MICHIGAN UNARMED COMBAT REGULATORY ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 403 of 2004 CHAPTER 1

338.3610 Definitions; A to M.

Sec. 10.

As used in this act:

(a) "Amateur" means any of following:

(i) An individual who is not competing and has never competed for a prize or who is not competing and has not competed with or against a professional for a prize.

(ii) For a boxing contest, an individual who is required to register with USA Boxing, or any other amateur boxing organization recognized by the department to participate.

(b) "Boxer" means an individual who is licensed to engage in boxing.

(d) "Chemical dependency" means that term as defined in section 16106a of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16106a.

(e) "Commission" means the Michigan unarmed combat commission created in section 20.

(f) "Complainant" means a person that files a complaint with the department alleging that a person has violated this act or a rule promulgated or an order issued under this act. If a complaint is made by the department, complainant means 1 or more employees of the department who act as the complainant.

(g) "Contest" means an individual bout between 2 boxers, 2 mixed martial artists, or 2 individuals engaged in other unarmed combat that is subject to this act.

(h) "Contestant" means an individual who competes in an unarmed combat contest or event.

(i) "Department" means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.

(j) "Director" means the director of the department or his or her designee.

(k) "Emergency medical technician" means that term as defined in section 20904 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.20904.

(l) "Employee of the department" means an individual who is employed by the department, or a person that is under contract to the department, whose duty it is to enforce the provisions of this act or rules promulgated or orders issued under this act.

(m) "Event" means a program of unarmed combat that is planned for a specific date and time by a promoter and is subject to the approval of the department under this act.

(n) "Fund" means the Michigan unarmed combat fund created in section 22.

(o) "Good moral character" means good moral character as determined and defined under 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41 to 338.47.

(p) "Impaired" means the inability or immediately impending inability of an individual to safely participate in a contest or event due to his or her substance abuse, chemical dependency, or use of drugs or alcohol that does not constitute substance abuse or chemical dependency.

(q) "Matchmaker" means an individual who is responsible for arranging individual contests of unarmed combat.

(r) "Medical clearance" means a determination by a physician, made with reasonable medical certainty, that a contestant does not have a medical condition that would prevent him or her from being able to participate in an event or contest.

(s) "Mixed martial artist" means an individual who is licensed to compete in a mixed martial arts event or contest.

(t) "Mixed martial arts" means a form of combat, either amateur or professional, that involves the use of a combination of techniques from different disciplines of the martial arts, including grappling, kicking, and striking, subject to the limitations contained in this act and rules promulgated under this act.

History: 2004, Act 403, Eff. Feb. 20, 2005 ;-- Am. 2007, Act 196, Eff. Mar. 27, 2008 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 183, Eff. Feb. 10, 2016
Compiler's Notes: For creation of the Michigan unarmed combat commission within the department of licensing and regulatory affairs as type I agency, and the transfer of powers and duties of the department of licensing and regulatory affairs to the Michigan unarmed combat commission, see E.R.O. No. 2019-2, compiled at MCL 333.27001.For the transfer of powers and duties of the director of the department of licensing and regulatory affairs under the Michigan unarmed combat regulatory act, 2004 PA 403, to the chairperson of the Michigan unarmed combat commission, see E.R.O. No. 2019-2, compiled at MCL 333.27001.

338.3611 Definitions; P to U.

Sec. 11.

As used in this act:

(a) "Participant" means a referee, judge, matchmaker, timekeeper, contestant, or promoter.

(b) "Person" means any of the following:

(i) An individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other legal entity.

(ii) A department, board, commission, agency, or authority of the United States, this state, or a political subdivision of this state or a public school, community college, or university.

(iii) A training center or a school or other educational institution.

(iv) A combination of persons described in subparagraphs (i) to (iii).

(c) "Physician" means that term as defined in section 17001 or 17501 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.17001 and 333.17501.

(d) "Prize" means currency or any other valuable compensation or reward offered or given to a contestant. The term does not include a watch, medal, article of jewelry, trophy, or ornament that is suitably inscribed to show that it is given for participation in a contest and costs $200.00 or less.

(e) "Professional" means an individual who is competing or has competed in unarmed combat for a prize.

(f) "Promoter" means a person that produces or stages, in whole or in part, an unarmed combat contest or event.

(g) "Purse" means a prize or any other remuneration offered to contestants to compete in a contest or event. The term includes a professional's share of any payment received for radio, television, motion picture rights, or other media.

(h) "Respondent" means a licensee or other person against which a complaint is filed under this act.

(i) "Rule" means a rule promulgated under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

(j) "Settlement" means an agreement, stipulation, consent order, waiver, default, or other method of settlement of a complaint that is agreed to by the parties and the department.

(k) "Substance abuse" means that term as defined in section 16106a of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16106a.

(l) "Training center" means an institution that is formed or operated principally to provide instruction in boxing, mixed martial arts, or other sports.

(m) "Unarmed combat" means any of the following:

(i) Professional boxing.

(ii) Professional or amateur mixed martial arts.

(iii) Any other form of competition in which a blow is usually struck or another fighting technique is applied that may reasonably be expected to inflict injury.

History: 2004, Act 403, Eff. Feb. 20, 2005 ;-- Am. 2005, Act 49, Imd. Eff. June 23, 2005 ;-- Am. 2007, Act 196, Eff. Mar. 27, 2008 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 183, Eff. Feb. 10, 2016

338.3612 Applicability of act; exceptions.

Sec. 12.

(1) This act does not apply to any of the following:

(a) Professional or amateur wrestling.

(b) An event that is conducted by or participated in exclusively by an agency of the United States government or by a school, college, or university or an organization that is composed exclusively of those entities if each contestant is an amateur.

(c) An event that is sponsored by or under the supervision of the United States Olympic Committee in which all of the contestants are amateur boxers.

(d) An amateur boxing event that is sponsored by or under the supervision of USA Boxing or any of the following organizations affiliated with USA Boxing:

(i) Golden Gloves Association of America Inc.

(ii) National Association of Police Athletic League.

(iii) National Collegiate Boxing Association.

(iv) Native American Sports Council.

(v) Silver Gloves Association.

(2) Boxing elimination contests regulated under section 50 are not subject to the other provisions of this act.

History: 2004, Act 403, Eff. Feb. 20, 2005 ;-- Am. 2007, Act 196, Eff. Mar. 27, 2008 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 183, Eff. Feb. 10, 2016

Rendered 8/15/2025 8:25 AM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov