Your Voice Matters: Feedback for TDLR's Combative Sports Program

In March 2014, TDLR asked licensees and the public to share their ideas and experiences related to TDLR. People participated through face-to-face meetings around the state, on an online crowdsourcing website, through social media, and by email.

Participants were asked to answer four questions:

• What does TDLR do well?
• What can TDLR do better?
• What changes would you make to TDLR if you were king or queen for a day?
• Over the next five years, what major changes will affect the way you do business and the services we provide?

We used people’s responses to help us create our strategic plan.

Below you will find participants’ responses concerning TDLR’s Combative Sports program.

What does TDLR do well?

• Amateur MMA program is thriving. Officials are learning and getting better.
• Been working with other state commissions, its different. TDLR is stricter and that’s good and bad. Strict is good from a safety standpoint.
• Communication with general counsel staff has been prompt and professional
• Do strategic planning on our own – not using a consultant
• Feedback on medicals and communication about what’s going on is good.
• Getting more referees with experience in the sport. They’re doing a great job.
• Good suggestions from TDLR staff about things that would protect us as an organization that would benefit us on contracts etc.
• Medical requirements are reasonable when you compare us to other states.
• MMA website. The new way of approving fights and entering info on MMA.com ourselves is convenient
• MMA.com makes our job a lot easier
• New website – great idea
• Strong relationships with TDLR people – they’re all great.
• TDLR is really good about taking the deductions out for the contract. He pays attention to the deductions.
• The culture in the MMA community is good.
• We are strict when it comes to the rules. I hear a lot of complaints from fighters and seconds who come from out of state. We enforce the rules.
• We work with TDLR at lot. We get feedback from staff on medicals and what’s needed promptly. TDLR was very good about getting back to me to let me know what was going on with my fighters. They were really working with me and working toward the same goal.
• All my dealing with the staff of the legal dept. have been very good
• Ditto above ^ very valuable meeting! [TDLR is serious about the feedback and making changes quickly]
• I believe when it comes to all the official involved in combative sports that I have always been treated fairly. Even by the individuals that are being metaphorically thrown under the bus. I think the problem is the license holders in this field not being fully educated about the rules of their specific license in their area of combative sports. Therefore when they are denied they feel that rules are being made up on the spot. Then there is room for allegations of corruption. I propose that a license holder receive a rule book with their license they in the mail. This rulebook should cover most aspects of their license. Maybe even send out a newsletter, or email with updates because most licenses last a year or more. Ex. Contestant license should have all the requirements to receive a license. Rules of competition, weight classes and weigh in rules, # of corners, purse requirements, when can you pull out of competition, punishments, fines, where to file a complaint and etc. RUMORS STOP
• I can tell everyone from experience that the TDLR is serious about the feedback and making changes quickly. Speak now or forever hold your peace. Thank you TDLR!!!!
• TDLR has helped us save a show
• TDLR has never helped me in the past
• TDLR went above and beyond to help me get in front of him with Showtime. It was incredibly kind and awesome.
• no more Pro Am 3-min. rounds - should be 5-min.
• Pro Am should be allowed in Texas

What can TDLR do better?

