District of Columbia Administrative Code

2316 MINIMUM KICKING REQUIREMENTS 2316.1 Each contestant shall execute a minimum of eight (8) kicking techniques during the course of each round. 2316.2 A minimum kick requirement official shall credit a contestant with a kick only when the contestant clearly attempts to make con…

2317 SWEEPS AND FOLLOW-UP TECHNIQUES 2317.1 A contestant shall execute a sweep only by making a sweeping motion with the padded area of the kicking foot, such that only the padded area could strike the opponent. 2317.2 After a successful sweep, a contestant shall not execute any …

2318 HEAD BUTTS 2318.1 When a contestant is cut as a result of an unintentional head butt, the referee may stop the contest, and may consult with the ringside physician in making such a determination. 2318.2 If the contest has been stopped pursuant to § 2118.1 during the first th…

2319 FOULS 2319.1 No contestant shall commit any of the of following fouls: (a) Striking the face with any part of the arm other than the gloved hand; (b) Kicking to the leg; (c) Take downs; (d) Sweeping above the area designated for sweeps; (e) Grabbing or holding onto an oppone…

2320 INTENTIONAL LOSSES 2320.1 If the referee determines that one or both of the contestants are attempting to lose the contest, the referee shall stop the contest and notify each contestant involved that the contestant’s purse will be withheld pending a final decision as to whet…

2321 FINAL DECISION 2321.1 Judges designated by the Commission shall make the final decision in each event, unless the contest is first stopped by the referee for reason a knockout, technical knockout, foul, inability of a contestant to continue, or other reason for which the ref…

2322 THE RING 2322.1 The ring in an event shall be at least sixteen feet (16’) square and at most twenty feet (20’) square within the ropes. The ring’s floor shall extend beyond the ropes at least twenty-four inches (24”). The ring shall be padded with felt, corrugated paper, mat…

2323 TICKETS 2323.1 The promoter shall provide to the Commission, prior to the commencement of an event at which admission is charged, a manifest or report on the number, kind, and price of tickets printed for the contest. 2323.2 Each ticket shall have the price, name of the prom…

2324 PROTECTION OF CONTESTANTS 2324.1 In case of serious injury to a contestant, the Commission may conduct an investigation to determine if there has been a violation of this chapter on the part of any person. 2324.2 The examining physician shall attend to the contestants at the…

2325 MANAGERS 2325 No person shall manage a contestant without written, notarized contract with the contestant, which shall be with the Commission on file. 2325.2 The Commission shall accept for filing only the original or a certified copy of the standard Commission contract for …

2326 TIMEKEEPERS 2326.1 The timekeeper shall sit at ringside closest to the gong. The timekeeper shall indicate the beginning and end of each round by striking the gong once with a metal hammer. 2326.2 The timekeeper have a whistle and an accurate stopwatch that an inspector of t…

2327 JUDGES 2327.1 The Commission shall designate three (3) judges for each contest, who shall score the contestants and make final decisions. 2327.2 The Commission may designate substitute judges for a contest in the absence of the judges originally designated for the contest. S…

2328 REFEREES 2328.1 The referee is the chief official in each contest. The referee shall enforce these rules during the contest. 2328.2 The referee may stop a contest if the referee thinks one of the contestants is clearly disadvantaged or if a contestant appears injured. The re…

2329 AMATEUR KICKBOXING CONTESTS 2329.1 In amateur contests the referee may discontinue the contest for a standing eight (8) count to any contestant who is stunned or disoriented as a result of a blow even though still standing. 2329.2 The referee shall direct the opponent to a n…

2399 DEFINITIONS 2399.1 As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases have the meanings ascribed: Contest - single kickboxing match. Contestant - a kickboxer taking part in a specific contest. Event – a kickboxing contest, match, exhibition, or showing. 2399.2 The defi…

2400 APPLICABILITY 2400.1 This chapter applies to mixed martial arts events, both professional and amateur, in the District of Columbia and to the participants in and promoters of these events. 2400.2 Chapter 20 of this title (Boxing and Wrestling General Rules and Procedures) sh…

