Kan. Admin. Regs. § 128-6-8 - Professional bare-knuckle fighting

Each professional bare-knuckle fighting (BKF) contest, also known as a professional bare-knuckle boxing contest, shall be conducted in accordance with this regulation.

(a) Each bout of professional BKF shall consist of at least four rounds but no more than 12 rounds. Each round shall be no more than two minutes in length, with a one-minute rest period between rounds.

(b) No professional BKF bout shall be advertised or promoted as a championship bout unless the commission specifically approves the bout as a championship bout.

(c) A BKF contestant shall not participate in a boxing, BKF, kickboxing, karate, or mixed martial arts bout in Kansas for at least seven days following a previous bout in Kansas or in any other jurisdiction.

(d) A BKF contestant whose license is currently suspended or has been revoked by the commission or any other athletic commission, domestic or foreign, shall not participate in any bout in Kansas until the suspension is lifted or until the license is reinstated.

(e) If a bout is deemed by the commission to be a mismatch that could expose one or both contestants to serious injury based on the record, experience, skill, or condition of each of the contestants, the bout shall be disapproved and cancelled by the commission.

(f) The schedule of weight classifications shall be as follows:

Classification	Weight
(1) Atomweight	over 105 and through 115 pounds
(2) Strawweight	over 115 and through 125 pounds
(3) Flyweight	over 125 and through 135 pounds
(4) Bantamweight	over 135 and through 145 pounds
(5) Featherweight	over 145 and through 155 pounds
(6) Lightweight	over 155 and through 165 pounds
(7) Welterweight (8) Middleweight	over 165 and through 175 pounds over 175 and through 185 pounds
(9) Light heavyweight	over 185 and through 200 pounds
(10) Cruiserweight	over 200 and through 225 pounds
(11) Heavyweight	over 225 and through 265 pounds
(12) Super heavyweight	over 265 pounds

(g) Each contestant shall be weighed by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee within 48 hours before the contest. During the weigh-in, each male contestant shall have only his body on the scale, without any attire or equipment, but any female contestant may wear shorts and a top. If a contestant's weight does not fall within the range for the weight classification of the contested weight in which the contestant is scheduled to compete, the contestant shall be reweighed within two hours. If the contestant's weight still does not fall within the range for that weight category, the contestant may be disqualified by the commissioner for the safety of both contestants.

(h) Any contestant may be required by the commission to be reweighed one additional time if doubt concerning the contestant's actual weight exists.

(i) For each contestant whose weight exceeds the maximum amount, one or more of the following may be required as determined by the commission:

(1) The contestant shall be allowed to lose up to two pounds of the contestant's existing weight.

(2) The contestant shall forfeit a portion of the purse.

(3) The contestant shall forfeit the contest.

(j) Each subsequent weigh-in shall be conducted at the venue of the event before the commencement of the event, as directed by the commission. Any contestant or the contestant's designee may be present to witness the weigh-in of the opponent.

(k) Each contestant shall fight only opponents who are in the contestant's weight classification. A bout between two contestants in different weight classifications may be approved by the commission if the difference between the weights of the two contestants does not exceed nine pounds, except for heavyweights and super heavyweights.

(l) After the time of the weigh-in, weight loss in excess of two pounds of the weight that the contestant had at the weigh-in shall not be permitted and shall not occur later than one hour after the contestant's initial weigh-in.

(m) Contestants scheduled to compete against one another may mutually agree to waive the requirements of subsection (i). This agreement shall be evidenced by a provision in the respective bout agreement and initialed by the contestants. The provision shall also provide notice to the contestants that there will be no restriction as to the amount of weight that the opponent may put on after the initial weigh-in and before the scheduled match.

(n) A one-pound allowance in the weight agreed upon in the bout agreement may be allowed by the commission. The one-pound allowance shall still be within the weight limits specified in subsection (f). No allowance shall be made for a championship bout.

(o) A contestant who is required to appear at the specified time and place to be examined and weighed shall not leave the designated area without permission of the commission before the weigh-in or the physical examination.

(p) For each failure to make weight as specified in this regulation, the contestant may be subject to discipline or imposition of a civil penalty.