• “Secret” rules are the problem
• 60 days out for scheduling a date is fair.
• 61.30 is being used as a form of punishment.
• 61.30 is too broad. What are the most common ways it’s being manipulated?
• 61.30 is used too broadly. What criteria are being used to define when it’s applied?
• A fighter was suspended indefinitely and I didn’t know about that. I asked how to get him reinstated and was told to not even try. He was told there was no due process for him. He was ex-communicated for life from Texas.
• Amateurs organization– you don’t have to be a 501.c3 to be an amateur? I was told that I had to be.
• Better communication to seconds. They don’t know the rules. Maybe give a copy of the rules that pertain to the seconds to them at the match.
• Can the state get a better deal for testing for many people?
• Dates aren’t approved until 45 days out. We need to be able to arrange shows further out than that.
• Decision overturned based on phone call from someone who was watching fight on TV. TDLR called and told them to change the ruling. (legacy fighting championship 11 5-11-12)
• Determination of round length is used as punishment.
• Dynamic abuse of power throughout the process. We have no recourse.
• Easier for us as promoters and the state to use the website.
• Every time I question TDLR staff, they use 61.30 against me and say that’s where the authority comes from
• Everything boils down to egos in TDLR.
• Experienced judges and referees aren’t being used. TDLR is unprofessional!)
• Get MMA.com website to automatically notify department of changes
• Hard to get in touch with people. Hard to get them to call back. Direct calls to combative sports compliance area
• Have the UFC ever been denied a 5 minute round request? They have people on their roster who shouldn’t be fighting 5 minute rounds.
• How do you decide who gets a 3 minute round and who gets a 5 minute round? What’s the rule?
• How long the medicals last changed from 1 year to 6 months but the change was never communicated and were not notified. EKG & EEG - $2500 for tests
• I pay for my second’s license at the show and have to pay for it again the next week. Same things with federal ids.
• I tried to schedule my 2014 dates but was told that I couldn’t schedule any dates after my expiration date on June 1. I wanted to pay to renew my license now and was told I couldn’t.
• I understand that pros have to get preference for dates, but long standing amateurs have to get some type of priority
• I was assigned a show and something came up and I couldn’t do it, but I knew that I would get punished if I didn’t do the show even if I found a replacement
• I was told how much I had to pay after the drug testing was done. I had to pay for it with no recourse and no input and no observation that the person was actually there.
• I was told that I would be suspended if I spoke up and asked questions
• I would like to be able to do ringside drug testing myself.
• I’m sick of being bullied.
• Inconsistency and poor paperwork in how deductions are handled. Need more attention to the details.
• It shouldn’t be a matter of trust or not. Rules are rules and they should be applied consistently.
• Judging still has problems. 2 of the 3 judges were older women and one of them had no UFC fight and no MMA experience. They’re making decisions that are affecting someone’s career and they need to know what they’re doing.
• Lack of communication of the processes and rules.
• More specificity in the rules or leave it up to the promoter.
• National high school wrestling program has a book of rules that you can refer to
• Need education on how drug testing was supposed to be done and more help to walk me through the process.
• Never been a good commission if one person makes all of the decisions. It takes a group of people.
• New drug testing rule – I asked for a list of banned substances and what you’re testing for and was told it didn’t exist.
• New medicals shouldn’t be required just because a fighter turns from amateur to pro
• New organizations are scheduling dates and canceling and the groups with seniority are being told we don’t get the dates we want.
• Personal feelings are brought into assignments.
• Promoters are supposed to determine how much referees are paid. The state licenses the refs and assigns them, but the promoter is in control of the money. The state is telling me what I have to pay the refs.
• Referee made a decision and the commission should back that decision.
• Referee who knows TDLR judged an event and he’s never been a judge before.
• Requirements should be specific and we should know what to expect. Things should be standardized.
• Rotation schedule needs to be communicated and posted on your website
• Rules and event procedures are not easily accessible and not written out.
• Rules applied as they are to benefit TDLR, not us
• Rules are ambiguous and interpreted differently at different times against different people
• Rules are not applied consistently, even when the fighters safety is at stake
• Rules are not articulated and applied inconsistently. We need to know what to expect.
• Rules are not written down, but we’re made to do what we’re told “because I said so”
• Rules are used to bully.
• Rules have to be applied consistently by TDLR. We just need to know what they are and we’ll follow them.
• Some of the rules are dated and don’t really pertain to MMA. They’re applied to MMA when it doesn’t make sense to do so. Bad decisions affect people’s record and their careers.
• Some of us have relationships with doctors who would do it for less or for free
• Standard length of training camp is 8 weeks, not 45 days. We’re handicapping the fighters by 2 weeks when we have to stick to 45 days.
• TDLR has canceled a fight because they’re mad at me.
• TDLR is interpreting the rules to benefit them.
• TDLR is making it impossible to work
• TDLR people are telling us what we have to do, even when I know that’s not what the rule says or there is no rule regarding this instance
• TDLR told him not to appeal the suspension. The fighter deserves his due process.
• TDLR was on our side and helped us get our dates.
• TDLR was upset because the fighters didn’t have their paperwork in order. TDLR left for lunch for 2 hours and everyone had to wait for him to get back when they’re dehydrated and starving waiting for the weigh in. HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE.
