Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 046 - Wyoming Combat Sports Commission
Here’s a detailed overview of Agency 046 — the Wyoming Combat Sports Commission — within the Wyoming Administrative Code:
🏛️ Agency Structure & Authority
Agency 046, officially renamed from the Board of Mixed Martial Arts following 2020 legislation (HB 0102), governs all aspects of combat sports in Wyoming—including MMA, boxing, kickboxing, bare‑knuckle fighting, Muay Thai, Lethwei, and more (wyoleg.gov).
Under W.S. § 33‑48‑101, the Commission:
Is a three-member board appointed by the governor (staggered 1-, 2-, and 3-year initial terms, then standard 3-year terms) (codes.findlaw.com).
Has authority to promulgate rules, license promoters and matches, issue subpoenas, regulate events, refuse or revoke licenses, and oversee safety and financial reporting (wyoleg.gov).
📚 Rulebook: Chapters & Coverage
The Commission issues its regulations as Agency 046, Sub-agency 0001 – Mixed Martial Arts, Board of, published quarterly and currently effective through March 29 2025, per the state's published version (regulations.justia.com).
Key Chapters:
Chapter 1 – Definitions & general rules, including sanctioning requirements (regulations.justia.com).
Chapter 2 – Contestant requirements (e.g., medical exams, licensing).
Chapter 3 – Bout approval processes.
Chapter 4 – Contestant identification.
Chapter 5 – Kickboxing and Muay Thai specifics: legal strikes, fouls, scoring, gear requirements (combatsportslaw.com, mma.wyo.gov, law.cornell.edu).
Chapters 6–17 – Rule sets for MMA, promoters, officials, insurance, boxing, bare‑knuckle fighting, Lethwei, etc. (mma.wyo.gov).
⚠️ Recent Amendments & Emergency Safety Measures
In early 2021, emergency rules updated:
Definitions (e.g., clarify “bare‑knuckle fighting”).
Safety protocols: gloves, hand wraps, weight classes, pregnancy testing timelines.
Scoring and conduct rules (e.g., no standing eight-count, referee discretion on knockdowns).
Chapter-specific enhancements for kickboxing, Lethwei, and more (wyoleg.gov).
These emergency rules transitioned into the regular rule set to align with industry standards and improve contestant safety.
📄 Legislative Snapshot: HB 0102 (2020)
The 2020 Wyoming Legislature’s HB 0102:
Renamed the board to Wyoming Combat Sports Commission.
Expanded authority to include boxing and bare‑knuckle fights.
Expanded definitions in Wyoming Statutes (e.g. MMA, boxing, commission).
Required rulemaking for boxing regulation and transferred funds into the new commission account (wyoleg.gov, wyoleg.gov).
✅ Summary
Agency 046 is the primary regulatory body for combat sports in Wyoming.
It operates under statutory authority W.S. § 33‑48‑101 et seq., with power to license, regulate, and enforce rules across MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Lethwei, and bare‑knuckle styles.
The current rules (Chapters 1–17) provide detailed regulation, updated by emergency and quarterly rulemaking to ensure safety and conformity with industry standards.
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