(q) If a contestant is unable due to illness to take part in a contest or exhibition in which the contestant has agreed to fight, the contestant shall immediately report the fact to the commission and, if requested by the commission, shall submit to an examination by a physician. The fee for the physician's examination shall be paid by the promoter if an examination is requested. Otherwise, the fee shall be paid by the contestant.

(r) The weight of each contestant or the classification in which each contestant will compete, or both, shall be announced at ringside.

(s) Each contestant's equipment shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The contestant's hands may be wrapped with gauze and tape that end no closer than 1 V4 inch from the contestant's knuckles. The wrap shall include the wrist and may extend up to three inches past the junction of the wrist bone.

(A) Gauze may be applied to the wrist, palm of the hand, back of the hand, and thumb. The length of gauze used shall not exceed 15 feet per hand.

(B) Tape may be applied to the wrist, palm of the hand, back of the hand, and thumb. The tape shall not be greater than one inch in width and shall not exceed 10 feet in length per hand.

(2) Each bandage of the contestant shall be applied in the presence of both an inspector and the other contestant.

(3) Each hand wrapping placed on a contestant shall be examined and approved by an inspector. Each approved hand wrap shall be initialed by the inspector who examined it. The opponent may be present.

(4) Either contestant may witness the bandaging and hand wrapping of the other contestant. A contestant may waive witnessing the bandaging or hand wrapping of the opponent's hands.

(5) Each contestant shall wear BKF-appropriate attire and protective devices, including a dental appliance or mouthpiece that has been individually fitted to the contestant and approved by the commissioner. Each male contestant shall wear a protective cup. Each contestant shall wear an abdominal protector that protects the contestant against injury from a foul blow. The abdominal protector shall not cover or extend above the umbilicus. Each female contestant shall wear a protective pelvic girdle and either a plastic breast protector or a sport bra.

(6) The belt of the shorts shall not extend above the waistline. Shorts shall be without pockets or openings and shall be subject to approval by the chief inspectors.

(7) Contestants shall not use any cosmetics when competing in the contest or exhibition.

(8) The inspector shall determine whether head or facial hair presents any hazard to the safety of a contestant or contestant's opponent or will interfere with the supervision of the contest or exhibition. A contestant shall not compete in the contest or exhibition unless the circumstances creating the hazard or potential interference are corrected to the satisfaction of the inspector.

(9) A contestant shall not wear any jewelry or any piercing accessories when competing in the contest or exhibition.

(10) The contestants' fingernails and thumbnails shall not extend past the tip of the fingers and thumbs.

(11) Only Vaseline® or a similar petroleum-based product may be lightly applied to the face, arms, or any other exposed part of a contestant's body.

(t) Before starting a bout, the referee shall ascertain from each contestant the name of the contestant's chief second. Before each bout, the referee shall call together both contestants and their chief seconds for final instructions.

(u) No person other than the contestants and the referee shall enter the ring during a bout. A second or manager shall not stand or engage in any distracting actions while the bout is in progress. For each contestant's seconds and manager, a combined total of two warnings for violating any requirement of this subsection shall result in the removal of the seconds and manager from the ringside area, and any licensee may be subject to disciplinary action or civil penalty.

(v) Each preliminary contestant shall be ready to enter the ring immediately after the end of the preceding bout. Any contestant who is not ready to immediately proceed when called and, as a result, causes a delay may be subject to disciplinary action or civil penalty.

(w) Before the referee requests the physician to aid or examine a contestant, the referee shall direct the timekeeper to stop the clock until otherwise directed by the referee.

(x) All serious cuts or injuries to either contestant shall be treated by the physician. The physician shall determine whether to continue the bout as follows:

(1) The physician may enter the ring if requested by the referee to examine an injury to a contestant.

(2) If serious cuts or injuries to either contestant occur, the referee shall summon the physician, who shall aid the contestant and decide if the bout will be stopped. The final authority to determine whether to continue the bout shall rest with the physician.

(3) If the physician determines that a contestant who is cut or injured by legal blows cannot continue, the referee shall announce that the cut or injured contestant loses by a technical knockout.

