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TN Athletic Commission

About

The Athletic Commission regulates unarmed combat contests to be held in the State of Tennessee, handling all licensure requirements for all combatants, participants, promoters, ring officials, and the events.

  • “Combatant” means any person eighteen (18) years of age or older who engages in a professional unarmed combat contest.
  • “Promoter” means any person who produces, stages, or sponsors any professional contest of unarmed combat.
  • “Ring official” means any person who performs any one (1) or more of the following official functions during the progress of a professional contest of unarmed combat:
  • “Announcer” means a person authorized to act as an announcer at unarmed combat contests or amateur events.
  • “Judge” means a person who is responsible for scoring the performances of the combatants in a professional contest.
  • “Referee” means a person who is present in the ring during the professional contest and exercises general supervision.
  • “Ringside physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine in the state of Tennessee and licensed by the Commission as a ring official.
  • “Timekeeper” means a person who is the official timer of the length of the rounds and the intervals thereof in a professional contest of unarmed combat.
  • “Second” means a person, including a manager, who is present at any professional unarmed combat contest to provide assistance or advice to combatants during a professional contest of unarmed combat.
  • “Matchmaker” means a person who brings together professional boxers, kickboxers or mixed martial art combatants or arranges professional contests of unarmed combat.

Requirements

Documents Needed- (Aside from application and/or application fees on CORE.TN.GOV)

Combatants:

  1. 35+ Neuro exam (completed within 30 days of the application date)
  2. Eye Exam (completed within 90 days of the application date)
  3. Physical (completed within 90 days of the application date)
  4. HIV, HEP B and HEP C blood results (completed within 90 days of the application date)

Promoter:

  1. Headshot
  2. Driver’s License/ID
  3. $25,000 surety bond

Ring Officials:

  1. Headshot
  2. Driver’s License/ID

Participants:

  1. Headshot
  2. Driver’s License/ID

Pro or Pro-Am Event:

  1. Sanctioning Body Letter (if Pro-Am, not needed if an only Pro event)
  2. $300 fee

Fees

Combatants

  • MMA: $25 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $75
  • Boxing: $25 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $75
  • Kickboxing: $25 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $75

Promoter

  • MMA: $500 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $550
  • Boxing: $500 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $550
  • Kickboxing: $500 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $550

Ring Officials

  • Announcer: $100 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $150
  • Timekeeper: $50 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $100
  • Judge: $50 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $100
  • Referee: $75 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $125
  • Physician: (No Fee Or License Required As Long As Medical License Is Active.)

Participants

  • Second (Cornerman) : $25 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $75
  • Matchmaker: $100 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $150
  • Manager: $100 License Fee + $50 Application Fee = $150

Additional

To apply for an event permit, one would log onto/register on core.tn.gov and apply for an Amateur, Pro- or Pro-Am event permit. We have two different types of permits Amateur and Pro but within the Pro event application it asks if one is also applying for an amateur portion. Any Amateur or Pro-Am event application must be accompanied by a sanctioning letter from one of our approved sanctioning bodies.

“Sanctioning organization” means an organization recognized by the Tennessee Athletic Commission that sanctions professional contests of unarmed combat and is required to comply with all provisions of this act. “Sanctioning organization” may also mean an organization recognized by the Tennessee Athletic Commission that adopts rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of T.C.A. § 68-115-213.

Sanctioning Bodies for Amateur or Pro/Am Events

There are currently 7 sanctioning organizations that have been approved by the Commission to operate in the State of Tennessee. It is illegal to have an amateur event in Tennessee that is not sanctioned by one of the following organizations: USA Boxing, World Kickboxing Association (WKA), World Association of Kickboxing Organizations Federation (WAKO), International Sport Karate Association (ISKA), USA Mixed Martial Arts Kick International Federation (UMMAF), International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), and Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA).

Am I required to notify the Commission if I change my address?

Yes, in order to receive your renewal notice, we must have your current address.
While we prefer you report a change of address online at core.tn.gov, they may be sent via email to reg.boards@TN.Gov

May I change my information online?

Yes, it is the preferred method. A change of address is reported through your core.tn.gov account. After you log in or create an account, you will choose the “My Licenses or Permits” tab, select your credential, then select the Change Address option.