Definitions.

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  • (1) "Bodily injury" has the same meaning as defined in Section 76-1-601.
  • (2) "Boxing" means the sport of attack and defense using the fist, which is covered by an approved boxing glove.
  • (3)
    • (a) "Club fighting" means any contest of unarmed combat, whether admission is charged or not, where:
      • (i) the rules of the contest are not approved by the commission;
      • (ii) a licensed physician, osteopath, or physician assistant approved by the commission is not in attendance;
      • (iii) a correct HIV negative test regarding each contestant has not been provided to the commission;
      • (iv) the contest is not conducted in accordance with commission rules; or
      • (v) the contestants are not matched by the weight standards established in accordance with Section 63N-10-316.
    • (b) "Club fighting" does not include sparring if:
      • (i) it is conducted for training purposes;
      • (ii) no tickets are sold to spectators;
      • (iii) no concessions are available for spectators;
      • (iv) protective clothing, including protective headgear, a mouthguard, and a protective cup, is worn; and
      • (v) for boxing, 16 ounce boxing gloves are worn.
  • (4) "Commission" means the Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission created by this chapter.
  • (5) "Contest" means a live match, performance, or exhibition involving two or more persons engaged in unarmed combat.
  • (6) "Contestant" means an individual who participates in a contest.
  • (7) "Designated commission member" means a member of the commission designated to:
    • (a) attend and supervise a particular contest; and
    • (b) act on the behalf of the commission at a contest venue.
  • (8) "Director" means the director appointed by the commission.
  • (9) "Elimination unarmed combat contest" means a contest where:
    • (a) a number of contestants participate in a tournament;
    • (b) the duration is not more than 48 hours; and
    • (c) the loser of each contest is eliminated from further competition.
  • (10) "Exhibition" means an engagement in which the participants show or display their skills without necessarily striving to win.
  • (11) "Judge" means an individual qualified by training or experience to:
    • (a) rate the performance of contestants;
    • (b) score a contest; and
    • (c) determine with other judges whether there is a winner of the contest or whether the contestants performed equally, resulting in a draw.
  • (12) "Licensee" means an individual licensed by the commission to act as a:
    • (a) contestant;
    • (b) judge;
    • (c) manager;
    • (d) promoter;
    • (e) referee;
    • (f) second; or
    • (g) other official established by the commission by rule.
  • (13) "Manager" means an individual who represents a contestant for the purpose of:
    • (a) obtaining a contest for a contestant;
    • (b) negotiating terms and conditions of the contract under which the contestant will engage in a contest; or
    • (c) arranging for a second for the contestant at a contest.
  • (14) "Promoter" means a person who engages in producing or staging contests and promotions.
  • (15) "Promotion" means a single contest or a combination of contests that:
    • (a) occur during the same time and at the same location; and
    • (b) is produced or staged by a promoter.
  • (16) "Purse" means any money, prize, remuneration, or any other valuable consideration a contestant receives or may receive for participation in a contest.
  • (17) "Referee" means an individual qualified by training or experience to act as the official attending a contest at the point of contact between contestants for the purpose of:
    • (a) enforcing the rules relating to the contest;
    • (b) stopping the contest in the event the health, safety, and welfare of a contestant or any other person in attendance at the contest is in jeopardy; and
    • (c) acting as a judge if so designated by the commission.
  • (18) "Round" means one of a number of individual time periods that, taken together, constitute a contest during which contestants are engaged in a form of unarmed combat.
  • (19) "Second" means an individual who attends a contestant at the site of the contest before, during, and after the contest in accordance with contest rules.
  • (20) "Serious bodily injury" has the same meaning as defined in Section 76-1-601.
  • (21) "Total gross receipts" means the amount of the face value of all tickets sold to a particular contest plus any sums received as consideration for holding the contest at a particular location.
  • (22) "Ultimate fighting" means a live contest, whether or not an admission fee is charged, in which:
    • (a) contest rules permit contestants to use a combination of boxing, kicking, wrestling, hitting, punching, or other combative contact techniques;
    • (b) contest rules incorporate a formalized system of combative techniques against which a contestant's performance is judged to determine the prevailing contestant;
    • (c) contest rules divide nonchampionship contests into three equal and specified rounds of no more than five minutes per round with a rest period of one minute between each round;
    • (d) contest rules divide championship contests into five equal and specified rounds of no more than five minutes per round with a rest period of one minute between each round; and
    • (e) contest rules prohibit contestants from:
      • (i) using anything that is not part of the human body, except for boxing gloves, to intentionally inflict serious bodily injury upon an opponent through direct contact or the expulsion of a projectile;
      • (ii) striking a person who demonstrates an inability to protect himself from the advances of an opponent;
      • (iii) biting; or
      • (iv) direct, intentional, and forceful strikes to the eyes, groin area, Adam's apple area of the neck, and the rear area of the head and neck.
  • (23)
    • (a) "Unarmed combat" means boxing or any other form of competition in which a blow is usually struck which may reasonably be expected to inflict bodily injury.
    • (b) "Unarmed combat" does not include a competition or exhibition between participants in which the participants engage in simulated combat for entertainment purposes.
  • (24) "Unlawful conduct" means organizing, promoting, or participating in a contest which involves contestants that are not licensed under this chapter.
  • (25) "Unprofessional conduct" means:
    • (a) entering into a contract for a contest in bad faith;
    • (b) participating in any sham or fake contest;
    • (c) participating in a contest pursuant to a collusive understanding or agreement in which the contestant competes in or terminates the contest in a manner that is not based upon honest competition or the honest exhibition of the skill of the contestant;
    • (d) engaging in an act or conduct that is detrimental to a contest, including any foul or unsportsmanlike conduct in connection with a contest;
    • (e) failing to comply with any limitation, restriction, or condition placed on a license;
    • (f) striking of a downed opponent by a contestant while the contestant remains on the contestant's feet, unless the designated commission member or director has exempted the contest and each contestant from the prohibition on striking a downed opponent before the start of the contest;
    • (g) after entering the ring or contest area, penetrating an area within four feet of an opponent by a contestant, manager, or second before the commencement of the contest; or
    • (h) as further defined by rules made by the commission under Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
  • (26) "White-collar contest" means a contest conducted at a training facility where no alcohol is served in which:
    • (a) for boxing:
      • (i) neither contestant is or has been a licensed contestant in any state or an amateur registered with USA Boxing, Inc.;
      • (ii) no cash prize, or other prize valued at greater than $35, is awarded;
      • (iii) protective clothing, including protective headgear, a mouthguard, a protective cup, and for a female contestant a chestguard, is worn;
      • (iv) 16 ounce boxing gloves are worn;
      • (v) the contest is no longer than three rounds of no longer than three minutes each;
      • (vi) no winner or loser is declared or recorded; and
      • (vii) the contestants do not compete in a cage; and
    • (b) for ultimate fighting:
      • (i) neither contestant is or has been a licensed contestant in any state or an amateur registered with USA Boxing, Inc.;
      • (ii) no cash prize, or other prize valued at greater than $35, is awarded;
      • (iii) protective clothing, including a protective mouthguard and a protective cup, is worn;
      • (iv) downward elbow strikes are not allowed;
      • (v) a contestant is not allowed to stand and strike a downed opponent;
      • (vi) a closed-hand blow to the head is not allowed while either contestant is on the ground;
      • (vii) the contest is no longer than three rounds of no longer than three minutes each; and
      • (viii) no winner or loser is declared or recorded.




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