process a little easier to manage, while still complying with the law. If any of these requirements are not submitted according to their corresponding timeline, any Promoter's request to hold an event can be denied at the discretion of the Illinois State Professional Boxing Board.

If you have any questions and/or comments, please feel free to contact Mr. Rafael Caro of the Illinois State Professional Boxing Board Division of Professional Regulation, Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation at (312) 814-2721or by Fax at (312) 814-3145 or by e-mail at rafael.caro@illinois.gov

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Division of Professional Regulation
ILLINOIS STATE PROFESSIONAL BOXING BOARD
"MMA/KICKBOXING REQUIREMENTS"

You are asked to please view the Illinois Professional Boxing Act/Rules on our website (www.idfpr.com) and click on the Division of Professional Regulation. Once there, scroll down through our list of Professions and find "Athletics" and click and view the Act. In order to meet "factor" number 8 (viii) of the Act which states, "whether the rules for the contest or exhibition provide substantially similar protections for the health, safety and welfare of the contestants and spectators as this Act and its rules," you will see all of the requirements and their corresponding timelines, which read as follows:

Updated 6-4-07

• Information must be received 20 Days Prior to Event
  1. EVENT INFORMATION (which should include date, time, location)
  2. NEAREST HOSPITAL INFO (name, address, phone #, distance)
  3. LATEST FIRE INSPECTION OF VENUE*+
  4. LETTER FROM SECURITY AGENCY (IL licensed)*
     
     
• Information must be received 10 Days Prior to Event
  1. PARTICIPANTS' INSURANCE*++
  2. PUBLIC LIABILITY & PROPERTY DAMAGE INSURANCE*++
  3. LETTER FROM AMBULANCE COMPANY*
  4. LETTER FROM PHYSICIAN (IL licensed)*+++
     • Physician's letter must state that he/she will be present at weigh-in and act as ringside physician for entire event.
  5. LIST OF CONTESTANTS (Preliminary and no later than 3 days prior a Final List)**
     • Provide list of contestants' contact info (names, addresses and dates of birth), and whether they are professional boxers

• Furthermore, in order to meet the requirements of the first 5 "factors" according to the Act, we require the following:
  • LETTER FROM SANCTIONING BODY (w/representative's name)*
• For in-house record keeping, we ask that you please provide us with the following information:
  • LIST OF OFFICIALS (timekeepers, referees, and judges and their contact information)
    • If any official(s) change(s), promoter must inform Board of "new" official(s) not more than 48 hours after event.
  • EVENT RESULTS (48 Hours after event)

• (*) All documents must be on corresponding business'/company's letterhead
• (+) Inspection of Venue must be less than a year old and must be free from any fire code violations
• (**) Provide list of contestants' contact info (names, addresses and dates of birth), and whether they are professional boxers
• (++) Contestants' life and medical insurance must be a minimum of $10,000 and Public liability insurance must be a minimum of $500,000 and Property damage a minimum of $25,000
• (+++) Physician's letter must state that he/she will be present at weigh-in and act as ringside physician for entire event

• BE ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED ACCORDING TO TIMELINE PROVIDED
• This list has been created to better reflect the requirements per the Professional Boxing Act and if requirements aren't submitted according to their corresponding timeline, your event can be cancelled.
• Two of the Approved Sanctioning Bodies by the State of Illinois Department of Financial & Regulation (Boxing Commission) are the IKF (Kickboxing) and ISCF (MMA).
• State Boxing Web Site - N/A

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Division of Professional Regulation
ILLINOIS STATE PROFESSIONAL BOXING BOARD
MMA FOULS DEFINED

Upon intensive research of the leading Sanctioning bodies of Martial Arts/Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)/Kickboxing, as well as some of the top leading Boxing/Athletic Commissions throughout the United States, The Illinois State Professional Boxing Board has compiled a uniform and comprehensive list of possible fouls. Please be advised that The Illinois State Professional Boxing Board's Act/Rules in accordance with the list of fouls (provisions) below, take precedence over any sanctioning body. The following is a list of fouls to be adhered to during any contest or exhibition in the State of Illinois, for the purpose of all MMA bouts:

• The following Items ARE NOT ALLOWED In the State of Illinois
  PLEASE NOTE ITEMS IN RED
  1. flagrant disregard of the referee's instructions;
  2. engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent;
  3. biting or spitting;
  4. eye gouging, finger strikes or rakes;
  5. groin techniques/attacks of any kind;
  6. clawing, pinching or twisting of the flesh;
  7. throat strikes of any kind, including without limitation, grabbing the trachea;
  8. one or two-handed chokes;
  9. grabbing of the clavicle;
  10. fish hooking of the mouth or putting a finger into any open orifice (cuts/lacerations);
  11. striking the spine or back of neck/head;
  12. elbow strikes (of any kind);
  13. forearm strikes;
  14. butting with the head;
  15. kicking the front of the knee;
  16. kicking, or stomping of a downed/grounded opponent;
      • Any kicks/stomps against a downed/grounded opponent are illegal moves/techniques, whereas any kneeing to the body ONLY, where both competitors are down, is legal (any kneeing to the head while down is illegal).
  17. up-kicking an attacking opponent when on the ground.
  18. kneeing the head of a downed/grounded opponent;
  19. clubbing blows w/both hands;
      • a two-handed "clubbing blow" is not a legal move/technique.
  20. hair pulling;
  21. small joint manipulation;
  22. holding on to fence/ropes;
  23. throwing an opponent out of fenced area or ring;
  24. spiking an opponent to the canvas on their head or back of neck;
  25. intentionally delaying the contest due to improper equipment, or by intentionally dropping or spitting out the mouthpiece;
  26. attacking an opponent on or during a break;
  27. attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee;
  28. using abusive language in the ring/cage;
  29. interference by the corner;

• 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

These "Fouls" are "Illegal" moves/techniques, not to be used in the State of Illinois. A Foul is always going to be at the discretion of the referee. He/she will make the determination, but not be limited to, the intent of the fighter and the result of the foul. Then, he/she will have to consider whether to allow the fouled fighter time to recuperate (if able to continue), and either to give a warning to the opponent that committed the foul and/or deduct a point, disqualify, stop the bout.