[§440E-17]  Referees; duties.  [Section
effective July 1, 2009.  L 2007, c 279, §5.]  (a)  At each mixed martial
arts contest there shall be in attendance a duly licensed referee designated by
the director, who shall direct and control the contest.  The referee shall
render a decision for each contest, except as otherwise provided under this
section.



(b)  The referee may recommend and the
director, in the director's discretion, may terminate the mixed martial arts
contest or order the forfeiture of any prize, purse, or remuneration, or any
part thereof, to which one or both of the mixed martial arts contestants may be
entitled, or any part of the gate receipts for which the contestants are
competing, if in the director's judgment one or both of the contestants are not
honestly competing.



(c)  Each referee shall warn contestants of the
referee's power to terminate the contest or to recommend the forfeiture of any
purse or purses, should there be any violation of contest rules.



(d)  In any case where the referee decides that
the contestants are not honestly competing and that under the law the contest
should be terminated or that the prize, purse, or remuneration of one or both
of the contestants should be forfeited, the contest shall be stopped before the
end of the last round, and no decision shall be given.  A contestant earns
nothing and shall not be paid for a contest in which there is stalling, faking,
dishonesty, or collusion.  The director, independently of the referee or the
referee's decision, may determine the merits of any contest and take whatever
action the director considers proper.  In any case, the director may order the
purse of the contestant violating any rules or statutes held up for
investigation and action.



(e)  The referee shall stop the contest when,
in the referee's judgment, either of the contestants shows a marked superiority
or is apparently outclassed. [L 2007, c 279, pt of §1]