TDLR Ups Insurance Premiums for Amateurs

The Texas Department of License and Regulation, the governing body for combative sports in the state of Texas, has adopted new regulations regarding insurance requirements for promotions running amateur MMA events, which went into effect March 1, 2008.

The new rule states Section 61.48(e): An amateur combative sports association shall provide insurance and pay all deductibles for contestants, to cover medical, surgical and hospital care with a minimum limit of $50,000 for injuries sustained while participating in a contest and $100,000 to a contestant's estate if he dies of injuries suffered while participating in a contest.

"The well-being of fighters and their families is TDLR's prime concern. TDLR recognized a need to raise medical coverage to $50,000 to cover injuries that may occur. To protect the family of fighters TDLR is on the cutting edge of the industry in raising the death payout limit to $100,000."

Some deem this the "Sammy Vasquez" rule, named after an MMA fighter who died in the cage in Texas. Local amateur promoters are crying foul saying that sponsors and increased tickets prices won't be able to keep up for increased mount funds dedicated to insurance costs.

"In a state where the average amateur ticket price is $20 and the average attendance is 500 or so paid," states an official that oversees a larg Amateur MMA Association, "that represents a pretty big jump in the bottom line."