The Commission shall determine the qualifications of all ring officials. The Commission shall control and direct the activities of the following individuals: Referee; Timekeepers; Physicians; Announcer; Ring inspectors; Judges; and Scorekeeper. The Commission shall assign all officials in a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest. The following persons shall be assigned as officials for each boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest: One referee; Three judges; One timekeeper; One announcer; At least two physicians; Inspectors; and Scorekeeper. General. The referee shall have the authority to: Supervise, generally, a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest; Decide all matters arising during a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest that are not specified in these regulations. Referee's Authority. The referee may stop a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest during or between rounds for any of the following reasons: Injury to a contestant; Poor physical conditioning of a contestant; Disqualification of a contestant for not participating in earnest; or Unsafe ring or fenced area conditions. The referee shall give a contestant sufficient time to recuperate when the contestant is incapacitated by a low blow or other fouling tactic. Referee's Duties. A referee may touch a contestant only if the contestant fails to obey a command to break. In addition to the knockdown procedure described in COMAR 09.14.06.11, the referee shall: Begin a knockdown count for any contestant who leaves the ring or fenced area during the 1-minute rest period between rounds and does not resume participation when the bell signals the beginning of a round; Begin a knockdown count for any contestant who is knocked out or falls out of the ring or fenced area during a round and fails to return immediately to the ring or fenced area; and Remove the mouthpiece of a contestant after the knockdown count. A referee shall warn a contestant and the contestant's manager or chief second in a clear and distinct manner that persistent fouling will result in a penalty before a referee assesses a penalty point. Medical Standards for Referees. A referee annually shall submit to the Commission certification of the following medical examinations: A comprehensive physical; An ophthalmological evaluation as defined in COMAR 09.14.04.02A; and A neurological test as defined in COMAR 09.14.04.03A which is performed by a neurologist or neurosurgeon. The Senior Physician shall determine the appropriate medical documentation for nonresident applicant referees. A referee may not officiate in a contest if any of the following physical conditions are found: Conditions specified in COMAR 09.14.04.04B(1)—(8) and (10)—(11); Uncorrected visual acuity that is less than 20/40; Peripheral vision that is less than 100 percent; or Abnormalities suggestive of acute, subacute, or chronic nervous system abnormalities. Senior Physician. The senior physician is responsible for the health and safety of all participants during a contest and shall have the authority specified in COMAR 09.14.04.05. Ringside Physician. The examining physician shall exercise the duties specified in COMAR 09.14.04.05 including: The pre-fight examination; Examining contestants at the request of the referee; and The post-fight examination. The judges appointed by the Commission shall be stationed in locations designated by the Commission. Judges may bring any matter to the attention of the referee at the end of a round. Judges shall render their scoring at the conclusion of each round. A judge annually shall submit to the Commission the results of an ophthalmological evaluation as defined in COMAR 09.14.04.02A. An individual may not judge a contest if the individual's corrected vision is less than 20/40. The Senior Physician shall determine the appropriate medical documentation for nonresident applicant judges. The timekeeper shall: Be provided with a whistle and accurate stopwatch; Be seated outside the ring, or fenced area, close to the bell and shall indicate the beginning and ending of each round by striking the bell with a metal hammer; Give an appropriate signal to the contestants' seconds 10 seconds before the beginning of each round; Inform the announcer of the exact duration of a contest that is terminated before the completion of the scheduled number of rounds; Keep the time for a contestant suffering a knockdown; and After a knockdown, rise and start counting with the stopwatch until the count of ten is reached. The announcer shall state the following: The name of the contestants; The correct weight of the contestants; and The decision of the referee and judges. The announcer may announce other matters as directed by the Commission. The Commission shall assign ringside inspectors to the corners, and may also assign inspectors to dressing rooms or any other part of the arena to ensure compliance with the regulations. Inspectors shall remain in their assigned positions until relieved by the supervisor of the contests. Business Regulation Article, §§4-205, 4-303, and 4-308, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: October 1, 1965 Subtitle revised effective August 26, 1985 (12:17 Md. R. 1705) Chapter revised effective September 3, 1990 (17:17 Md. R. 2079) Regulation .03D adopted effective February 28, 1994 (21:4 Md. R. 275) Regulation .05D, E adopted effective February 28, 1994 (21:4 Md. R. 275) Chapter revised effective July 6, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 898) Regulation .03D amended effective April 15, 2024 (51:7 Md. R. 332) Regulation .05F adopted effective April 15, 2024 (51:7 Md. R. 332)