Schedule a New Combative Sports Event
If you plan to televise a live event and charge admission, please see the Live Telecast Event Permit page.
Professional and amateur combative sports events in Texas must be approved in advance.
Submitting all documents in the time frames indicated below allows TDLR Combative Sports staff time to complete administrative duties, assign officials and inspectors, and to work on multiple events while maintaining consistency in the process.
No bouts or fighters will be approved unless all proper medical and administrative requirements have been completed and are in compliance with Department requirements.
Insurance Requirements
The promoter of an event or the amateur association must provide insurance and pay all deductibles for contestants, to cover medical, surgical and hospital care.
Insurance policies must provide a minimum limit of $50,000 for injuries and $100,000 for death for each contestant.
The insurance premium and deductibles cannot be deducted from the contestant's purse.
NOTE: The insurance binder must specify the number of maximum bouts covered by the insurance policy.
Contestants
Professional Contestants
All contestants must be licensed at least 72 hours prior to the start of an event.
You will be notified by e-mail or fax of contestant applications which are not in compliance with Department requirements.
Amateur Contestants
Amateur contestants must be a member of the amateur association for at least 30 days prior to competing in an event.
Amateur contestants must be examined by a licensed physician within a reasonable time before the event begins.
Event Information
At least 21 days before the event, promoters and amateur associations must provide TDLR with information on each the following:
- Proposed event dates
- Ticket prices
- Participants of the main event
The promoter or amateur association must obtain written department approval to promote the event before advertising or selling tickets.
You can obtain approval by sending a written request and all documentation to the addresses found in the contact information, listed below.
Advance Notice
No later than 10 calendar days before an event, the promoter or amateur association must submit to TDLR an Advance Notice Form.
The completed Advanced Notice Form must list the following:
- Full legal names, license numbers, date-of-birth, and contact information (addresses) for each contestant
- The Federal ID number of each contestant (if applicable)
- Number of rounds to be fought
- Weigh-in information
- A certificate of insurance showing proper coverage
- A copy of the current Fight Fax (Boxing) or fighters’ profile (MMA) showing their professional debut verification and previous record (if applicable)
All forms and documentation should be delivered to the addresses found in the contact information listed below.
Weigh In
You must schedule the weigh-in at a specific time and place approved by the TDLR Combative Sports staff. The weigh-in must be between the hours of 2:00 pm the day before the event and 9:30 am the day of the event.
No weigh-in will be conducted after 12:00 noon the day of the event.
Changes Before an Event
If there are any changes to the fight card, the event time, or the event location before the scheduled weigh-in, you must provide written notice to TDLR.
Notices announcing changes or substitutions in the card must also be conspicuously posted at the box office and announced from the ring before the opening bout.
Requirements at the Event
Promoters should read and understand the requirements at combative sports events and the full Section 61.40 of the combative sports rules to understand their responsibilities at events.
After the Event
No later than 3 business days after an event, you must submit payment of taxes and a post-event report.
You can obtain approval for events by sending your request to TDLR.
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By Fax:
(512) 463-1087
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By Mail:
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Combative Sports Program
PO Box 12157
Austin, TX 78711
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By Hand Delivery:
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Combative Sports Program
920 Colorado St.
Austin, TX 78701
If you need additional assistance, please call Greg Alvarez at (512) 659-5034.
