This Privacy Policy explains how the Mixed Martial Arts Combat Sports Excellence Certification (MMACSEC) collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information when you visit mmacsec.org, apply for a fighter licence or officials accreditation, use the Member Dashboard, or otherwise interact with our services. It replaces any previous version of this policy.
Who we are
MMACSEC is a combat sports sanctioning and certification body. Our website address is https://mmacsec.org. For any questions about this policy or your personal data, you can contact us at Privacy@mmacsec.org.
Information we collect
Fighter Registration and Authentication
When you submit the Fighter Registration form, MMACSEC’s Authentication Form, we collect your full legal name, fighting or ring name, date of birth, nationality, government-issued ID type and number, ID expiry date, and a copy of your ID document (passport, driving licence, or national ID). We also collect contact details (email address, mobile number, current address), physical and competition details (height, weight class, discipline, competition status, years of experience), gym or academy affiliation and coach contact details, your declared fight record, and your medical fitness and eligibility declarations.
Officials and Partner Applications
Referees, judges, promoters, and other officials who apply for MMACSEC accreditation provide similar identity, contact, and professional experience information through our application forms so that we can verify their eligibility and credentials.
Account and Member Dashboard Data
If your application is approved, we create a member account that allows you to log in to the Member Dashboard to view your licence status, download your PDF licence card, and access your unique QR verification code. This account holds your licence number, licence status, issue and expiry dates, and related licensing history.
Payment Information
Membership and licensing fees are processed securely by Stripe. We do not collect or store your full card number, expiry date, or CVV on our servers. Stripe processes this information under its own privacy policy and provides us with confirmation of payment and limited billing details only.
Communications
If you contact us through our Contact Us page or by emailing an @mmacsec.org address, we collect the information you provide, such as your name, email address, and the content of your message, so that we can respond to you.
Automatically Collected Data
Like most websites, mmacsec.org uses cookies and similar technologies for core functionality (such as keeping you logged in to the Member Dashboard), site security, and analytics. Our website plugins may automatically collect your IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited.
How we use your information
- To assess and process fighter, promoter, and officials applications for MMACSEC licensing and accreditation
- To verify identity, medical eligibility, and competition history before issuing a licence
- To generate and issue your digital licence card and QR verification code
- To operate and maintain your Member Dashboard account
- To process membership and licensing fee payments through Stripe
- To share verified fighter records with affiliated platforms such as Tapology and Sherdog, where you have given consent
- To respond to enquiries submitted through our Contact Us page or by email
- To maintain the security, integrity, and performance of our website
- To meet our legal, regulatory, and safety obligations as a combat sports sanctioning body
Legal basis for processing
We process your personal data because it is necessary to perform our contract with you when issuing a licence, because you have given consent (for example, when sharing your record with Tapology or Sherdog), because we have a legitimate interest in operating a safe and credible sanctioning body, or because we are required to do so by law or regulation.
Who we share your information with
We do not sell your personal data. We share information only where necessary, with the following types of recipients:
- Stripe, our payment processor, to process membership and licensing fee payments
- Tapology, Sherdog, and other affiliated record-keeping platforms, but only when you have consented to your verified record being shared
- Our website hosting provider and IT service providers, who help us store data securely and keep the site running
- Regulatory bodies, medical officials, or event promoters, where necessary for licensing, safety, or disciplinary purposes
- Law enforcement or regulators, where we are required to do so by law
How long we keep your data
We retain licensing, medical eligibility, and identity verification records for as long as your MMACSEC licence is active, and for a reasonable period afterward, to meet our regulatory, safety, and record-keeping obligations as a sanctioning body. Payment records are retained only as long as required for accounting and legal purposes. You can ask us about the specific retention period that applies to your data at any time.
How we protect your data
Identity documents, medical declarations, and other sensitive information you provide are stored on our secure hosting environment and are only accessible to authorised MMACSEC administrators who need them to process your application or licence. Access to the admin area is restricted by login credentials, and administrators can use the Member Dashboard only through your own account for support purposes.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, request that we correct inaccurate data, request erasure of your data, object to or restrict certain processing, and request a copy of your data in a portable format. Some of these rights may be limited where we need to keep records for licensing, safety, or legal reasons. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at Privacy@mmacsec.org. If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies to keep you logged in to the Member Dashboard, remember your preferences, and understand how our site is used. When you log in, we set cookies to save your login information; these expire after a couple of days, or after two weeks if you select “Remember Me”. You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings, though some parts of the site, such as the Member Dashboard, may not work correctly without them.
Children’s privacy
Our services are intended for individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for licensed competition. Where a fighter is a minor under the rules of a relevant commission, any application and supporting documentation must be submitted and consented to by a parent or legal guardian on the minor’s behalf.
International data transfers
Some of the third parties we work with, such as Stripe and record-keeping platforms like Tapology and Sherdog, may process data outside your home country. Where this happens, we rely on appropriate safeguards required by applicable data protection law.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. The date of the most recent update is shown at the top of this page, and we encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact us at Privacy@mmacsec.org or through our Contact Us page.