Code of Colorado Regulations
700 - Department of Regulatory Agencies
740 - Division of Professions and Occupations - Colorado Office of Combative Sports
4 CCR 740-1 - COMBATIVE SPORTS RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 4 CCR 740-1.4 - GENERAL RULES

Universal Citation: 4 CO Code Regs 740-1 ยง 4

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, March 10, 2024

This Rule is promulgated pursuant to sections 12-110-107 and 12-110-104, C.R.S.

A. DEFINITIONS

1. Bout. Match, exhibition or contest between two participants involving a combative sport.

2. Chief Inspector. An official assigned to carry out all duties as assigned by the Director.

3. Combative sport. Boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and martial arts.

4. Commission. The Colorado Commission of Combative Sports.

5. Commission representative: The Director or an official.

6. Director. The Director of the Colorado Office of Combative Sports.

7. Director Approved Sanctioning Organization. A nationally, internationally, regionally, state or tribal organization approved by the Director that may rank participants within each weight class or sanctions and approves contests or bouts in those weight classes.

8. Division Director. Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations, within the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

9. Event. A compilation of bouts that occur at one location during a single day.

10. Fraud. Any licensee who cheats, obtains money or some other benefit, or misrepresents facts by deliberate and willful deception.

11. Kick. A strike using the foot or feet.

12. Official. Any person who performs an official function during the supervision of a contest or exhibition. This includes referees, judges, timekeepers and inspectors.

13. Martial Art. Includes by way of example and not limited to: aikido, judo, jujitsu, karate, kendo, kung fu, sumo wrestling, t' ai chi, tae kwon do, or wrestling.

14. Mixed Martial Art. Any physical contact bout between two or more individuals who attempt to outscore, knock out, or gain submission of the opponent by using any combination of boxing, kicking, choking techniques, or martial art.

15. Muay Thai. Any physical bout between two individuals striking with the hand, knee, elbow and any part of the leg including the feet to outscore, knock out or otherwise disable an opponent into submission. Muay Thai shall also include the use of sweeps to off balance an individual.

16. Non-Sanctioned organization. Is an organization that is not governed by a state or tribal athletic Commission.

17. Promoter. Any person, association, corporation, or organization licensed to promote events.

18. Purse. A bout earning, a financial guarantee or any other remuneration for which participants are participating in a contest or exhibition and includes the participant's share of any payment received for radio broadcasting, television or motion picture rights.

19. Recognized Sanctioning Organization. A National Olympic Committee recognized and in good standing with the International Olympic Committee.

20. Reinstatement. The process by which an expired license is returned to Active status.

21. Renewal. The process of retaining an active license in accordance with the schedule established by the Division Director pursuant to sections 12-110-109 and 12-20-202, C.R.S.

22. Sanctioned Organization. An organization that sanctions l bouts of boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai or mixed martial arts or martial arts by a state or tribal athletic Commission that has filed a permit and their rules for approval.

23. Sponsoring Organization. A national or international organization generally recognized in their community and which: may rank participants within each weight class or sanctions and approves bouts in those weight classes.

C. VIOLATIONS OF RULES

Violations of any provision of these Rules may result in immediate ejection from event, a ban from future events and subject the licensee to disciplinary action.

D. RESPONSIBILITY

All promoters, participants, seconds and officials associated with combative sport events shall acquaint themselves with and comply with all applicable laws and rules of the Commission.

E. IMPROPER CONDUCT, FOUL OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE EJECTION

1. The use of foul or abusive language or mannerisms or threats of physical harm by any person at any permitted event shall not be tolerated. This includes all press conferences, weigh-ins and any aspect of an event. In addition, prohibited conduct includes unfair dealings, unsportsmanlike conduct, protesting the decisions of the officials, or violating any laws or rules.

2. If improper conduct occurs at any permitted event, the Director or chief inspector may eject the individual and forbid such person from acting in any capacity in connection with that or any subsequent permitted event. Any licensee who refuses to obey an order by the Director or chief inspector to leave the premises because of conduct prohibited in this paragraph, or any person who returns to the premises in violation of the Director's or chief inspector's order may be subject to further disciplinary action.

F. MODIFICATION OF BOUT RESULT

1. Should the Director determine one or more of the following factors exist, the Director may request a hearing on a result modification matter:
a. Indications of collusion affecting the result of the bout are present;

b. The compilation of the scorecards of the judges disclosed an error which showed that the decision was given to the wrong participant;

c. An error interpreting the rules that may have resulted in an incorrect decision; or

d. A positive test result reveals the use of a prohibited drug, substance, or method.