• Texas is the only one who does 3 minute rounds for pros. Its 5 minutes for the rest of the world.
• The application of the rules should not be determined by TDLR's mood.
• The current judges and refs don’t get assignments because of retaliation.
• The promoters the state doesn’t like are given the bad refs
• The refs who need experience are not given jobs so that they can build their experience
• The rest of the world doesn’t take us seriously because of 3 minute rounds
• The state punishes the promoters by assigning expensive refs and the promoter has to pay the fee. (travel expenses are what pushes up the money)
• There are favorites in the industry and people are not treated the same.
• There’s no rule where it says TDLR can determine round length. They refer back to 61.30 and say “we’re in charge.”
• Too much government speak in the rules
• Using authority as coercion
• Vagueness is used to bully others
• We don’t want to create an environment where we don’t trust each other.
• We need people with knowledge and experience in the field and TDLR is pushing those people away.
• We need to know in advance what pay we’re going to be expected to give the officials.
• We should get some type of seniority – new organizations get an automatic pass on scheduling dates
• We suggested not to use a questionable ref and give him a break and I was told that the state can assign whatever referee we want and you have to deal with it.
• We understand that calls that have to be made “in the moment,” it’s the after-the-fact decisions where we don’t have any impact or voice
• We’re afraid to say or do anything because the wrath is going to come down on us.
• We’re being told dates are being turned down because of staffing.
• We’re not encouraged to speak up and if you do, you’re going to get punished by TDLR.
• We’re ok with rules, we just need to know what they are and ensured that they’re going to be applied consistently.
• We’re told that all decisions are made for the safety of the fighter when we’re seeing that not applied consistently and the rules are unclear.
• We’ve made late substitutions before and it was allowed, but it’s not applied consistently
• What recourse does the industry have if the rules are not being interpreted consistently? Even if it’s after the match.
• What’s the rule on how many professional fights a fighter has to have before he can have 5 minute rounds?
• Who’s responsible for paying for the tests? The fighters are told that it’s them and the responsibility is often falling to promoters.
• Why does the UFC get to use their own judges? How do we get to do that?
• Worried for years about making this my livelihood because I couldn’t trust TDLR
• Change the name to Combative Sports Oversight Committee, along with medical issues they can review official evaluations and complaints.
• get weigh ins done within hour
• I m having issues surrounding that rule and interpreting it when it comes to 3 or 5 minute rounds in MMA. We are televised and having 3 minute rounds on national television for pro MMA is unacceptable. The rest of the country recognizes prop MMA as being 5 minute rounds. Whenever I challenge it there is no real explanation that makes sense. I would love to explain this further face to face along with the pro am idea to help come up with a solution.
• make all TDLR officials, competitors, and supervisors clearly define the rules and stick to them. Investigate corruption inside the TDLR. Have MMA judges and referee's have actual knowledge of Mixed Martial arts and boxing…i.e.: haven competed in the sport!
• TDLR needs to be more consistent in rules, guidelines, etc. Stop making up things as you go.
• The combative sports division make up practices as they go along, changing rules as they see fit, which has resulted in injury to participants e.g. allowing or not allowing knee supports adhoc. Accountability of senior staff needs review especially with regards to consequences being handed out for racist and discriminatory language and behavior . Having open events for people to share their opinions is great, however doing so in the day time results in a lower quantity of consumers to be present due to working restrictions, evening sessions would create greater accessibility. In
• The corruption at the top of the TDLR needs to stop. have clearly defined set of unified rules that are not bent or broken for certain people and strictly enforced for others. Have TDLR employees that actually service the public and not the other way around.
• This website and public meetings is right on track, you guys are taking the right steps, and after meeting with TDLR yesterday I firmly believe all reasonable issues will be resolved. Folks TDLR as a whole is in very capable hands!
• Today there are countless stories, and published articles of corruption, mistrust, and bullying by TDLR Combative Sports Personnel Executive Staff. Rules and directives are vague and arbitrarily enforced. The system in general is archaic and confusing. The executive staff is rude, offensive and discriminatory to everyone in the profession from promotions, to their own staff. They have been known to cuss and hang up on the public. In his own self evaluation Mr. XXX mentioned that he is working on his anger problem. Mr. XXX has also served 3 months probation for using raciest remarks, making anti-Semitic jokes, and sexist comments to staff. Although the day after his reprimand was issued he was complained on for yet another anti-Semitic joke. The Lack of standards and poor execution of provisions by TDLR has led to criticism that fighters have been put at risk.
• When the rules changed in Nevada it made it to where a few fighters with legitimate injuries are no longer able to use this medication to help us simply get back to a normal testosterone level. I was exposed to certain chemicals while in Iraq and because of this I have lost part of a lung as well as my body has trouble producing the correct amount of hormones. But this ban on TRT basically makes it so I can no longer compete in a sport i love very dearly. While I do believe it should be regulated because I know there are athletes that abuse the substance I simply ask that there be a way that those of us with injuries such as mine (as well as physical injuries that cause a critically low testosterone level) to be allowed to compete without discrimination because of who we are. Thank you for your time.