(4) The referee may request that the attending physician examine a contestant during the bout. The physician may order the referee to stop the bout. The referee shall then render the appropriate decision regarding the outcome of the bout in accordance with K.A.R. 128-4-7.

(5) Except at the request of the physician, no manager or second shall be permitted to aid a stricken contestant.

(y) If a contestant loses a dental appliance or mouthpiece during a round, the referee may call a time-out. If the referee calls a time-out for this reason, the referee shall direct the contestant's second to replace the dental appliance or mouthpiece.

(z) Before a contestant may resume competing after having been knocked down or having fallen or slipped to the floor of the ring, the referee shall wipe the hands of the contestant with a damp towel or the referee's shirt.

(aa) A contestant shall be deemed to be down when either of the following occurs:

(1) Any part of the contestant's body other than the feet is on the floor.

(2) The contestant is hanging over the ropes without the ability to protect that contestant, and the contestant cannot fall to the floor.

(bb) When a contestant is knocked down, the referee shall order the opponent to retire to the farthest neutral corner of the ring by pointing to the corner and shall immediately begin the count over the downed contestant. The referee shall audibly announce the passing of the seconds and accompany the count with motions of the referee's arm, with the downward motion indicating the end of each second.

(cc) The timekeeper, by signaling, shall give the referee the correct one-second interval for the referee's count. The referee's count shall be the official count. Once the referee picks up the count from the timekeeper, the timekeeper shall cease counting. No contestant who is knocked down may be allowed to resume competing until the referee has finished counting to 10. The contestant may take the count either on the floor or standing.

(dd) If the opponent fails to stay in the farthest corner, the referee shall cease counting until the contestants have returned to their corners. The referee shall then resume the count from the point at which the count was interrupted. If the contestant who is down arises before the count of 10, the referee may step between the contestants long enough to assure the referee that the contestant who has just arisen is in a condition to continue. If so assured, the referee shall, without loss of time, order both contestants to continue the contest or exhibition. During the intervention by the referee, the striking of a blow by either contestant may be ruled a foul.

(ee) When a contestant is knocked out, the referee shall perform a full 10-second count unless, in the judgment of the referee, the safety of the contestant would be jeopardized by such a count. If the contestant who is knocked down is still down when the referee calls a count of 10, the referee shall wave both arms to indicate that the downed contestant has been knocked out.

(ff) If both contestants go down at the same time, the count shall continue as long as one contestant is still down. If both contestants remain down until the count of 10, the contest or exhibition shall be stopped and the decision shall be a technical draw.

(gg) If a contestant is down and the referee is in the process of counting at the end of a round, the bell indicating the end of a round shall not be sounded, but the bell shall be sounded as soon as the downed contestant stands up.

(hh) When a contestant has been knocked down before the normal termination of a round and the round is terminated before the contestant has arisen from the floor of the ring, the referee's count shall continue. If the contestant who is down fails to arise before the count of 10, the contestant shall be considered to have lost the contest or exhibition by a knockout in the round that just concluded.

(ii) If a legal blow struck in the final seconds of a round causes a contestant to go down after the bell has sounded, that knockdown shall be regarded as having occurred during the round just ended and the appropriate count shall continue.

(jj) If a knockdown occurs before the normal termination of a round and the downed contestant stands up before the count of 10 is reached and then falls down immediately without being struck, the referee shall resume the count from the point at which the count was left off.

(kk) Any contest or exhibition may be adjudged a technical knockout to the credit of the winner if the contest or exhibition is terminated because a contestant meets any of the following conditions:

(1) Is unable to continue;

(2) is not honestly competing;

(3) is injured; or

(4) is disqualified.

(ll) Each contest or exhibition that is won by other than a full count of 10 or the scoring of the judges shall be adjudged a technical knockout to the credit of the winner.

(mm) A referee may count a contestant out if the contestant is on the floor or being held up by the ropes.

(nn) Each contestant who has been knocked out shall be kept lying down until the contestant has recovered. If a contestant is knocked out, only the referee and the physician may touch the contestant. The referee shall remove the injured contestant's mouthpiece and stay with the contestant until the physician enters the ring, personally attends to the contestant, and issues any necessary instructions to the contestant's second.

