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Pete Suazo Utah Athletics Commission Act & Rules
Promoter Fee Schedule (Proposal) Posted 03/23/2026
Promoter Licensing Fees
Promoter License (Annual): $500.00
Event Application Fee:
Event Application Fee: $600.00
( $500.00 of the Event Application Fee shall be credited toward the Event Attendance Fee.)
Event Attendance Fee:
500 Seats $500.00
500 - 1,000 Seats +$500.00 ($1000.00 Total)
1,000 - 3,000 Seats +$750.00 ($1750.00 Total)
3,000 - 5,000 seats +$1,500.00 ($3250.00 Total)
5,000 - 10,000 Seats +$1,500.00 ($4750.00 Total)
10,000 Seats (per Seat) $2.00 (Total TBD by attendance)
Note: The first $500 paid with the Event Application Fee shall be applied toward the total event fee.
Drug Testing:
Drug Testing: Up to $20 per test.
Broadcast Revenue Fee:
Broadcast Revenue Fee: 3% of the first $500,000 and 1% of the next $1,000,000 of the total gross receipts from the sale, lease or other exploitation of internet, broadcasting, television, and motion picture rights for any contest or exhibition thereof without any deductions for commissions, brokerage fees, distribution fees, advertising, contestants; purses or charges, except in no case shall the fee be more than $50,000, nor less than $100.
Inspector Staffing:
Up to 4 Hours $90.00
Over 4 Hours up to 6 Hours $125.00
Over 6 Hours $25.00 per Inspector on events exceeding 6 hours and an additional $25 per inspector for each additional hour. Non-essential staff will be released.
For events exceeding six (6) hours, the additional $25 per hour per inspector shall be billed directly to the promotion following the event.
Additional Inspector Fee
More than five (5) inspectors, the promoter shall pay: $100.00 $125.00 per additional
inspector This fee reflects the required compensation for assigned inspectors.
R359-1-501 Promoter’s Responsibilities in Arranging a contest
R359-1-501 (4) Surety Bond Before a permit to hold a contest is granted, the promoter shall post a surety bond with the Commission in the amount of $20,000. or total sum of the contestant purses, officials fees and estimated commission fees, whichever is greater. Promoters who have held less than 5 unarmed combat events in the state of Utah shall deposit an additional $20,000 minimum Cashier’s Check or Bank Draft with the commission no later than 7 days prior to the event or the event may be cancelled by the commission. R359-1-501 (11) Insurance Coverage At the time of an unarmed combat contest weigh-in, the promoter of a contest shall provide primary insurance coverage for each uninsured contestant and secondary insurance for each insured contestant in the amount of $20,000 for each licensed contestant to provide medical, surgical and hospital care for licensed contestants who are injured while engaged in a contest or exhibition:
(a) The term of the insurance coverage must not require the contestant to pay a deductible, for the medical, surgical or hospital care for injuries he sustains while engaged in a contest of exhibition.
(b) If a licensed contestant pays for the medical, surgical or hospital care for injuries sustained during a contest or exhibition, the insurance proceeds must be paid to the contestant or his beneficiaries as reimbursement for the payment.
(c) The promoter shall also provide life insurance coverage of $20,000 for each contestant in case of death resulting from injuries sustained during a contest or exhibition.
(d) The required medical insurance and life insurance coverage shall not be waived by the contestant or any other party.
(e) A contestant seeking medical insurance reimbursement for injuries sustained during an unarmed combat event shall obtain medical treatment for their injuries within 72 hours of their bout and maintain written records of their treatment, expenses and correspondence with the insurance provider and promoter to ensure coverage.
(f) The promoter shall not delay or circumvent the timely processing of a claim submitted by a contestant injured during a contest or exhibition.
ABC Rules
Boxing:
MMA:
Kickboxing:
Fee Schedule
(Adopted by ABC Aug. 12, 2016 / PSUAC Feb. 24, 2017)
Protocols
Protocol for Administrative Suspension of Non-Performing Contestants:
- Any contestant who has lost their last eight bouts by submission, technical knockout or knockout shall not be approved to compete in the State of Utah.
- Any contestant who has lost eight of their last ten bouts by submission, technical knockout or knockout shall not be approved to compete in the State of Utah.
- Any contestant who has lost their last ten bouts by decision, submission, technical knockout or knockout shall not be approved to compete in the State of Utah.
- Any contestant who has lost thirteen of their last fifteen bouts by any means shall not be approved to compete in the State of Utah.
