North Dakota Administrative Code

1. These rules govern boxing matches, exhibitions, or sparring, unless rules are otherwise approved by the commissioner for good cause shown for a specific match, exhibition, or sparring event. Kickboxing matches are governed by the generally accepted rules adopted for that sport…

1. Licenses are issued for a calendar year beginning January first and ending December thirty- first. If applying for a license, the applicant shall submit the application affirming the information provided is correct. 2. The licenses available and the fees for each license are a…

1. Except for a contestant and as otherwise indicated, every licensee shall: a. Provide proof that the applicant is eighteen years of age or older. A valid form of proof is a photo driver's license, state-issued identification card, tribal-issued identification card, passport, or…

A promoter shall: 1. Apply to the commissioner or commission to produce, arrange, or stage a match a minimum of two months prior to the event. 2. Provide proof of adequate insurance covering contestants, officials, and the public present at the event. 3. Provide medical insurance…

A referee shall: 1. Not officiate more than thirty-two rounds during the event. 2. Have a physical examination prior to the event by the ringside physician either at the official weigh-in or prior to the beginning of the match and receive the physician's approval prior to officia…

The three judges for the match shall: 1. Sit on a stool midway between the ring posts and not on the same side of the ring as another judge and have a direct view of the ring. 2. Use the "ten point must" system described in section 72-02.2-01.1-22. 3. Mark the score card in ink f…

1. Each contestant may have a maximum of three cornerpersons, with one of the cornerpersons designated as the chief cornerperson. 2. One cornerperson is allowed inside the ring at the end of each round and the others, if any, shall stay on the apron. The cornerperson shall clear …

1. The timekeeper shall have a timing device. The timekeeper shall indicate the beginning and end of each round by a bell, horn, or buzzer having a clear audible tone to be heard by the referee and contestants. Ten seconds prior to the end of a round, the knockdown counter shall …

1. A physician shall examine each contestant within thirty-six hours before entering the ring. The examining physician immediately shall file with the commissioner a written report of the examination to certify to the commissioner the contestant is in acceptable physical conditio…

1. All tickets must display the purchase price and may not be sold for more than the purchase price. 2. Upon showing identification provided by the commissioner, only the following persons may be admitted without a ticket: a. The commissioner, commission members, and others desig…

1. A promoter may not have a direct or indirect financial relationship with a contestant. A match may not be held in premises owned or leased by the promoter or premises in which the promoter has a direct or indirect financial relationship unless approved by the commissioner. 2. …

Repealed effective October 1, 2020.

1. The commissioner shall suspend or revoke the license of any promoter, ring official, manager, trainer, or cornerperson who promotes, conducts, gives, or participates in any sham or collusive boxing or sparring match. A promoter or matchmaker may not arrange a match in which th…

1. At a time and place approved by the commissioner, the commission members shall administer a weigh-in event in which each contestant must be weighed before the opposing contestant at least eight but not more than thirty-six hours before the match. 2. The official scales must be…

1. Boxing events must have a minimum of twenty-four scheduled rounds. Each match must have a minimum of four rounds and a maximum of twelve rounds for male contestants and ten rounds for female contestants. 2. The maximum time for each round for a male contestant is three minutes…

1. A contestant's gloves must be furnished by the promoter. 2. A promoter shall provide at an event the following number of gloves in each size: a. Eight ounces [226.8 grams] - Twenty pairs; and b. Ten ounces [283.5 grams] - Twenty pairs. 3. The gloves furnished by a promoter mus…

Each match must include the following safeguards: 1. A minimum of one physician, licensed by the North Dakota board of medicine and licensed as a ring physician by the board, must be at ringside during the match. Ring physicians licensed by other state jurisdictions may be allowe…

A boxing match only may be held in a ring inspected and approved by the commission according to the following requirements: 1. The ring must be a minimum of sixteen feet [4.88 meters] and a maximum of twenty-two feet [6.71 meters] square inside the ropes. The ring apron must be a…

1. The promoter or cornerperson shall supply the following items approved by the commission for each contestant corner: a. Enough buckets for contestants; b. Plastic water bottle and water; c. Sponges; d. Surgical tape; and e. Chairs or stools for contestant use between rounds an…

The judges shall use the "ten point must system" for scoring. The contestant winning the round is awarded ten points based on clean hitting, effective aggressiveness, defense, and ring generalship. The other contestant is awarded nine or fewer points. If the round is even, each c…

1. Knockdown: A boxer is "down" when any part of the boxer's body, except the boxer's feet, touches the floor of the ring, or when the boxer hangs helplessly on the ring ropes or when the boxer is rising from a down position, as a result of a legal blow. Whether a knockdown has o…

1. Intentional fouls: If an intentionally fouled contestant cannot continue, the offending contestant is disqualified. If the match continues and is subsequently stopped because of an injury resulting from the intentional foul, the fouled contestant is declared the winner of the …

1. A referee shall warn a contestant if the referee determines a contestant is stalling or faking. If, after the warning, the contestant continues to stall or pull punches, the referee shall stop the match at the round's end. 2. If the referee determines if one or both contestant…

