Attire and Equipment

PURPOSE: This rule establishes minimum guidelines for the hygiene, attire, and equipment authorized for professional mixed martial arts contestants. (1) Physical Appearance. All contestants in a mixed martial arts bout or contest shall present a clean and tidy appearance and shall comply with the following: (A) Fingernails and toenails shall be sufficiently trimmed to avoid the risk of cutting or scratching an opponent; (B) Hair shall be trimmed or tied back so that the hair does not interfere with the vision of the contestant or cover the contestant’s eyes. The office’s representative determines whether a contestant’s head and facial hair presents any safety hazard to the contestant or his/her opponent or would interfere with the supervision and conduct of the bout; and (C) No substance other than petroleum jelly and/or a similar petroleum based product may be allowed on the face, arms, or any part of the body. Use of excessive petroleum jelly and/or similar petroleum based products is prohibited. (2) Attire and Equipment. All contestants shall comply with the following: (A) Contestants shall wear athletic shorts that do not extend below the knee, such as, mixed martial arts shorts, grappling/fighting shorts, boxing shorts or kickboxing shorts, as specified in the bout agreement; (B) No shirts or Gis may be worn by a contestant during a bout or contest, provided that female contestants shall wear an appropriate athletic garment that covers the breasts; (C) Knee pads, elbow pads, breast protectors, footwear, shoes, or shin guards shall not be allowed for professional contestants; (D) All contestants shall wear an individually fitted mouthpiece; (E) Male contestants shall wear a groin protector. Female contestants may wear a pelvic protector at the option of the contestant; (F) Jewelry and/or piercing accessories are prohibited; and (G) No attire or equipment may be worn that contains any metal substance. (3) Handwraps. All handwraps shall be in compliance with the following: (A) The bandages/handwraps shall consist of soft gauze type cloth that is no more than twenty (20) yards in length and two inches (2") in width and held in place by no more than ten feet (10') of surgeon’s tape provided that the tape shall be no more than one inch (1") in width for each hand; (B) The surgeon’s tape shall be placed directly on each hand for protection near the wrist. The tape may cross the back of the hand twice and extend to cover and protect the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist; (C) Bandages shall be evenly distributed across the hand; (D) Bandages and tape shall be placed on the contestant’s hand in the dressing room prior to the bout and in the presence of the inspector and both contestants. Either contestant may waive the privilege of witnessing the bandaging of the opponent’s hands; and (E) The inspector shall approve all bandages and taping prior to gloves being placed on any contestant. Under no circumstances are gloves to be placed on the hands of a contestant before approval by the inspector. (4) Gloves. (A) Mixed martial arts contestants shall wear gloves that are appropriate in weight for the fighter and which shall be no less than four ounces (4 oz.) and no more than eight ounces (8 oz.) in weight. Contestants competing against each other in the same bout shall wear the same sized gloves. 1. Gloves shall be whole, clean, and in good condition. Broken gloves are prohibited during any bout or contest; 2. Gloves that are padded in the palm or fingertip area are prohibited; and 3. All gloves will be approved by the inspector prior to each bout. The inspector or a designee of the office may inspect gloves at any time. (B) All gloves shall be furnished by the promoter and shall be new or in good condition. Promoters must have extra sets of gloves in each size used during the contest, to be used in case gloves are broken or in any way damaged during the course of a bout. (5) The inspector may prohibit a contestant from participating in a bout or contest if the contestant has or is wearing any equipment, apparel, hair, or product that presents a safety hazard, or that may interfere with the supervision or conduct of the event. The contestant may not compete in the bout unless the circumstances creating the hazard or potential interference are corrected to the satisfaction of the office’s representative. (6) All equipment worn or used by a mixed martial arts contestant shall be approved by the inspector. AUTHORITY: section 317.001, RSMo 2016, and section 317.006, RSMo Supp. 2018.* Original rule filed April 3, 2007, effective Oct. 30, 2007. Amended: Filed March 20, 2018, effective Sept. 30, 2018. Amended: Filed Jan. 25, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 317.001, RSMo 1983, amended 1996, 2007 and 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996, 2007, 2018.