(oo) Each of the following tactics or actions shall be an intentional foul:

(1) Hitting an opponent below the belt;

(2) hitting an opponent who is down or is getting up after being down;

(3) holding an opponent with one hand and hitting the opponent with the other hand;

(4) holding an opponent or deliberately maintaining a clinch;

(5) wrestling or kicking an opponent;

(6) striking an opponent who is helpless as the result of blows but is supported by the ropes and does not fall;

(7) butting an opponent with the head, shoulder, knee, or elbow;

(8) hitting an opponent with the back of the hand, with the butt of the hand, with the wrist or the elbow, or with pivot blows or spinning back fists;

(9) going down without being hit;

(10) striking an opponent's body over the kidneys;

(11) hitting an opponent on the back of the head or neck;

(12) gouging an opponent's eye;

(13) using abusive language in the ring;

(14) hitting during a break, which is signaled by the referee's command or physical act to separate two contestants;

(15) hitting an opponent after the bell has sounded, ending the round;

(16) using the ropes to gain an advantage over an opponent;

(17) pushing an opponent around the ring or into the ropes;

(18) showing timidity, including intentionally spitting out the mouthpiece;

(19) biting an opponent;

(20) putting a finger into any orifice of an opponent or into any cut or laceration on an opponent;

(21) pulling an opponent's hair;

(22) manipulating an opponent's fingers; and

(23) engaging in any other action not described in this subsection that is deemed an intentional foul by the referee on the basis that the action poses a danger to the safety of either contestant, impedes fair and competitive play, or is unsportsmanlike.

(pp)

(1) If a contestant fouls the opponent during a contest or exhibition or commits any other infraction, the referee may penalize the contestant by deducting points from contestant's score, whether or not the foul or infraction was intentional. The referee may determine the number of points to be deducted in each instance and shall base the determination on the severity of the foul or infraction and its effect upon the opponent.

(2) If the referee determines that it is necessary to deduct one or more points because of a foul or infraction, the referee shall warn the offender of the penalty to be assessed.

(3) The referee shall, as soon as is practical after the foul, notify the judges and both contestants of the number of points, if any, to be deducted from the score of the offender.

(4) Each point to be deducted for any foul or infraction shall be deducted in the round in which the foul or infraction occurred. These points shall not be deducted from the score in any subsequent round.

(qq) A contestant shall not be declared the winner of a contest or exhibition on the basis of that contestant's claim that the opponent committed a foul by hitting the contestant below the belt. If a contestant falls to the floor of the ring or otherwise indicates that the contestant is unwilling to continue because of an overruled claim of a low blow, the contest or exhibition shall be declared to be a technical knockout in favor of the contestant who is willing to continue.

(rr) Any contestant guilty of a foul in a contest or exhibition may be disqualified by the referee, and the contestant's purse may be withheld by the commission. Disposition of the purse and the penalty to be imposed upon the contestant shall be determined by the commission.

(ss) If the referee determines that a contest or exhibition shall not continue because of an injury caused by an intentional foul, the contestant who committed the intentional foul shall lose by disqualification.

(tt) If the referee determines that a contest or exhibition may continue despite an injury caused by an intentional foul, the contestant who committed the intentional foul shall lose by disqualification.

(uu) If an injury caused by an intentional foul results in the contest or exhibition being stopped in a later round, one of the following shall apply:

(1) The injured contestant shall win by technical decision if that individual is ahead on the scorecards.

(2) The contest or exhibition shall be declared a technical draw if the injured contestant is behind or even on the scorecards.

(vv) If a contestant is injured while attempting to foul the contestant's opponent, the referee shall not take any action in the contestant's favor and the injury shall be treated the same as an injury produced by a fair blow.

(ww) If a contest or exhibition is stopped because of an accidental foul, the referee shall determine whether the contestant who has been fouled can continue. If the contestant's chance of winning has not been seriously jeopardized as a result of a foul and if the foul did not involve a concussive impact to the head of the contestant who was fouled, the referee may order the contest or exhibition to be continued after a reasonable interval. Before the contest or exhibition resumes, the referee shall inform the commission of the referee's determination that the foul was accidental.