What changes would you make to TDLR if you were king or queen for a day?

• Assignment of officials has nothing to do with rotation or how good they are. They’re not good but they’re still given events.
• Attitude of the TDLR people
• Can do attitude in Oklahoma. Texas needs that.
• Change 72 hour requirement. There needs to be a deadline, but it should be fewer hours and it should apply to everybody. Use common sense.
• Control for nepotism at TDLR
• Don’t do deductions at all.
• Establish an evaluation system to use when assigning events.
• Go to Facebook pages where’s there’s lots of MMA traffic to encourage people to become judges. Reach out to the people. Push it through social media.
• Good ole boy system for assigning officials isn’t working. The promoter should have a say in which officials are used.
• Greater risk associated with smaller event. Have threshold for small vs large events.
• High school wresting uses online evaluation forms for the refs after each event.
• I didn’t know that we were going to be billed for drug testing ($603). I was told that I was supposed to get that money from the fighter. If he had to pay for his license and all of the other costs associated, plus the $603, he would end up owing me money. Maybe the state could pay for some of all of the cost, especially if the fighter is dirty.
• I was told there would be 2 random drug tests and the promoter might have to pay for it. I had no idea how much it was going to be.
• If the fighters have all the requirements, they should be allowed to fight. They may not meet them 72 hours before because they’re coming in from out of the country. They have to get their blood work done here.
• Inform people in the industry of changes
• Look at the way amateur promotions are allowed. Does 501c3 apply or do we just call ourselves nonprofit
• Louisiana is easy to work with, especially customer service.
• Maybe seconds need to have their license before the weigh in so that we can check to see if they’re already licensed to know if the fee needs to be collected for the state.
• More controlled environment for drug testing to help inspectors
• Need younger judges because MMA is a new sport.
• Nevada – the fighter had to pay the second license fees and they suspended the fighter until the fee was paid.
• Not enough room at weigh-ins to hold rule meetings. Make it easier for people to focus and pay attention.
• Not operated in a business friendly manner. Have to have rules and regs, but the businesses need to succeed or there is no industry.
• Officials are not given feedback on how they’re doing.
• Officials need to have CE
• People call me with questions about how to become a ref, but I don’t have time to teach them how to walk through the website.
• People in charge need to be accountable
• Post info on website about what it takes to become referees and judges. Develop straight forward, one page documents about what it takes.
• Pro-am card like Oklahoma and Louisiana would be better. Been specifically told that TDLR doesn’t want it.
• Proper training for all personnel (TDLR and officials)
• Put more information out instead of hoping people will find our website. Educate people on how to become a referee or judge.
• Recruit for new refs where there aren’t many, like the valley. Goal to increase valley referees by at least 2 more
• Review the process of requiring that the promoter pay one fee for all the license fees and then reduce the purse for the fighter to reflect the deductions
• Ring officials (some refs yes, but not judges) have not caught up to MMA changes.
• Rules meetings at weigh-ins – do them after the weigh-in or day of event to that fighters can eat and get hydrated before they have to set through the meeting
• Second fees can’t be in cash. That’s all they have. They don’t have checks.
• Set fee scale for the size of the event. More than just a general understanding. Maybe base it on the estimated revenue for the event.
• Some officials have set fees, but not for referees. They’re able to charge travel. Need a set fee.
• Systemic training for TDLR – new people have to be brought into the environment that we’re here to assist and we want the same things.
• TDLR badges are not issued consistently to all ring officials
• TDLR chooses to use leniency when it’s for the benefit of someone they like.
• TDLR needs to have clear, consistent policies and procedures and directives
• Texas should lead the way with combative sports, we shouldn’t be benchmarking against another state because we should be the best.
• The commissioner of Oklahoma called one of the fighter’s doctors to see if the blood work was done.
• The fees I pay the officials change. The state tells me what I have to pay the officials.