Protocol for Assigning Officials:
- The commission shall assign judges for events with an anticipated audience exceeding 500 attendees or include title bouts.
- The commission may also assign judges for other events at its discretion.
- Event officials proposed by the promoter are subject to the approval of the commission IAW R457-1-511(1)(b).
Protocol Establishing Penalties for Late Arrivals:
ALL contestants MAY be required to arrive at the venue up to 2 hours prior to the scheduled start time. (Consult the Start Time form issued at weigh-ins)
- A contestant who arrives at the venue up to 30 minutes late is subject to a $50.00 fine or ten percent of their purse, whichever is greater.
- Any contestant who arrives at the venue more than 45 minutes late is subject to a $100.00 fine or twenty percent of their purse, whichever is greater.
- Any contestant who arrives at the venue more than 60 minutes late is subject to a $200 fine or fifty percent of their purse, whichever is greater; and a 60 day administrative suspension and cancellation of their bout.
Competing in an Unsanctioned Unarmed Combat Event:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/25/2026
Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission
Salt Lake City, Utah
PSUAC Issues Enforcement Notice: Unsanctioned “Semi-Contact,” “Smokers,” Sparring Events, and Limited-Contact Bouts Prohibited Under Utah Law
The Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission (PSUAC) hereby notifies promoters, gyms, venues, coaches, and participants that any organized combative contest involving strikes or submission attempts—regardless of how the contest is labeled—constitutes “unarmed combat” under Utah law and must be sanctioned and approved by the Commission.
This includes but is not limited to events promoted as:
- “Semi-Contact”
- “Limited Contact”
- “Smoker Bouts”
- “Hard Sparring Events”
- “Controlled Sparring”
- “Exhibition Fights” involving live opponents and scoring or spectators
Statutory Authority
Under Utah Code § 9-23-305, the Commission has sole direction, management, control, and jurisdiction over all contests or exhibitions of unarmed combat in the State of Utah. No such contest may be held except in accordance with the Act and the Commission’s administrative rules.
“Unarmed combat” is defined in Utah Code § 9-23-102 as “boxing or any contest in which blows are usually struck which may reasonably be expected to inflict bodily injury.” This includes mixed martial arts and other full-contact combative sports.
Further, Utah Administrative Code R457-1-801 classifies all full-contact martial arts contests as unarmed combat, bringing them under PSUAC authority regardless of promotional terminology.
In sum, the Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over any event where participants engage in activity that carries with it the possibility of a knockout, submission injury, concussive impact, or other bodily injury. No such event may occur without Commission approval.
Safety and Medical Requirements Being Circumvented
Unsanctioned events typically lack:
- Commission-licensed ringside physicians
- Required HIV, Hepatitis B & C testing
- Pre-bout physical examinations
- Matched weight classes and bout approval
- Licensed referees and judges
- Mandatory insurance and ambulance coverage
These requirements are not optional under R457-1 promoter and contestant licensure rules and are essential for athlete safety.
Administrative Penalties
Any licensed individual (contestant, promoter, second, referee, judge, or matchmaker) who organizes, promotes, or participates in an unsanctioned event is subject to:
- Immediate license suspension
- Revocation or denial of future licensure
- Mandatory medical clearance and retesting
- Suspension periods before eligibility to compete
- Administrative fines and adjudicative proceedings
Promoters and gyms may also face:
- Event shutdowns
- Permit denial for future shows
- Formal disciplinary action under applicable statute or administrative rule
Cease-and-Desist and Enforcement
The Commission will issue cease-and-desist orders to any venue or organizer advertising or conducting unauthorized combative events.
Matters may be referred for civil or criminal enforcement where applicable under state law.
Municipalities and venue operators are advised that allowing an unsanctioned unarmed-combat event on their premises constitutes facilitation of unlawful activity.
Commission Authority
This enforcement action is issued pursuant to:
- Utah Code § 9-23-101 et seq. – Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission Act
- Utah Code § 9-23-102 – Definition of Unarmed Combat
- Utah Code § 9-23-305 – Commission’s sole jurisdiction
- Utah Administrative Code R457-1 – Licensure, permitting, and enforcement authority
- Utah Administrative Code R457-1-801 – Full-contact martial arts classified as unarmed combat
Reporting Violations
The PSUAC requests that any promoter, athlete, official, gym owner, or member of the public who becomes aware of a smoker, semi-contact, or unsanctioned sparring event report it to the Commission prior to the event date.
“The few exceptions to the Commission’s broad authority over unarmed combat are found at Utah Code 9-23-315.”