(xx) If the referee determines that a contest or exhibition shall not continue because of an injury suffered as a result of an accidental foul, the contest or exhibition shall be declared a no-contest decision if the foul occurs during either of the following:

(1) The first three rounds of a contest or exhibition that is scheduled for six rounds or less; or

(2) the first four rounds of a contest or exhibition that is scheduled for more than six rounds.

(yy) The outcome of a contest or exhibition shall be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the round during which the referee stops the contest or exhibition if an accidental foul renders a contestant unable to continue the contest or exhibition after either of the following:

(1) The completed third round of a contest or exhibition that is scheduled for six rounds or less; or

(2) the completed fourth round of a contest or exhibition that is scheduled for more than six rounds.

(zz) If an injury inflicted by an accidental foul later becomes aggravated by fair blows and the referee orders the contest or exhibition stopped because of the injury, the outcome shall be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the round during which the referee stops the contest or exhibition.

(aaa) A contestant shall not leave the ring or, if the contest or exhibition is being held in a fenced area, the fenced area, during any period of rest that follows each round. If any contestant fails or refuses to resume competing when the bell sounds signaling the commencement of the next round, the referee shall award a decision of technical knockout to the contestant's opponent at the round that has last been finished. However, a determination of whether the circumstances warrant reversal of the referee's decision, disciplinary action, or civil penalty may be made later by the commission.

(bbb) If a contestant has been knocked or has fallen through the ropes and over the edge of the ring platform during a contest or exhibition, both of the following shall apply:

(1) The contestant may be helped back by anyone except the contestant's seconds or manager. The referee shall stop the clock, assess the contestant's condition, and resume time once the contestant is able to safely reenter the ring.

(2) The contestant shall be given 20 seconds to return to the ring.

(ccc) For a contestant who has been knocked or has fallen on the ring platform outside the ropes but not over the edge of the ring platform, both of the following shall apply:

(1) The contestant shall not be helped back by anyone, including the contestant's second and manager. The referee may stop the clock and assess the situation until the contestant is able to return to the ring.

(2) The contestant shall be given 10 seconds to regain the contestant's feet and get back into the ring.

(ddd) If the second or manager of a contestant who has been knocked down or has fallen helps the contestant back into the ring, this help may be cause for disqualification.

(eee) If one contestant has fallen through the ropes, the other contestant shall retire to the farthest corner and stay there until ordered by the referee to continue the contest or exhibition.

(fff) Any contestant who deliberately wrestles or throws an opponent from the ring or who hits an opponent when the opponent is partly out of the ring and is prevented by the ropes from assuming a position of defense may be penalized.

(ggg) At the termination of each contest or exhibition, the announcer shall announce the winner and the referee shall raise the hand of the winner.

(hhh) A decision rendered at the end of any contest or exhibition shall not be changed by the commission, unless one of the following occurs:

(1) The commission determines that there was collusion affecting the result of the contest or exhibition.

(2) The compilation of the scorecards of the judges discloses an error showing that the decision was given to the wrong contestant.

(3) The referee has rendered an incorrect decision as the result of an error in interpreting a provision of this regulation.

(iii) Each judge of a BKF contest shall score the contest and determine the winner through the use of the ten-point must system as follows:

(1) The better contestant of each round shall receive 10 points and the opponent proportionately less.

(2) If the round is even, each contestant shall receive 10 points.

(3) No fraction of a point may be given.

(4) Points for each round shall be awarded immediately after the end of the round.

(jjj)

(1) After the end of the BKF contest or exhibition, the announcer shall pick up the scores of the judges from the commission's desk. The majority opinion shall be conclusive. If there is no majority opinion, the decision shall be a draw.

(2) When the inspector has checked the scores, the inspector shall inform the announcer of the decision, and the announcer shall inform the audience of the decision over the speaker system.

(3) Incomplete rounds shall be scored by the judges. If the referee penalizes either contestant in an incomplete round, the appropriate points shall be deducted.

Notes

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 128-6-8

Authorized by K.S.A. 74-50,187, 74-50,193, and 74-50,197; implementing K.S.A. 74-50,186, 74-50,187, and 74-50,197; adopted by Kansas Register Volume 38, No. 41; effective 10/25/2019.