The following fight results apply to boxing matches: 1. Draw: A winner cannot be determined by score cards. 2. TKO: A contestant cannot continue. 3. KO: A contestant is knocked out. 4. Disqualified: A contestant is disqualified for violating rules. 5. Split decision: Two judges s…

An applicant or licensee may appeal any action of the commissioner or commission under this chapter in denying, suspending, refusing to renew, or revoking a license. The appeal must be performed in accordance with the provisions of North Dakota Century Code chapter 28-32. History…

For purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Commission" or "commission member" means the North Dakota commission of combative sports or a person delegated by the commissioner. 2. "Commissioner" means the North Dakota secretary of state acting as the c…

The North Dakota commission of combative sports consists of nine members appointed by the commissioner to staggered three-year terms each with three members appointed in each term. A vacancy in the membership caused other than by expiration of terms is filled for the balance of t…

The rules in this chapter govern all mixed fighting style contests or exhibitions. 1. The commissioner and the commission are the administrators of all professional mixed fighting style contests within the state and over amateur contests, upon request, with the approval of the co…

1. Licenses are issued for a calendar year beginning January first and ending December thirty- first. When applying for a license, the applicant shall submit the application affirming the information provided is correct. 2. The licenses available and the fees for each license are…

A promoter shall: 1. Apply to the commissioner or commission to produce, arrange, or stage a match a minimum of two months prior to the event. 2. Provide proof of adequate insurance covering contestants, officials, and the public present at the event. 3. Provide medical insurance…

A referee shall: 1. Not officiate more than thirty-two rounds during the event. 2. Have a physical examination prior to the event by the ringside physician either at the official weigh-in or prior to the beginning of the match and receive the physician's approval prior to officia…

The three judges for the match shall: 1. Sit on a stool midway between the ring posts and not on the same side of the ring as another judge and have a direct view of the ring. 2. Use the "ten point must system" scoring described in section 72-02.2-02-22. 3. Mark the score card in…

1. Each contestant may have a maximum of three seconds, with one of the seconds designated as the chief second. 2. Two seconds, without shoes, are allowed inside the ring at the end of each round and the others, if any, shall stay on the platform. The seconds shall clear all item…

1. The timekeeper shall have a timing device. The timekeeper shall indicate the beginning and end of each round by a bell, horn, or buzzer having a clear audible tone to be heard by the referee and contestants. Ten seconds prior to the end of a round, the timekeeper shall strike …

1. A physician shall examine each contestant within thirty-six hours before entering the ring. The examining physician immediately shall file with the commission a written report of the examination to certify to the commissioner the contestant is in acceptable physical condition …

1. All tickets must display the purchase price and may not be sold for more than the purchase price. 2. Upon showing identification provided by the commissioner, only the following persons may be admitted without a ticket: a. The commissioner, commission members, and others desig…

1. A promoter may not have a direct or indirect financial relationship with a contestant. A match may not be held in premises owned or leased by the promoter or premises in which the promoter has a direct or indirect financial relationship unless approved by the commissioner. 2. …

Repealed effective October 1, 2020.

1. The commissioner shall suspend or revoke the license of any promoter, ring official, manager, trainer, or cornerperson who promotes, conducts, gives, or participates in any sham or collusive mixed fighting style competition or exhibition. A promoter or matchmaker may not arran…

1. At a time and place approved by the commissioner, the commission members shall administer a weigh-in event in which each contestant must be weighed before the opposing contestant at least eight but not more than thirty-six hours before the match. 2. The weight classes are as i…

1. Mixed fighting style competitive events must have a minimum of twenty scheduled rounds. Each match must have a minimum of three rounds and a maximum of five rounds for a championship match. 2. The maximum time for each round is five minutes with a one minute rest period betwee…

Proper appearance and attire are subject to the unified rules of mixed martial arts as adopted by the association of boxing commissions and combative sports and in effect on October 1, 2025. History: Effective October 1, 2006; amended effective October 1, 2020; October 1, 2025. G…

1. A contestant's gloves must be furnished by the promoter. 2. A promoter shall provide at an event the following number of gloves in each of the following sizes: 10 a. Size small - eight pairs; b. Size medium - twelve pairs; c. Size large - twelve pairs; d. Size extra large - tw…

Each match must include the following safeguards: 1. A minimum of one physician, licensed by the North Dakota board of medicine and licensed as a ring physician by the board, must be at ringside during the match. Ring physicians licensed by other state jurisdictions may be allowe…

A mixed fighting style match only may be held in a ring or fenced area inspected and approved by the commission according to the following requirements: 1. For a ring: a. The ring must be a minimum of sixteen feet [4.88 meters] and a maximum of thirty-two feet [9.753 meters] squa…

1. The promoter or second shall supply the following items approved by the commission for each contestant corner: a. Enough buckets for contestants; b. Plastic water bottle and water; c. Sponges; d. Surgical tape; and e. Chairs or stools for contestant use between rounds and for …

The judges shall use the "ten point must system" scoring system based on the guidelines as adopted by the association of boxing commissions and combative sports and in effect on October 1, 2025. The contestant winning the round is awarded ten points and the other contestant is aw…