On October 28, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) restored Jorge De Leon’s ability to participate in amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) events at military bases. The finding ended an 11-month battle with the state over De Leon’s right to compete with a prosthetic leg, even when covered by a two-inch-thick foam rubber sleeve, and cleared the way for the Texas Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Association (TAMMA) to pursue reinstatement of its license.
The controversy began November 14, 2009, when De Leon made his amateur debut on a “Heroes Fighting Championship” card promoted by TAMMA at Ft. Sam Houston Army Post, San Antonio, Texas. The bout drew the attention of the TDLR, the agency that regulates combative sports in Texas, because it asserts that TAMMA violated its own rule that prohibits fighters from wearing “metal, straps, buckles, necklaces, jewelry, or other objects (including piercings) that may cause injury to either fighter” and that by “allowing a contestant with a metal-based prosthetic leg to fight in a contest,” TAMMA “failed to insure” the fighters’ safety. TAMMA disputed the ruling. (Editor’s note: For more information, see our earlier news coverage, “Fighter with Prosthesis Wins Case-For Now.”)
On August 9, 2010, administrative law judge Richard Wilfong recommended the state’s case be dismissed, ruling that the state has no jurisdiction over federal enclaves such as Ft. Sam Houston. The TDLR’s governing body, agreed with Wilfong’s ruling on October 28, opting to forgo an appeal.
While TAMMA president Chip Thornsburg acknowledged TDLR’s concordance with Wilfong’s ruling on the TAMMA website, the question continues to remain unanswered of whether a person wearing a prosthesis can legally compete in sanctioned fighting events held at places other than military installations.