2401 WEIGHT CLASSES OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTISTS 2401.1 Mixed martial artists shall be divided into weight classes in accordance with the current version of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts as adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) ( HYPERL…

2402 FIGHTING AREA 2402.1 The fighting area canvas shall be no smaller than 18 feet by 18 feet and no larger than 32 feet by 32 feet. The fighting area canvas shall be padded in a manner as approved by the Commissioner, with at least one-inch layer of foam padding. Padding shall …

2403 STOOLS 2403.1 A ring stool of a type approved by the Commissioner shall be available for each contestant. 2403.2 An appropriate number of stools or chairs, of a type approved by the Commissioner, shall be available for each contestant's seconds. Such stools or chairs shall b…

2404 EQUIPMENT 2404.1 For each bout, the promoter shall provide a clean water bucket and a clean plastic water bottle in each corner. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 7223 (July 27, 2007).

2405 SPECIFICATIONS FOR BANDAGES ON MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST'S HANDS 2405.1 In all weight classes, the bandages on each contestant's hand shall be restricted to soft gauze cloth not more than 13 yards in length and two inches in width, held in place by not more than 10 feet of surgeo…

2406 MOUTH PIECES 2406.1 All contestants are required to wear a mouthpiece during competition. The mouthpiece shall be subject to examination and approval by the attending physician. 2406.2 The round cannot begin without the mouthpiece in place. 2406.3 If the mouthpiece is involu…

2407 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 2407.1 Male mixed martial artists shall wear a groin protector of their own selection, of a type approved by the Commissioner. 2407.2 Female mixed martial artists are prohibited from wearing groin protectors. 2407.3 Female mixed martial artists shall wea…

2408 GLOVES 2408.1 The gloves shall be new for all events and in good condition or they shall be replaced. 2408.2 All contestants shall wear gloves weighing not less than four (4) ounces, and not more than eight (8) ounces. 2408.3 All gloves worn by contestants shall be supplied …

2409 APPAREL 2409.1 Each contestant shall wear mixed martial arts shorts, biking shorts, or kickboxing shorts. 2409.2 Gi's or shirts are prohibited during competition. 2409.3 Shoes are prohibited during competition. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 7224 (July 27, 2007…

2410 APPEARANCE 2410.1 All contestants shall be cleanly shaven immediately prior to competition, except that a contestant may wear a closely cropped mustache. 2410.2 Hair shall be trimmed or tied back in such a manner as not to interfere with the vision of either contestant or co…

2411 ROUND LENGTH 2411.1 Except as provided for in § 2411.3, each non-championship mixed martial arts contest shall be three (3) rounds, of five (5) minutes duration, with a one (1)-minute rest period between each round. 2411.2 Except as provided for in § 2411.3, each championshi…

2412 STOPPING A CONTEST 2412.1 The referee and ringside physician are the sole arbiters of a bout and are the only individuals authorized to enter the fighting area at any time during competition and authorized to stop a contest. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 7224 …

2413 JUDGING 2413.1 All bouts will be evaluated and scored by three judges. 2413.2 Judging and scoring of all bouts shall be conducted in accordance with the judging and scoring criteria established in the current version of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts as adopted by t…

2414 WARNINGS 2414.1 The referee shall issue a single warning for the following infractions. After the initial warning, if the prohibited conduct persists, a penalty will be issued. The penalty may result in a deduction of points or disqualification: (a) Holding or grabbing the f…

2415 FOULS 2415.1 A contestant shall be subject to penalty if he or she commits any foul as established by the current version of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts as adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) ( HYPERLINK "http://www.abcboxi…

2416 INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING COMPETITION 2416.1 If an injury sustained during competition as a result of a legal maneuver is severe enough to terminate a bout, the injured contestant loses by technical knockout. 2416.2 If an injury sustained during competition as a result of an…

2417 BOUT RESULTS 2417.1 Judges designated by the Commission shall make the final decision in each event, unless the referee first stops the contest. Types of decisions are as follows; (a) Submission by Tap Out or Verbal Tap Out; (b) Technical knockout; (c) Knockout; (d) Decision…

