Combative Sports

Event promoters must follow TDLR COVID-19 protocols that were developed with input from the TDLR Combative Sports Advisory Board’s Medical, Health, and Safety Workgroup; ringside physicians; and other medical professionals. TDLR’s protocols include COVID-19 testing for all athletes, seconds and event support staff.

In addition, promoters must submit their own operational plan to TDLR and to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The operational plan must detail the promoter’s plans for daily COVID-19 screenings, providing protective equipment and staffing, as well as cleaning and disinfecting the event venue and athlete delegation housing.

When deciding whether to allow an event to proceed, TDLR will monitor factors including positive test rates and hospitalization rates in the area where the event is scheduled. If there’s a localized spike in cases, the agency may cancel an event any time up to the beginning of the bouts.

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. Kick boxing is a form of boxing in which blows are delivered with any part of the arm below the shoulder, including the hand, and any part of the leg below the hip including the foot. Shoot wrestling / pancration wrestling is a form of full contact martial arts in which opponents may, while standing, strike with the open hand, kick, wrestle, throw grapple and submit. For more information about combative sports, e-mail TDLR.

Event Schedule

All events are subject to change or cancellation and are subject to review of the current overall COVID-19 situation.

Boxing

11/28/20 - Force Train LLC, Houston
12/05/20 - TGB Promotions, Arlington
12/18/20 - El Tigre Promotions, Galveston

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

12/12/20 Fury Promotions, Humble

Combination Events

None at this time

Kickboxing

None at this time

News and Updates

The Dangers of Weight-Cutting

June 6, 2018

The dangers of weight-cutting are real and well documented. Losing pounds rapidly creates serious physical and health problems such as dehydration, decreased kidney function, heat illness, or stroke. Learn more about these dangers in the Popular Science article, “This is why cutting weight is so dangerous for professional fighters.”

Online Training for Contract Inspectors

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation now offers online training for Contract Inspectors who are an essential part of the Texas Combative Sports Team. If you are interested in an opportunity to work as an inspector at a boxing or mixed martial arts event, the department encourages you to watch the videos in this YouTube playlist and then contact the combative sports program .

Live Seminar for Medical Doctors

If you are a medical doctor licensed by the State of Texas interested in participating in TDLR’s Combative Sports program or are currently a ringside physician and want a refresher, you can watch videos of our live seminar in this YouTube playlist.