14B NCAC 10 .0805          Ring Requirements -MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

(a)  Mixed martial arts may be held in a ring, cage or a fenced area with overhead lighting bright enough to illuminate the entire ring floor.

(b)  The ring specifications for mixed martial arts must meet the following requirements:

(1)           The ring may be no smaller than 20 feet square and no larger than 32 feet square within the ropes.

(2)           One of the corners must have a blue designation, the corner directly across must have a red destination.

(3)           The ring floor must extend at least eighteen inches beyond the ropes. The ring floor must be padded with ensolite or a similar closed-cell foam, with at least a one inch layer of foam padding. Padding must extend beyond the ring ropes and over the edge platform, with a top covering of canvas, duck or similar material tightly stretched and laced to the ring platform. Material that tends to gather in lumps and ridges may not be used.

(4)           The ring platform must be no more than four feet above the floor of the building and must have steps for the use of the contestants.

(5)           Ring posts must be made of metal, not more than three inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a minimum height of 58 inches above the ring floor, and must be padded in a manner to prevent contact of contestant's body to a metal surface. Ring posts must be 18 inches away from the ring ropes.

(6)           There must be five ring ropes, not less than one inch in diameter and wrapped in soft material. The lowest rope must be no higher than 12 inches from the ring floor.

(7)           There must not be any obstruction or object, including advertisement for sponsors, on any part of the ring floor.

(c)  The fenced or cage specifications for mixed martial arts must meet the following requirements:

(1)           The fenced or cage area must be circular or have as many as eight equal sides;

(2)           Two sides opposite of each other must each have a designated color, one side blue the opposite red;

(3)           The fenced or cage area must be no smaller than 20 feet wide and no larger than 32 feet across within the ropes;

(4)           The floor of the fenced area must be padded with ensolite or another similar closed-cell foam, with at least a one inch layer of foam padding, with a top covering of canvas, duck or similar material tightly stretched and laced to the platform of the fenced or cage area. Material that tends to gather in lumps or ridges must not be used;

(5)           The platform of the fenced or cage area must not be more than four feet above the floor of the building and must have steps for use of the contestants;

(6)           Fence posts must be made of metal, not more than six inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to between five and seven feet above the floor of the fenced or cage area, and must be padded in a manner to prevent contact of contestant's body to any metal surface;

(7)           A chain link fence, coated with vinyl, shall be used to enclose the fenced or cage area and made of a material strong enough that will prevent a contestant from falling out or breaking through the fenced or cage area onto the floor of the building or onto spectators;

(8)           Any metal portion on the interior of the fenced or cage area must be covered and padded in a manner to prevent contact of contestant's body to any metal surface and must not be abrasive to the contestants;

(9)           The fenced or cage area must have two entrances. The entrances must be padded or covered and padded so that is no exposed metal on the interior of the fenced or caged area;

(10)         There must not be any obstruction on any part of the fence surrounding the area in which the contestants are competing;

(11)         Any metal parts used to enforce the fenced or caged area wall must be positioned as to not interfere with the safety of the contestants;

(12)         A crowd control barrier shall be installed at least eight feet away from the edge of the ring, cage, or fenced area and before the first spectator's seats. This barrier shall be capable of restraining spectators from entry to the ringside area.

(d)  In venues that seat more than 12,000 spectators, the Division representative shall require the promoter of a mixed martial arts contest to place at least two video screens that will allow spectators to view action inside the ring, cage or fenced area.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-652.1;

Eff. March 1, 2008;

Transferred from 14A NCAC 12 .0805 Eff. June 1, 2013;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018.