CHAPTER 177
PROFESSIONAL SHOOT FIGHTING
[Prior to 10/21/98, see 347—Ch 101]
[Prior to 8/16/06, see 875—Ch 101]
875—177.1(90A) Scope and purpose. This chapter applies to professional shoot fighting. The labor commissioner finds that professional shoot fighting is a contest within the scope of Iowa Code chapter 90A. Shoot fighting means a boxing contest for which the contestants are paid for their participation in the event and includes a combination of combative skills from the sports of boxing, wrestling, kickboxing and judo.
875—177.2(90A) Responsibilities of promoter.
	177.2(1) License. The promoter shall submit an application for a shoot fighting event license on forms provided by the commissioner. The application shall be accompanied by a bond in the sum of $5,000, payable to the state of Iowa, conditioned upon the payment of the tax and penalties imposed by Iowa Code chapter 90A, unless the promoter has a current, valid bond on file with the division. No event shall be held without a license first being issued.
	177.2(2) General. The promoter shall have responsibility for compliance with the rules of this chapter. The promoter shall make certain that the referee is familiar with rules and that the referee enforces them. The promoter shall be responsible for the conduct of all officials and participants at a shoot-fighting event. The promoter shall be answerable to the commissioner for noncompliance.
	177.2(3) Contracts. All contracts between a promoter and contestants shall be written and signed on official forms furnished by the commissioner. One copy of each contract shall be filed with the commissioner at least seven days prior to the date of the fight, unless a specific individual delay is approved by the commissioner. Telegrams, fax transmissions, or letters indicating acceptance of terms will be considered an agreement between a contestant, the contestant’s manager and the promoter pending the actual signing of the contract.
	177.2(4) Event officials provided. The promoter is to provide all officials and ensure their attendance during the entire duration of all fights. The officials are subject to approval by the commissioner.
	177.2(5) Protective equipment and gloves provided. The promoter shall provide all equipment, personal protective equipment and gloves.
	177.2(6) Public safety. The promoter is to ensure that adequate public safety is maintained at all fights. At least one law enforcement officer, furnished by the promoter, must be in attendance with additional law enforcement officers as required by the need to maintain adequate public safety. The commissioner finds that failure to provide adequate security to maintain public safety imperatively requires emergency action to immediately suspend the event license, pending license revocation procedures pursuant to Iowa Code section 17A.18(3).
	177.2(7) Prohibited events. No promoter, matchmaker or any other person shall arrange, match or advertise any contest between persons of the opposite sex or fights in which more than two contestants are to appear in the ring at the same time.
875—177.3(90A) Equipment specifications.
	177.3(1) Ring requirements.
	a. 	Size. The ring shall not be less than 16 nor more than 22 feet square.
	b. 	Enclosure. The ring shall be equipped with an enclosure to limit persons from being tossed from the ring. The enclosure shall be at least 6 feet high. The enclosure shall consist of supports and enclosing material. The supports shall be constructed of rigid material not more than 4 inches in diameter. The supports shall be fastened securely to the floor or to the other supports. The supports shall be protected by padding to avoid injury to any contestants striking the supports. The enclosing material shall have openings not to exceed 4 inches in any direction. The enclosing material shall not be rigid and shall deflect at least ½ inch when ten pounds of pressure are exerted upon any point. All sharp objects or protrusions shall be protected with padding.
	c. 	Height. The ring shall not be elevated more than 3½ feet above the floor. Suitable steps for the use of contestants shall be provided.
	d. 	Ring floor. The ring floor shall be padded to the thickness of at least 1 inch with insulite or other soft materials to be approved by the commissioner. A canvas covering stretched tightly and laced to the ring platform shall cover the padding.
	e. 	Ring approval. The promoter shall make the ring and ring enclosure system available in the state of Iowa for inspection by the commissioner at least ten days prior to any event. The specifications in this rule are general, and so actual inspection will be necessary to verify adequate contestant safety prior to the event. If the commissioner has previously inspected the ring used by the promoter, the commissioner may waive the ten-day advance inspection.
	177.3(2) Bell. A suitable bell or gong shall be provided and used.
	177.3(3) Time keeping. The timekeeper shall be provided with a stopwatch and whistle.
	177.3(4) Bloodborne pathogens. The promoter shall provide and maintain a container with a solution of ten parts water to one part bleach to be used to clean any blood or bodily fluids from any part of the ring, ring enclosure, or floor.
875—177.4(90A) Event.
	177.4(1) Officials. Officials will consist of the referee, physician, and timekeeper.
	177.4(2) Referee. The referee is charged with the enforcement of all rules of the commissioner which apply to the performance and conduct of contestants and their seconds while in the ring. The referee shall wear latex gloves at all times while in the ring.
