Here is some info from the State Athletic Commission that was emailed to me. I have no idea how many people this was emailed to, so you may have already received the info, but it has a ton of details, along with how to obtain a license to fight. Here is the email:
The State Athletic Commission is pleased to announce that it has adopted a set of emergency regulations. What this means is that people may now begin submitting applications for the various required licenses. All of the license applications are now available on the Commission’s brand new website. Some parts of the site is still under construction. The regulations will now go through a public comment period which will include a full public hearing at which individuals who wish to be heard on any provision of the new regulations may have their voices heard. Everything is on the table for discussion. Notice of the hearing will be provided. The emergency regulations are available for review on the website by clicking the ”Laws and Regulations” button or by clicking here.
Please take a moment to review this entire memo for further information relative to licensing issues.
The Commission is fortunate to have two highly knowledgeable and conscientious individuals working along side. The director of the Commission is Guy Licciardi and the administrator is Ronnie Drimer. Moving forward, efforts should be made to direct all inquiries to either of them by emailing: guy.licciardi@state.ma.us or ronnie.drimer@state.ma.us. They will either offer assistance or forward the matter on to the Commission for review.
The new website, which is still being developed, is intended to provide the public access to all information relative to the State Athletic Commission. Whether it’s licensing, upcoming events, or other useful information, this will be the destination we hope you’ll check first. The web address is: www.mass.gov/dps/sac.
We have incorporated space on the site to display video for purposes of assisting in the promotion of events in Massachusetts. If you would like to have a video displayed in this space, please email Guy or Ronnie.
The license applications on the site are broken up into three main categories: 1) boxing, 2) MMA, and 3) unarmed combat (except boxing and MMA). Under the “Applications for Participant License” button on the site, you’ll find the individual applications (e.g.- promoter, fighter, referee, etc.) broken up into these categories. Each application contains a checklist of items that must accompany it. Each item on the list must be included with the application upon submission. Incomplete applications will be returned and not reviewed by the Commission.
In addition to having all participants licensed, the event itself must be licensed too. The event license application is located under the ”Application for an Event License” button. No license will be issued, and no date “reserved” until a completed application is received and approved by the Commission. There is no “one event per night” restriction. Instead, more than one event may be conducted as long as there is sufficient Commission staff available to oversee the show.
Once an event license is issued, a fight card must be submitted to the Commission for review and approval at least 10 days prior to the event. Certainly, the sooner the card is submitted, the better. The card must be submitted on the proper form. Submissions in other formats will not be accepted. The fight card form is located under the ”Proposed Fight Card & Pro Debut in MA Form” button on the site.
All applications for licensure as a professional fighter must include all of the necessary medical records. The records are outlined on the application which can be downloaded by clicking on the ”Application For Participant License” button. Presently, no MRI, CT scan, or other neurological exam is required. Such records will be only be required in order to renew a fighter license upon its expiration. The Commission does, however, have the authority to require such an exam on any individual it deems necessary.
Further, all fighters must submit a pro debut in MA form. This form, which can be downloaded by clicking on the ”Proposed Fight Card & Pro Debut in MA Form” button, requires two individuals with personal knowledge of the fighter to attest to the fact that they are qualified to engage in a professional fight. One person signing off must be the fighter’s trainer. Since nobody has yet fought professionally in Massachusetts under a license issued by the Commission, the form will be required for all fighters.
Kevin the Ref
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 8:32 AM:
Hats off to the commission! I know there is still an issue or two which need to be clarified/adressed, but let’s take a step back for one moment. I am one of those citizens who can be extremely critical of government and suspicious to the point that I’ve considered making a tin foil hat to protect myself. In all seriousness, however, in just 2 weeks, the MSAC was formed, sworn in, got to work, and have a working document and new website in place to sanction MMA ready to go. For a commission, in MA no doubt, which was sworn in on March 1st, I strongly doubted that there was any chance of seeing a fully sanctioned show within months, nevermind just 25 days later. Now it looks like that is going to be a reality with the XCFL. Please remember also, these commissioners are VOLUNTEERS. They have been very open about saying that things can change if they are not right. Some of the issues like the “double weigh-in” were passed in order to move on to get through the endless pages of regulations. Yes, this has been quite a roller coaster and I’m sure that there will always be drama because that’s life, but today we have a commission, we have shows booked, and the big shows are finally coming.
