Maryland Administrative Code

.06 Wrestlers. A. An individual under 18 years old may not be licensed. B. An applicant who does not have professional or amateur wrestling experience, upon request, shall demonstrate to the Commission or its authorized representative that the applicant is properly trained in the…

.07 License Denial, Suspension, Fines, and Revocation. A. The Commission may deny a license to any applicant or revoke a license if the applicant or licensee: (1) Has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (2) Has violated a regulation or order of the Co…

.08 Failure to Respond. A. If an applicant or licensee receives from the Commission a written communication requesting a response, the applicant or licensee shall respond within 30 days of the date of the mailing. B. The Commission shall send a written communication by first-clas…

.01 Contract Between Manager and Contestant. A. Except as otherwise indicated, a contract between a contestant and a manager shall be: (1) Notarized; and (2) Filed with the Commission 5 business days before the contestant first participates in a contest in this State. B. Provisio…

.02 Contract Between Promoter and Contestant. A. A contract between a promoter and a contestant shall include the following provisions: (1) The amount of guarantee or percentage promised by the promoter to the contestant; (2) The number and time limit of rounds; (3) The time and …

.03 Commission Sanction Required. A. A contest may not take place unless sanctioned by the Commission. B. Promoters shall file a written request for a sanction with the Commission at least 30 days before a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest containing the following…

.01 Medical Examinations. A. A contestant applying for a license or license renewal shall have a comprehensive physical examination by the applicant's personal physician performed within 30 days before the application is submitted to the Commission. B. The findings from a physica…

.02 Ophthalmological Evaluation. A. In this regulation, “ophthalmological evaluation” means an examination by an ophthalmologist to detect abnormalities of a person's vision and includes, but is not limited to: (1) Assessment of the cornea, lens, macula, and retina of the eye; (2…

.03 Neurological Testing. A. In this regulation “neurological test” means an examination by a physician to detect abnormalities of the nervous system and includes, but is not limited to: (1) Assessment of mental status, cranial nerves, motor function including power, tone, and bu…

.04 Precontest Examinations. A. A contestant and any substitute contestant shall undergo a final physical examination by a physician at a location, and on a date and time, approved by the Commission. B. A contestant may not engage in a contest if any of the following physical con…

.05 Physician at Contest. A. The Commission shall appoint at least two physicians to insure the safety and health of all contestants in a contest. B. One of the physicians appointed under §A of this regulation, may be a neurosurgeon or a neurologist. C. The Commission shall desig…

.06 Ringside Medical Equipment and Materials. A. The following items shall be available in good working order before each contest begins: (1) A stretcher; (2) A portable resuscitator or Ambubag with oxygen equipment; (3) A hard cervical collar; (4) Endotracheal tubes with laryngo…

.07 Protection Materials. A contestant shall use a custom fitted mouthpiece with palate and a professional protection cup during the contest. Cross References 09.14.14.04C

.08 Proximity of Contest to Emergency Medical Facilities. A. The location of a contest may not be more than 15 minutes by ambulance from a hospital providing neurosurgical evaluation and treatment facilities, with a neurosurgeon on call. B. The medical facility in §A of this regu…

.09 Post-Fight Examinations. A. A contestant shall be given a brief post-fight physical examination by the ringside physician. B. The ringside physician shall complete a post-fight medical recommendation form and give copies of the form to the contestant and the contestant's mana…

.10 Medical Suspensions. A. Medical suspensions may be issued at the discretion of the physician appointed by the Commission. B. The following shall constitute mandatory grounds for medical suspension and minimum duration: (1) Laceration ... 30 days; (2) Technical knockout ... 30…

.11 Duties of Promoter. A. A promoter shall furnish the following for a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest: (1) Sanitary dressing rooms for contestants that contain a restroom, rest table, and facilities for Commission physicians to examine contestants before and a…

.12 Female Contestant. A. A contest between female contestants shall be subject to all the requirements of this chapter. B. The following requirements for a female contestant are in addition to the requirements under §A of this regulation: (1) A female contestant may not contract…

.13 Blood Tests. A. In compliance with the blood testing requirements of Business Regulation Article, §4-304.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, a blood sample from an individual desiring to participate in a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest shall be: (1) Taken by a ph…

.01 Boxing or Kickboxing Ring. A. A boxing or kickboxing ring shall meet the following requirements: (1) The boxing or kickboxing ring may not be less than 16 feet square or more than 24 feet square within the ring ropes; (2) The platform shall extend beyond the ropes for a dista…

.02 Ring Equipment. A. The promoter shall provide all necessary equipment for use by seconds, boxers, and kickboxers at all events, subject to approval by the Commission. B. A bell or gong shall be provided by the Commission and shall be positioned at the ring not higher than the…

.03 Gloves. A. General. (1) Gloves shall conform to specifications as determined by the Commission. (2) Gloves shall be examined before a contest by a Commission representative and the referee. (3) If the padding is misplaced or lumpy, or if the gloves are otherwise defective, th…

.04 Sanitation. A. Promoters shall be responsible for any violation of Commission regulations or applicable local health department requirements concerning sanitary conditions of dressing rooms, showers, water bottles, towels, or other equipment. B. Promoters shall provide at lea…

.05 Round Cards. A. The promoter shall provide a sufficient supply of round cards to designate the upcoming round. B. These cards shall be white and numbered on each side from 1 to 12. C. Cards shall be displayed to be visible to all spectators.