	177.4(3) Timekeeper. The timekeeper shall keep an exact record of time taken out at the request of a referee for an examination of a contestant by the physician, replacing a glove or adjusting any equipment during a round. The timekeeper shall sound a whistle ten seconds before the start of the round and overtime. The timekeeper shall be impartial and shall not signal interested parties at any time during a fight.
	177.4(4) Participants. The contestants, seconds and managers are subject to approval by the commissioner.
	177.4(5) Weighing of contestants. Contestants shall be weighed and examined on the day of the scheduled fight by the attending ring physician, at a time and place to be determined by the commissioner. All weigh-ins will be conducted with the boxer stripped. Accurate scales shall be furnished by the promoter.
	177.4(6) Weight restrictions. Permission must be received from the commissioner for a contest when there is more than a 20-pound difference in the contestants’ weights, except when both contestants weigh more than 200 pounds.
	177.4(7) Fight time limitation. Each fight shall consist of one 10-minute round. If a decision is not achieved, there shall be a one-minute rest period. One overtime round not to exceed five minutes shall follow.
	177.4(8) Persons allowed in the rin g. No person other than the two contestants and the referee shall enter the ring during the fight, except the attending physician if asked by the referee to examine a contestant. Seconds may not enter the ring between the round and the overtime.
	177.4(9) Seconds.
	a. 	Unless special permission is granted by the commissioner, there shall be no more than two seconds. Before the start of the fight, each corner shall notify the referee of the name of the chief second.
	b. 	Seconds shall not enter the ring until the timekeeper indicates the termination of the round and must leave at the sound of the timekeeper’s whistle before the beginning of a round or overtime.
	c. 	Before leaving the ring at the start of the round, the seconds shall remove all obstructions, buckets, stools, bottles, towels and robes from the ring floor and ring enclosure.
	d. 	Seconds shall not smoke in the ring or corners and shall not wear a hat or cap while working in the corner.
	e. 	Seconds shall wear latex gloves at all times while attending any contestant.
	f. 	Seconds shall not throw or splash water upon a contestant. A wet sponge may be used between the round and overtime to refresh the contestant. Excess water on the floor of the ring shall be wiped up immediately. Water discharged from the mouth of a contestant shall be caught in a bucket.
875—177.5(90A) Contestants.
	177.5(1) Time between contestants’ fight participation. No contestant shall be permitted to compete if the contestant participated in a boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, judo, or shoot fighting event within the previous five-day period.
	177.5(2) Age restrictions. No contestant under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to participate in any event except by special permission of the commissioner.
	177.5(3) Proper attire. Contestants must wear proper athletic attire. Athletic attire of opposing contestants shall be of contrasting colors.
	177.5(4) Body protection. All male contestants shall wear a foulproof protective cup. All female contestants shall wear foulproof pelvic area protection and breast protection.
	177.5(5) Mouth protection. A mouthpiece shall be worn by all contestants throughout the fight. If the mouthpiece is knocked from a contestant’s mouth, it shall be washed and then replaced.
	177.5(6) Gloves. Gloves shall be approved martial arts gloves. All gloves shall be approved by the commissioner.
	177.5(7) Hand protection. Only one roll of cotton gauze surgical bandage, not to exceed 2 inches in width and 10 yards in length, shall be used for the protection of each hand. Only one winding of surgeons’ adhesive tape, not more than 1½ inches in width, may be placed directly on the hand to protect that part of the hand near the wrist. The tape may cross the back of the hand twice, but shall not extend within 1 inch of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist. Practice wraps (training handwraps) may be used in lieu of gauze and tape.
	177.5(8) Hair protection. Where necessary, hair shall be secured in a manner that it will not interfere with the vision or safety of either contestant.
	177.5(9) Use of substances. Excessive use of cocoa butter, petroleum jelly, grease, ointments or strong-smelling substances by a contestant during the progress of a fight will not be permitted.
	177.5(10) Contestants’ grooming. Fingernails will be trimmed closely.
	177.5(11) Blood-borne disease testing. At least one week before each event, the promoter shall submit to the labor commissioner and to the ringside physician test results showing that each contestant scheduled for the event tested negative for the human immunodeficiency, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C viruses within the six-month period prior to the event. The contestant shall not participate and the physician shall notify the promoter that the contestant is prohibited from participating for medical reasons if any of the following occurs:
	a. 	The promoter does not produce timely proof of testing;
	b. 	The test results are positive;
	c. 	The laboratory is not properly certified in accordance with the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act;
	d. 	The test was performed more than six months prior to the event; or
	e. 	The test results are otherwise deficient.
875—177.6(90A) Procedural rules.
	177.6(1) Inspection for foreign substances. The referee shall inspect the gloves, bandages, and bodies of the contestants and make sure that no foreign substances have been applied to the gloves, bandages, or bodies of the contestants that might be detrimental to an opponent.
