Combative Sports
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View upcoming events on the event schedule page.
Combative Sports is a full contact competition between two contestants.
The primary sport in this program is boxing. Other sports regulated by this program are kick boxing, shoot wrestling / fighting, pancration wrestling / fighting, mixed martial arts contests or any form of competition in which a blow is struck which may reasonably be expected to inflict injury.
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News and Updates
Proposed Rule Changes
October 15, 2021
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation proposes amendments to existing rules at 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 61, §§61.10, 61.20, 61.23, 61.40, 61.41, 61.43, 61.47, and 61.80, regarding the Combative Sports program. The proposed rules implement the provisions of House Bill (HB) 1560, 87th Regular Session (2021) that removed licensure requirements for persons acting as combative sports seconds, matchmakers, and event coordinators.
The proposed rules were published in the October 8, 2021, issue of the Texas Register (46 TexReg 6649). The Department will accept comments on the proposal until November 8, 2021.
The Department encourages anyone interested in the Combative Sports Program to review the rule proposal online. Comments may be submitted electronically on the Department’s website.
Deregulation of Combative Sports Event Coordinators, Matchmakers, and Seconds
July 23, 2021
Effective September 1, 2021, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) will no longer license Combative Sports Event Coordinators, Matchmakers, or Seconds.
Texas House Bill 1560, passed during the 87th Regular Legislative Session (2021), removed the license requirement for these functions. All existing Event Coordinator, Matchmaker, and Second licenses expired on September 1, 2021. TDLR will no longer accept new or renewal applications for these license types.
Although a license is no longer required for Combative Sports Seconds, anyone serving as a Second must still meet the requirements listed in 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 61.
TDLR Discontinues COVID-19 Protocols for Combative Sports Events
July 1, 2021
TDLR has discontinued COVID-19 protocols for Combative Sports events in Texas until further notice, as of July 1, 2021.
Advisory Board Meetings
Upcoming Meeting - December 15, 2021
The next Combative Sports Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. The meeting will be held via videoconference and the public will be able to view the meeting on TDLR’s YouTube page. When the agenda and staff reports are available, they will be posted online.
Previous Meeting - September 21, 2021
The Combative Sports Advisory Board met September 21, 2021 via videoconference. The agenda and staff reports are available online. The meeting was archived and is available on TDLR’s YouTube channel.