.01 Weights and Classes. A. The Commission recognizes the following weights and classes: (1) Flyweight ----------------------112 pounds or less; (2) Bantamweight -------------- over 112 to 118 pounds; (3) Featherweight ----------------over 118 to 126 pounds; (4) Junior lightweigh…

.02 Scheduling of a Main Event Contest. A. A main event contest shall begin not later than 10 p.m. B. The Commission may grant special permission to begin a main event contest later than permitted by §A of this regulation.

.03 Substitute Contestants. A. Substitute contestants may not engage in a contest unless approved by the Commission. B. The Commission may approve a substitute contestant not later than 12 noon on the date of the contest if the substitute contestant: (1) Passes the final physical…

.04 Boxer's Appearance. A. The Commission or its representative shall inspect each boxer to determine if facial hair or length of hair presents a potential hazard to the boxer, the boxer's opponent, or the referee's ability to supervise the match. B. A boxer may not use excessive…

.05 Boxer's Equipment. A. A boxer's equipment shall be firmly adjusted before entering the ring. B. The belt of the trunks may not extend above the waistline. C. Boxers may not enter the ring with trunks of the same color. D. A boxer may not wear any apparel not provided for in t…

.06 Boxers' Report Time. Boxers shall report to the Commission representative in charge of the dressing rooms at least 2 hours before the scheduled starting time of the first contest.

.07 Fouls. A. A boxer who flagrantly or repeatedly commits a foul may be: (1) Disqualified in a contest by the referee; and (2) Subject to disciplinary action under COMAR 09.14.02.07. B. A foul includes: (1) Hitting below the belt; (2) Hitting an opponent who is down or getting u…

.08 Accidental Foul. A. If an accidental foul occurs and the injured boxer is unable to continue: (1) The contest shall be declared a technical draw if the accidental foul occurs before the completion of half of the scheduled rounds; and (2) A technical decision shall be awarded …

.09 Assessment of Penalty Points. A. A referee may, in the referee's discretion, penalize a boxer who fouls an opponent during a contest by charging the boxer with the loss of points for an intentional or unintentional foul. B. A referee shall assess the penalty points after the …

.10 Low-Blow Foul. A. A contest may not be awarded by reason of a low-blow foul. B. A boxer suffering a low-blow foul shall be given a rest period not exceeding 5 minutes. C. If, after being granted a rest period under §B, of this regulation, the boxer is incapable of continuing,…

.11 Knockdown. A. A boxer shall be considered to have suffered a knockdown if a: (1) Part of the body other than the feet is on the ring floor; (2) Boxer is hanging helplessly over the ropes; (3) Boxer is rising from a down position; or (4) Boxer is knocked through the ropes. B. …

.12 Termination of a Contest. A. A referee may terminate a contest if the referee determines, in his discretion, that a boxer is unable to continue the contest. B. The senior physician may terminate a contest at any time if, in the physician's opinion, the health of either boxer …

.13 Judging and Scoring. A. Judges shall score all contests and determine the winner through the use of the “ten-point must system”. B. The “ten-point must system” shall be applied as follows: (1) The winner of each round receives ten points and the opponent a proportionately les…

.14 Seconds. A. Chief Second. (1) Before starting a contest, the referee shall ascertain from each boxer the name of the chief second. (2) The chief second shall be responsible for the conduct of the assistant seconds during the progress of the contest. B. Number of Seconds. Each…

.15 Referee's Instructions. A. The referee shall call the boxers together for final instructions before the beginning of each contest. B. At the instructions, a boxer may only be accompanied by the boxer's manager or chief second. C. Before the instructions, the referee shall ins…

.16 Rounds. A. A round shall consist of 3 minutes separated by a 1-minute rest period. B. A contest may not exceed 12 rounds. C. Unless special permission has been granted by the Commission, a promoter may not schedule less than five matches in any one event and shall schedule: (…

.17 Public Access to Dressing Room. A. The public may not be allowed into the dressing room of a boxer. B. Only the following persons may be allowed into the dressing room of a boxer: (1) The boxer; (2) The boxer's manager; (3) The boxer's seconds; and (4) The Commission's repres…

.18 Reserve Boxers. A. A promoter may contract for extra contests in reserve for each event. B. Reserve boxers shall meet all requirements for substitute contestants as specified in COMAR 09.14.04. C. An extra contest may only be used if a scheduled contest is cancelled.

.01 Authority of Commission. A. The Commission shall determine the qualifications of all ring officials. B. The Commission shall control and direct the activities of the following individuals: (1) Referee; (2) Timekeepers; (3) Physicians; (4) Announcer; (5) Ring inspectors; (6) J…

.02 Assignments of Officials. A. The Commission shall assign all officials in a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest. B. The following persons shall be assigned as officials for each boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest: (1) One referee; (2) Three judges…

.03 Referee. A. General. The referee shall have the authority to: (1) Supervise, generally, a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest; (2) Decide all matters arising during a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest that are not specified in these regulations. …

.04 Physicians. A. 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. B. Ringside Physician. The examining physician shall exercise the duties specified …

.05 Judges. A. The judges appointed by the Commission shall be stationed in locations designated by the Commission. B. Judges may bring any matter to the attention of the referee at the end of a round. C. Judges shall render their scoring at the conclusion of each round. D. A jud…