2418 TICKETS 2418.1 The promoter shall provide to the Commission, prior to the commencement of an event at which admission is charged, a manifest or report on the number, kind, and price of tickets printed for the contest. 2418.2 Each ticket shall have the price, name of the prom…

2419 LICENSING 2419.1 All mixed martial arts events shall be subject to the licensing requirements of 19 DCMR Chapter 20. 2419.2 The fee for a mixed martial artist license shall be as set forth in 17 DCMR Chapter 35. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 7229 (July 27, 200…

2420 BOND PROCEDURE 2420.1 All mixed martial arts events shall be subject to the bond procedure requirements of D.C. Official Code § 3-606(d). SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 7229 (July 27, 2007).

2421 INSPECTORS 2421.1 All mixed martial arts events shall be subject to inspection by the Commission and its inspectors pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 3-606(e), § 3-606(g), and 19 DCMR 2023. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 7229 (July 27, 2007).

2422 HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES 2422.1 All mixed martial arts events shall comply with the health and safety requirements of 19 DCMR 2126 regarding the protection of contestants during an event. 2422.2 All mixed martial arts events shall comply with the health and safety requirement…

2423 WEIGH-IN OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CONTESTANTS 2423.1 Contestants shall be weighed in the presence of each other and of an official of the Commission at such time prior to the contest as deemed appropriate by the Commission. 2423.2 If a contest is postponed for more than twenty-…

2499 DEFINITIONS 2499.1 As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases have the meanings ascribed: Decision via scorecards - A decision made based upon the scores recorded by the judges on the scorecard during the bout. Decisions may be unanimous, split, or majority as …

2700 ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE 2700.1 There is established as an independent authority of the District government a District of Columbia Sports Commission (the “Commission”). 2700.2 The Commission is created as a corporate body and instrumentality of the District for the following p…

2701 OFFICES 2701.1 The principal office of the Commission shall be located within the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, 2400 East Capitol Street, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003- 1794. 2701.2 The Commission may maintain such other offices within the District as it deems appropriate…

2702 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2702.1 All powers of the Commission shall be vested in and exercised by or under the authority of, and the affairs of the Commission managed under the direction of, the Board of Directors. 2702.2 All members of the Board of Directors shall be residents of …

2703 MEETINGS 2703.1 The Board shall conduct not less than four annual regularly scheduled meetings at any place within the District. Other meetings of the Board may be convened by the Chairperson, or by a majority of the members of the Board. 2703.2 All meetings of the Board sha…

2704 OFFICERS 2704.1 The officers of the Board shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, and such other officers as the Board shall from time to time appoint. 2704.2 Officers of the Board shall be elected from among the members of the Board, except that the…

2705 COMMITTEES 2705.1 The standing committees of the Board shall consist of a Budget and Finance Committee and a Personnel Committee. 2705.2 The Board may create one or more additional committees as it deems appropriate to conduct the affairs, or any aspect of the affairs, of th…

2706 EMPLOYEES 2706.1 The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall be an employee of the Commission and shall serve as the chief executive officer of the Commission. 2706.2 The Executive Director shall not be a member of the Board. 2706.3 The Executive Director shall s…

2707 CONFLICT OF INTEREST 2707.1 Any member or employee of the Commission who, in the discharge of his or her official duties, would be required to take action or make a decision that would affect directly or indirectly his or her financial interest, as defined by D.C. Code § 1-1…

2708 GENERAL PROVISIONS 2708.1 The Board may amend or repeal these By-Laws or adopt new By-Laws by a majority vote of the members at any meeting. 2708.2 All books, records and accounts shall be open to inspection by members in the manner and to the extent required by law. 2708.3 …

2800 PURPOSE AND APPLICATION 2800.1 The following policies, rules and procedures governing the procurement, management and disposal of goods and services are hereby adopted by the District of Columbia Sports and Entertainment Commission (the “Commission”), notwithstanding, and in…