Judges

PURPOSE: This rule defines the duties and responsibilities for judges for professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional full-contact karate, professional mixed martial arts, amateur mixed martial arts, and amateur kickboxing. (1) There will be three (3) judges for each bout. A bout will be scored on a “ten- (10-) point must system.” The winner of the round is awarded ten (10) points and the loser of the round may be awarded nine (9) points or less, except for rare instances of an even round where each contestant may be awarded ten (10) points. Judges will judge mixed martial arts techniques, such as effective striking, effective grappling and control of the opponent, effective aggressiveness, and effective defense to determine a winner of the round. (2) The judges shall reach their decisions without conferring in any manner with any other official or person including the other judges of the panel. Each judge shall make out his/her scorecard in accordance with provisions of the rules governing professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate. At the end of the round, the score shall be totaled and signed or initialed by each judge. The referee working the bout may collect the scorecards after each round and hand them to the inspector. (3) Any erasures or changes on the scorecard must be approved and initialed by the judge and inspector. (4) Official scorecards from the office shall be used and retained in the custody of the inspector who will transmit them to the office for safekeeping. (5) The judges selected for each bout shall be at the sole discretion of the office and such determination may be final. The promoter is responsible for all compensation for the judges. The office sets the amount of compensation to be provided to the judges. (6) Before the office issues a judge’s license: (A) The applicant must: 1. Certify that s/he has read and understands Missouri laws and rules. Upon such certification the applicant is deemed to have full knowledge and understanding of said laws and rules; and 2. Have two (2) years of documented experience judging amateur boxing, professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, or professional full-contact karate matches. (B) The office may require: 1. The applicant take and pass a written test covering professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate; and 2. The applicant may be required to have a physical examination by a licensed physician to determine fitness to perform. (7) The office may deny an application for licensure as a judge if the applicant fails to meet the qualifications specified herein or fails to pass the written examination if such an examination is given by the office. AUTHORITY: section 317.006, RSMo Supp. 2018.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 404.080. Original rule filed April 30, 1982, effective Sept. 11, 1982. Rescinded and readopted: Filed March 2, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Amended: Filed July 25, 1994, effective Jan. 29, 1995. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 15, 2001, effective May 30, 2002. Moved to 20 CSR 2040-4.080, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed March 20, 2018, effective Sept. 30, 2018. Amended: Filed Jan. 25, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996, 2007, 2018.