• The judges are boxing judges, not MMA. They don’t know MMA.
• There is no consistency in the travel the officials are charging me. Ranging from $200 - $700
• Use Facebook or other social media to get word out about how to become an official and what’s involved. Really educate them on what it’s about.
• We are discouraged from communicating with each other. I tried to create a communication forum for TDLR licensed officials and was told I couldn’t do it.
• We get criticized as officials for reserved seats at events, but somehow the seats get filled by people at TDLR.
• We need to have these meetings more often.
• We’re so far away from Austin. People know me and know that I stick to the rules and they call me as the go-to person for TDLR. I love what I do so I don’t mind answering those questions.
• We’re treated differently at an event where the bosses show up.
• Website were we could enter the information and everything is objective.
• Weigh-ins need to start on time. Need disciplinary action against a fighter for showing up late. Everybody needs to be on time (even state people).
• Why do I have to collect for the state fees?
• You trust me enough to ask my opinion on certain things, why don’t you ask me more questions?
• Develop at least a “suggested” pay scale for officials; this would take into event level A, B or C* Compile a list of current officials Determine the total amount of officials needed. If there is not an opening a license should not be issued. There needs to be a cap so that all officials get the needed experience. Interested applicants can be placed on a list and tiered according to experience. Assign new officials to a “mentor” official they should work side by side until the mentor official feels that the new official is capable of working on their own. Responsibility should be increased and evaluated why they are with the mentor, this includes judges. (this new official is a probationary and is unpaid) After the probationary official is released from above, they will be assigned Level C* events Evaluations should be done online by the Promoter, and Senior TDLR staff, and anyone else that the Commission sees fit. An official that gets low scores that seem credible, or
• allow tenured amateur organizations to book dates further out than 45 days. if the org has existed longer than 5 years with good record give them more leeway
• Currently when a fighter is KO'ed etc. he receives a suspension. Unfortunately most don't realize that this should pertain to training also not just fighting. I would like to see the suspension paperwork clearly reflect that there is to be NO contact during the suspension at all otherwise they would face further sanctions. Lets get on top of these head injuries before the courts make us.
• I think pro ams would create more successful promotions. I know there is a concern about deceiving the public so it could be a situation where a minimum amount of pro bouts are necessary otherwise it would have to be advertised as an pro am event with specifics. Currently we have a minimum of 7 pro bouts so even if we add 3 or 4 ama bouts its still an entire pro card
• Remove the head of the TDLR, and replace him with an elected official of the community with an upstanding record, and no taste for greed or corruption.
• This would make it more profitable for promoters, however its important to require a minimum number of pro fights so its not taken advantage of for instance 6 pro fights.
• Too many times in the past I have had teammates prepare for what was to be a 5 round fight to only be cut back to 3 rounds …mid fight!
• what would the tax payers of our state think if they knew the head of TDLR CSD has a son who referees, a son who makes twice as much per year as any other referee, who was once suspended for a year for whispering in an injured fighters ear that he was ahead on the card so he should stop. This same son owns the only insurance company in Texas that insures combative sports. However there is not one, NOT ONE, nepotism paper, or conflict of interest form on file. What would the public think if they knew the head of TDLR CS Division was retained after sustained allegations of racism, sexism, and bigotry?
• Within the Combative Sports Department, the regulation of kickboxing matches is TOTALLY outdated. There are MANY kick boxers in the state that have to take fights in Muay Thai but don't actually do Muay Thai, therefore perverting the sport. Muay Thai is the Art of the 8 Limbs and I respect and love the set up the TDLR has regarding that. Kickboxing needs to be similar to the Muay Thai regulations except elbows. No one wants to pay for a "Glories Sparring Match". Restructure the regulation on kickboxing and we can truly have great combative sports events.

