# COMAR Title 09 — Maryland Department of Labor

## Subtitle 14 — State Athletic Commission

### Chapter 16 — Mixed Martial Arts—Professional

#### Regulation .05 Fighting Area.

*COMAR 09.14.16.05*

A. A mixed martial arts contest shall be held in a ring or in a fenced area.

B. A ring used for a contest of mixed martial arts shall meet the following requirements:

  (1) The ring may not be smaller than 20 feet square and may not be larger than 32 feet square within the ropes;

  (2) The ring floor shall:

    (a) Extend at least 18 inches beyond the ropes;

    (b) Be padded with ensolite or another similar closed-cell foam, with at least a 1-inch layer of foam padding, which shall extend beyond the ring ropes and over the edge of the platform;

    (c) Have a top covering of canvas, duck, or similar material that:

      (i) Does not tend to gather in lumps or ridges; and

      (ii) Is tightly stretched and laced to the ring platform; and

    (d) Be free of any obstruction or object, including a triangular border;

  (3) The ring platform:

    (a) May not be more than 4 feet above the floor of the building; and

    (b) Shall have suitable steps for the use of the mixed martial arts contestants;

  (4) The ring posts:

    (a) Shall be made of metal;

    (b) May not be more than 3 inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a minimum height of 58 inches above the ring floor;

    (c) Shall be at least 18 inches away from the ring ropes; and

    (d) Shall be properly padded in a manner approved by the Commission; and

  (5) The ring ropes:

    (a) Shall be five in number;

    (b) May not be less than 1 inch in diameter;

    (c) Shall be wrapped in soft material; and

    (d) Shall be at least 12 inches above the ring floor.

C. A fenced area used for a contest of mixed martial arts shall meet the following requirements:

  (1) The fenced area shall be circular or have at least four equal sides;

  (2) The fenced area may not be smaller than 20 feet wide and may not be larger than 32 feet wide in diameter;

  (3) The floor of the fenced area shall:

    (a) Be padded with ensolite or another similar closed-cell foam, with at least a 1-inch layer of foam padding; and

    (b) Have a top covering of canvas, duck, or similar material that:

      (i) Does not tend to gather in lumps or ridges; and

      (ii) Is tightly stretched and laced to the platform of the fenced area;

  (4) The platform of the fenced area:

    (a) May not be more than 4 feet above the floor of the building; and

    (b) Shall have suitable steps for the use of the mixed martial arts contestants;

  (5) The fence posts of the fenced area shall be:

    (a) Made of metal, not more than 6 inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to between 5 and 7 feet above the floor of the fenced area; and

    (b) Properly padded in a manner approved by the Commission;

  (6) The fencing used to enclose the fenced area shall be made of a material that will prevent a mixed martial arts contestant from falling out of, or breaking through, the fenced area onto the floor of the building or onto the spectators;

  (7) Any metal portion of the fenced area shall be covered and padded in a manner approved by the Commission and may not be abrasive to the mixed martial arts contestants;

  (8) The fenced area shall have two entrances; and

  (9) There may not be any obstruction on any part of the fence surrounding the area where the mixed martial arts contestants are to be competing.