New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 18 / September 22, 2026

 

 

This is an amendment to 15.6.4 NMAC, Sections 8, 10, 12, 20, 21 and 26, effective 09/22/2026.

 

15.6.4.8                DUTY TO SAFEGUARD BUILDING, PREMISES, AND SAFETY OF ATTENDEES:

               A.           Duty to safeguard premises: All promoters licensed by the commission are required to assure the commission that all necessary arrangements have been made to safeguard the premises where unarmed combat contests, [wrestling, or martial arts exhibitions] are to be conducted in order to ensure that adequate protection is provided by state licensed uniformed security guards and companies, law enforcement agency or security guards exempt from licensure pursuant to the Private Investigations Act, Section 61-27B-4 NMSA 1978, to prevent riot, stampede, or disorderly conduct on the premises.

                              (1)          Any disorderly conduct, act of assault or breach of decorum on the part of any commission licensee is prohibited.

                              (2)          Any violation of this section by a commission licensee shall subject the licensee to penalties as deemed appropriate by the commission.

               B.           Building equipment and safety requirements: All premises, buildings, or structures used or intended for use in holding or televising unarmed combat boxing, wrestling, or martial arts matches or exhibitions shall:

                              (1)          be properly ventilated;

                              (2)          [RESERVED] have proper lighting

                              (3)          provide an adequate fire alert system, fire extinguishers, emergency and fire exits; and

                              (4)          shall, in all manner, conform to the laws, ordinances, building codes and regulations pertaining to buildings in the village, town, city or state where the building is situated.

               C.           Sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises: Alcoholic beverages may be sold at a [match or event] contest only by special permission by the commission may allow the sale of alcoholic beverages and limit the content of sales at each event.

                              (1)          The commission may allow the sale of alcoholic beverages and limit the content of sales at each event.

                              (2)          If sale of alcoholic beverages at an event is approved by the commission, there must be a valid license to sell alcohol in place issued by the proper state licensing agency.

                              (3)          If an unruly crowd or incident occurs at any event where the sale of alcoholic beverages has been approved by the commission, the official in charge of the event may immediately suspend the sales of alcoholic beverages.

                              (4)          No alcohol is allowed within the technical zone.

               D.           Ambulance at live events: The promoter shall ensure that there is an ambulance on stand-by or medical personnel with appropriate resuscitation equipment at ringside at all live unarmed combat contests. [boxing, wrestling, or full contact karate or kickboxing events.]

[15.6.4.8 NMAC - N, 03/23/2002; A, 08/26/2012; A, 09/22/2026

 

15.6.4.10              DUTY TO PROVIDE INSURANCE FOR LICENSED CONTESTANTS:

               A.           Any person, party, or corporation holding a promoter’s license issued by the commission shall continuously provide insurance protection for licensed unarmed combat, boxing, wrestling, or martial arts contestants appearing in unarmed combat, boxing contests, wrestling or martial arts matches, or exhibitions.

               B.           Insurance coverage shall provide the licensee reimbursement for medical, surgical, and hospital care for any injuries sustained while participating in a match.

               C.           The minimum insurance limit shall be $2500.00 for injuries sustained by the contestant while participating in any program, event, match, or exhibition operated under the control of the licensed promoter.

               D.           Failure by the licensed promoter to provide and pay premiums on insurance as provided in this section shall be cause for the suspension or the revocation of the promoter’s license.

[15.6.4.10 NMAC - N, 03/23/2002; A, 08/26/2012, A, 09/22/2026

 

15.6.4.12              DUTY TO COMPENSATE EVENT PARTICIPANTS:  The promoter of an event will be required to pay all fees due to event participants and personnel.

               A.           Fees set by the commission: The commission shall annually adopt a policy to set fees to be paid to referees, judges, deputy inspectors, [and timekeepers] timekeepers, and event coordinators.

               B.           Fees set by the medical advisory board: With the approval of the commission, the medical advisory board shall determine fees to be paid to ringside physicians.