	177.6(2) Prohibited materials in ring. Contestants shall not take anything not permitted by these rules into the ring or pick up anything thrown into the ring and use the material or object in any way to gain an advantage over an opponent.
	177.6(3) Fouls. The following activities will be deemed a foul:
	1.	Striking of any kind in the groin area.
	2.	Striking after the bell has terminated the round.
	3.	Butting the opponent with the head.
	4.	Biting the opponent.
	5.	Gouging of an eye.
	6.	Pulling of hair.
	7.	Striking an opponent with an elbow while the opponent is on the mat.
	8.	Striking deliberately at that part of the body over the kidneys.
	9.	Striking the back of the head with a closed fist.
	10.	Using abusive, foul or profane language or mannerisms by any person associated with any contestant.
	11.	Failing to obey the referee.
	12.	Deliberately leaving the enclosed ring during the course of a fight in pursuit of another contestant.
	13.	Using any physical actions which may injure a contestant, except by fair sportinglike means.
	177.6(4) Mouth protection ejected. If the mouth protection is knocked from a contestant’s mouth, it shall be replaced with no penalty.
	177.6(5) Spitting mouth protection. The referee shall caution a contestant who deliberately spits out a mouthpiece the first time and disqualify the contestant the second time.
	177.6(6) Gloves. The gloves shall not be damaged or manipulated in any way by the contestants or their handlers. If a glove breaks or becomes undone during the fight, the referee will instruct the timekeeper to take time out while the glove is being adjusted or replaced.
	177.6(7) Injury. If a contestant claims to be injured or when a contestant has been injured seriously or knocked out, the referee shall immediately stop the fight and summon the attending ring physician to make an examination of the stricken fighter. If the physician decides that the contestant has been injured, the physician shall advise the referee of the severity of the injury. If the physician is of the opinion the injured contestant may be able to continue, the physician shall order a five-minute intermission, after which the physician shall make another examination and again advise the referee of the injured contestant’s condition. Managers, handlers and seconds shall not attend to the stricken fighter, except at the request of the physician.
875—177.7(90A) Decision. A fight concludes as follows:
	1.	A contestant submits to another fighter.
	2.	A draw is announced at the end of overtime.
	3.	The referee stops the fight.
	4.	The referee may award the fight to a contestant who was fouled if, in the referee’s judgment, the foul was of a serious nature or intentionally inflicted.
	5.	Throwing of a towel into the ring by a second or manager to indicate the defeat of a contestant shall be recognized by the referee. The fight will be stopped and awarded to the opponent of the contestant’s second or manager.
	6.	The fight shall be terminated and awarded to the opponent of a second who is in the ring before the bell ending the round or overtime has sounded.
	7.	The referee can award the fight to the fouled contestant who was seriously or deliberately fouled.
	8.	The referee shall stop a fight when the referee deems it advisable because of the physical condition of one of the contestants, when one of the contestants is clearly outclassed by an opponent, when the referee decides that the best effort is not being made by a contestant, or for any other reason the referee deems sufficient. The referee shall disqualify one opponent.
	9.	The contestant is disqualified.
875—177.8(90A) Forfeit of purse. The commissioner, in consultation with the referee, has the power to declare forfeited all or any part of a contestant’s purse whenever in the commissioner’s judgment the contestant was not performing in good faith.
875—177.9(90A) Attendance of commissioner. Rescinded IAB 8/1/07, effective 9/5/07.
875—177.10(90A) Health insurance.
	177.10(1) Each promoter shall obtain $25,000 of health insurance coverage on each fighter to provide for medical, surgical and hospital care for injuries sustained and illnesses contracted during the event. If the fighter pays for covered care, the insurance proceeds shall be paid to the fighter or the fighter’s beneficiaries as reimbursement for payment. The deductible, if any, shall be the sole responsibility of the promoter and shall not be charged to or paid by the fighter.
	177.10(2) Each promoter shall provide no less than $20,000 of life insurance coverage on each fighter to cover death caused by injuries sustained or illnesses contracted during the event.
	177.10(3) The promoter shall provide a certificate of health and life insurance to the labor commissioner at least one week before an event. Failure to provide timely proof of insurance that is acceptable to the labor commissioner shall be grounds to deny the issuance of a license for the event.
	177.10(4) Insurance policies shall be purchased from companies authorized to do business in the state of Iowa.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 90A.2 and 90A.5.
[Filed Emergency 7/26/96—published 8/14/96, effective 8/14/96]
[Filed 7/26/06, Notice 5/10/06—published 8/16/06, effective 9/20/06]
[Filed 1/12/07, Notice 12/6/06—published 1/31/07, effective 3/7/07]
[Filed 5/16/07, Notice 4/11/07—published 6/6/07, effective 7/11/07]
[Filed 7/13/07, Notice 6/6/07—published 8/1/07, effective 9/5/07]◊
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