G. LIMITED USE OF INSTANT REPLAY

The use of instant replay shall be limited to the below criteria:

1. Should the Director approve the use of instant replay prior to an event, only the referee may determine if the use of instant replay is indicated.

2. The referee shall only use instant replay for the purpose of determining if a foul was committed that caused a "bout ending sequence" that brought about the final end of the fight.

3. Based on the instant-replay review, the referee may make the final call with respect to the bout that could result in one of the following decisions: a winner of the bout; a "no-contest" determination; a disqualification; or a technical decision by the judges.

H. SANCTIONING ORGANIZATIONS

1. Combative sports events, contests or bouts sanctioned by organizations recognized as a National Olympic Committee by the International Olympic Committee are Recognized Sanctioning Organizations and approved by the Director without any additional requirements. Combative sports events, contests or bouts sponsored by a Recognized Sanctioning Organization do not meet the definition of tough-person fighting under section 12-110-104(16)(a), C.R.S. It is the responsibility of the committee to notify the Director if the committee is no longer recognized as a National Olympic Committee by the International Olympic Committee within 30 days of their change in status.

2. Combative sports events, contests or bouts not sanctioned by an organization recognized as a National Olympic Committee by the International Olympic Committee must submit the organization's by-laws and rules for review by the Director. If approved by the Director, the organization will be deemed a Director Approved Sanctioning Organization and may apply for a permit. A Director Recognized Sanctioning Organization does not meet the definition of tough-person fighting under section 12-110-104(16)(a), C.R.S. It is the responsibility of the organization to notify the Director of any changes to the organization's rules and re-submit them for the Director's review 30 days prior to any permitted event, contest or bout.

3. Combative sports events, contests or bouts sanctioned or sponsored by an organization not recognized as either a Recognized Sanctioning Organization or a Director Approved Sanctioning Organization are not permitted, meet the definition of tough-person fighting under section 12-110-104(16)(a), C.R.S., and are subject to disciplinary action under article 10 of Title 12 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.

I. REINSTATEMENT OF AN EXPIRED LICENSE

The purpose of this Rule is to establish the qualifications and procedures for reinstatement of an expired license pursuant to sections 12-110-109 and 12-20-105, C.R.S.

1. Conditions of Reinstatement: License expired for less than two years
a. An applicant seeking reinstatement of an expired license for less than two years shall complete a reinstatement application and pay a reinstatement fee.

2. Conditions of Reinstatement: License expired two years or more
a. An applicant seeking reinstatement of an expired license for two years or more shall complete a reinstatement application, pays a reinstatement fee and demonstrate competency for the specific position in a manner approved by the Director.

J. REPORTING CONVICTIONS, JUDGMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS

1. Licensees shall notify the Director within 30 days of any of the following events:
a. The conviction of a felony under any state or federal law, which would be a violation of section 12-110-111, C.R.S. A guilty verdict, a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) accepted by the court is considered a conviction;

b. A disciplinary action imposed upon the licensee by another jurisdiction that licenses second, which would be a violation of section 12-110-111, C.R.S., 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;

c. Revocation or suspension by another state athlete Commission, municipality, federal or state agency or any association who oversees combative sports;

d. Any judgment, award or settlement of a civil action or arbitration in which there was a final judgment or settlement against the licensee.

2. The notice to the Director shall include the following information;
a. 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;

b. If the event is a felony conviction, the court, its jurisdiction, the case name, the case number, a description of the matter or a copy of the indictment or charges, and any plea or verdict entered by the court. The licensee shall also provide to the Director a copy of the imposition of sentence related to the felony conviction and the completion of all terms of the sentence with 30 days of such action;

c. If the event concerns a civil action or arbitration proceeding, the court or arbiter, the jurisdiction, the case name, the case number, a description of the matter or a copy of the complaint, and a copy of the verdict, the court or arbitration decision, or, if settled, the settlement agreement and court's order of dismissal;

3. The licensee notifying the Director may submit a written statement with the notice to be included with the licensee's records.

K. REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY DIRECTOR OF ADDRESS AND NAME CHANGES

1. Licensees shall inform the Director of any name, address, telephone, or email change within thirty days of the change. The Director will not change a promoter's information without explicit notification in a manner prescribed by the Director.

2. One of the following forms of documentation is needed to change a name or correct a social security number or individual taxpayer identification number:
a. Marriage license;

b. Divorce decree;

c. Court order;

d. Documentation from the Internal Revenue Service verifying the licensee's valid individual taxpayer identification number; or e. A driver's license or social security card with a second form of identification may be acceptable at the discretion of the Division Director.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.