               C.           Negotiated fees: The promoter shall negotiate fees with other event personnel (e.g. security officers, announcers, ticket sellers, ticket takers, doormen, etc.) on an individual basis.

[15.6.4.12 NMAC - N, 03/23/2002; A, 08/26/2012; A, 01/15/2015, A, 09/22/2026

 

15.6.4.20              DUTY TO OBTAIN EVENT PERMITS:  A licensed promoter must obtain an event permit prior to each professional and amateur program, match, event, contest or exhibition.

               A.           [The commission will issue a permit upon receipt from the promoter of a completed commission-approved application, and all other required documentation.] Upon receipt of a complete event permit application and required documentation, the commission shall approve the event and notify the promoter.

               B.           [The application and attachments must be approved with the commission not later than 72 hours prior to the regularly scheduled meeting before the contest.] The application and all required attachments must be submitted in a form approved by the commission not less than 30 days prior to the scheduled event date. The application must contain the following information and documentation:

                              (1)          Any main event combatants must hold a current and valid license issued by the commission.

                              [(1)] (2) evidence of a current promoter’s license;

                              [(2)] (3) date of the contest;

                              [(3)] (4) copy of the contract for the event location;

                              [(4)] (5) proof of contest insurance;

                              [(5)] (6) name of the main event participants and contracts;

                              [(6)] (7) number of scheduled rounds of all unarmed combatant contests on the event card;

                              [(7)] (8) verification of adequate security;

                              [(8)] (9) verification of ambulance and medical technicians [and]

                              [(9)        report on all unarmed combatants from fightfax.com or mixedmartialarts.com, or other nationally or industry recognized reporting service.]

               C.           The promoter must provide the commission with the signed and witnessed formal contracts for the main event executed on forms [supplied] approved by the commission and executed in accordance with 15.6.2 NMAC.

               D.           Each applicant for an event permit agrees to grant the commission, or its authorized representative, the right to examine the books of accounts and other records of the applicant relating to each event for which an event permit application is made.

[15.6.4.20 NMAC - N, 03/23/2002; A, 08/26/2012; A, 01/15/2017; A, 09/22/2026

 

15.6.4.21              APPROVAL OF EVENT PERMITS:  Before approving any event permit, the commission, or the two commissioners acting under the commission’s delegated authority, will consider the relative merits of the contestants, their past records, and whether or not they are suitable opponents.  The commission reserves the right to disapprove any match or unarmed combatant contest on the grounds that it is not in the best interest of unarmed combatant boxing, wrestling, or martial arts, or of the health and safety of either of the contestants.

               A.           Each application for an event permit will be reviewed by the administrator or by commission staff to assure compliance with all application requirements of the commission.

               B.           When the application is complete, the [events coordinator or] commission staff will review the event permit request with two commission members to obtain their approval.  The two commissioners have the authority to provide final approval.  However, if they are unwilling to grant approval of the event permit application, the following shall occur:

                              (1)          the event permit request will be considered at the next regularly scheduled commission meeting; or

                              (2)          the commission reserves the right to not approve an event for failure to submit a timely application; the commission may approve an application that is untimely if the applicant demonstrates extenuating circumstances.

               C.           Upon approval of the event permit, the promoter shall register the event with Combat Registry,

BoxRec, or another commission-approved database.

[15.6.4.21 NMAC - N, 03/23/2002; A, 08/26/2012; A, 09/22/2026

 

15.6.4.26              [RESERVED] ELIGIBILTY FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFCATION CARD (AMATEUR BOXERS): An applicant seeking issuance of a federal identification card to compete as professional boxer must have participated in no fewer than five amateur bouts prior to application.

               A.           The applicant must provide documentation acceptable to the commission verifying the required number of amateur bouts.

               B.           The commission may waive the minimum bout requirements upon a showing of good cause.

[15.6.4.26 NMAC – N, 09/22/2026