Over the next five years, what major changes will affect the way you do business and the services we provide?

• $100 to use MMA website. Maybe TDLR could take over that function for a lower fee.
• 61.30 could also be used to help us, but I’d rather have consistent application of the rules
• 61.30 needs to be disambiguated
• Add promoter and ring official seats to the advisory board
• Be business friendly – help us comply with the rules
• Boxing comeback
• Boxing dates are being changed a lot because the fighters are dropping out.
• Boxing vs MMA – both do well here
• Collecting the fees on the iPad at weigh-ins.
• Combined events in the next 5 years (not safe for MMA)
• Customer service
• Have people with passion for the sports run those commissions.
• Here, there are more boxing events, but we can’t find a quality boxing promoter in the valley.
• I would love to be a part of an advisory committee or offering opinions
• If the state encourages new promoters, our business will grow
• Localize offices – regional TDLR offices or personnel
• Lot of event coordinating unlicensed activity.
• More boxing shows, but the MMA shows are bigger.
• More profitable – or profitable at all
• People think promoters with big shows make a lot of money. Public perception.
• Pro-Ams can be done immediately
• Promoters carry the risk of the event and they have to make money in order to have events. No promoters mean no events.
• Promoters have to make money. Help us keep going.
• Should be a cutoff or minimum for pro-ams
• TDLR should be there to help us. We’re afraid to call now.
• Two separate commissions: boxing and MMA. They are completely different sports.
• Unlicensed activity for promoters? One promoter is advertised, but he’s not the actual promoter. They’re just using the promoter’s license.
• Use common sense when applying the rules
• Immediately request an external audit, and specifically in the area of practices, policies, and governance. Contract a consultant to outline a 5 year plan. This plan should study and strategize the following: Identify rules that need clarification and submit for clarification by legal staff Codify these rules o Examples: o One the website FAQ How much are Referees paid? This is generally set by the promoter. Pay may be based on the size and location of the event. o Administrative Code RULE §61.30, Responsibilities and Authority of the Executive Director ... has complete authority over all phases of an event, including, but not limited to the ... to the forum, access to the technical zone, audit of ticket sales, payment of purses ... Evaluate current rules and see if updates are needed, for instance 3 min rounds for amateurs and 5 min rounds for pros. 4 fight minimum on the amateur level before pro license is issued. Evaluate the necessity of separating from TDLR and cr
• Combative sports are growing and growing fast. We need to embrace the rules and present our state as one with a sound and un-corrupt combat sports division, that is free from racism, greed, and favoritism!
• I think they should have a department dedicated to MMA with people that understand it.
• I would like to be on some kind of advisory board and be involved more. At some point I would like to be on the commission in some capacity
• MMA and boxing will only continue to bring large revenue to the state of Texas

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