Kevin the ref
om
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 9:39 AM:
whenever you get the state involved in ANYTHING you are in for nightmares…and yes kevin you should where a tin foil hat if you plan on dealing with this commision
Reep
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 11:08 AM:
any ruling on amateur fights yet!!!!!
gary-3rd man in-eblan
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 12:06 PM:
Having been an observer as well as a resource to this process I must agree that to have a State regulatory agency move with such speed is unheard of. Remember this is not a private company. These commissioners are laying the foundation for years to come. The MMA community in this State is undoubtedly very professional. It has been since 2000 which is when professional MMA events began being regulated.
When all the dust settles there will be individuals that don’t agree with 100% of the rules enacted but the bottom line is #1 fighter safety, #2 a continued growth of the sport we all love and continue to teach, train, promote, or otherwise support.
As has been stated already and is worth re-enforcing if you disagree with any particular rule or regulation, in a respectful manner let the commission know. This can be done by email, or by attending any of the public meetings that have been held and are continuing to be held.
Commissioner’s Grossman, Fitzgerald, Litchfield, Esposito, and Adams are all working to reach common ground with fighter safety at the forefront. If you disagree that strongly I urge you to use the mechanisms set up and you may be surprised at the results.
Gary-3rd man in- Eblan
Mark Daniels
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 4:50 PM:
The double weigh-ins are up to each fighter – http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/inside_the_octagon/
Kevin the Ref
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 5:42 PM:
Great meeting today! While I was there we confirmed that there will be a referee/judge certification class on Tuesday night March 23 at the Department of Public Safety. This class will be a one time only certification for those who are well experienced in either MMA judging or refereeing. To qualify for the referee cert. you must have a minumum of 50 bouts refereed with at least 10 of those coming within the last 12 months. To qualify for the judge cert. you must have at least 100 matches judges with 30 of those having come within the last 12 months. More details will be posted on Monday on the M.A.C. website.
I was told that , after I left the meeting, the commission altered the “double weigh in” rule to allow for the rule to not be in effect should both fighters agree and sign off on it. I really applaud this decision because it allows the issue to be explored, but does not force anyone to change their preparations for upcoming fights last minute.
Gotta get to GFL!!
Kevin the ref
MMA.TEAM
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 7:20 PM:
Questions for Kevin the ref or anybody with information,
I have gone on Mass.gov and looked at all of the licensing for fighters.
Is there a time frame for when the MMA licensing goes
into effect?
My trainer focuses only on training. He is not up with the new licensure rules. He has fighters fighting on April 3rd. With this next event being short notice, will everyone involved need to be licensed? Will the fighters, cornermen, and trainers need a license?
Does the trainer who also works the corner need a license for both? Or is just a trainer’s license enough?
Any help would be appreciated.
gary-3rd man in-eblan
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 10:21 PM:
Rick,
Curious why my post dated 3/ 13 was edited/removed? I made efforts to keep it clean and respectful. Aren’t them the rules?
GE
gary-3rd man in-eblan
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 10:22 PM:
Disregard.
GE
Rick
on Mar 13th, 2010
@ 11:06 PM:
Gary, the way it works is if you haven’t posted under that screen name before, it holds the comments until I approve the account. You’re posts should all show immediately now.
Bill Mahoney
on Mar 14th, 2010
@ 9:35 PM:
This is all great to hear.Seems they’re doing a good job.
gary-3rd man in-eblan
on Mar 15th, 2010
@ 6:08 PM:
Rick,
Thanks for the clarification but what I really need is my 15 year old to teach me how to use this !@#$%^&* computer.
GE
Nelson
on Apr 16th, 2010
@ 12:59 PM:
So anyone have a list of total stuff needed….seriously everday I check this its one more thing. I have just sent in my papers with everything I thought was needed but now I need to send in a Pro debut paper wtf….Can we hear from someone who has got there fighter license and what they passed in to get it.