A Breakdown of What the New Combative Sports Law Will Require

NEW YORK

The Assembly finally did their part, and we'll soon have a brand-spanking new Combative Sports Law on the books that will radically change the landscape here in New York. But even though the MMA Bill is readily available online, confusion still reigns as to what those changes will be (after all, who besides me likes reading dry legislative mumbojumbo? Answer: Probably no one.). So to help provide some clarity, I've put together a table of the impending requirements under the new law.


If you're curious what will be required of pro MMA promoters, simply go to that particular row and read across. Ditto for kickboxing promoters, regular martial arts event promoters, fighters... the list goes on.

It's worth noting that the table only provides info as laid out in the MMA Bill; the Athletic Commission will surely add to it. For example, the bill doesn't require referees to get physicals before events, but it's pretty standard for them to be required in other jurisdictions, so that's something that will likely be added.

Another thing worth noting is that, though amateur MMA, kickboxing and martial arts promoters don't appear to have any requirements to meet under the new law, it's safe to assume they'll have strict requirements under the third-party sanctioning organizations the Athletic Commission approves to oversee them.

	License from Athletic Commission	Insurance	Bond	Doctor at Event	Brain Scan	Physical	Taxes
Third-Party Sanctioning Orgs	yes	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
Pro MMA Promoters	yes	50/50/1mil	yes	yes	no	no	8.5%/3%
Gyms for Amateurs	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Gyms for Pros	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
Pro Fighters	yes	no	no	no	yes	yes	no
Amateur Fighters	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Cornermen	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
Amateur MMA Promoters	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Pro Kickboxing Promoters	yes	50/50/1mil	yes	yes	no	no	8.5%/3%
Amateur Kickboxing Promoters	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Pro Martial Arts Promoters	yes	50/50/1mil	yes	yes	no	no	8.5%/3%
Amateur Martial Arts Promoters	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Referees	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
Judges	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
Matchmakers	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
Timekeepers	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
Trainers	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
Managers	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no

Note: Pro MMA fighters/promoters must pay for brain scans and physicals.

Note: Pro competitor insurance coverage is $50K for accidents, $50K for death and $1 million for brain injury.