HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pennsylvania has joined
the growing number of states to allow Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, events,
now that the State Athletic Commission has approved final regulations for
the sport, Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes announced today.
The new regulations take effect Feb. 27, 2009.
The regulations require that all professional ($22 fee) and amateur ($10
fee) MMA fighters must be licensed and take a pre-fight physical exam by a
commission-approved doctor. All fighters must be at least 18 years old.
Other exams may also be required, particularly for boxers over the age of
36. All female fighters will be required to take a pregnancy test before
each event. All fighters also must provide an annual physical (on a
commission form) as well as a negative HIV, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B exam
at the time of licensing, and exams cannot be more than six months old.
Insurance is required for all fighters and referees, and an ambulance and
emergency personnel with emergency equipment must be at ringside at all
times.
Highlights of the promoter regulations require that all promoters must have
a valid promoter’s license from the commission, which costs $100 per year.
All promoters must also complete a criminal background check on a form
supplied by the commission (fee is $10). A surety bond of not less than
$15,000 must be on file with the commission before an MMA event takes place.
As safety and fairness are primary concerns, specific requirements are also
outlined for the ring. The ring must be at least 20 feet square and no
larger than 32 feet square within the five-ring ropes. The ring floor must
extend at least 18 inches beyond the ropes and must be padded with Ensolite,
vinyl or 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 of the
platform, with a top covering of canvas, duck or similar material tightly
stretched and laced to the ring platform. Material that gathers in lumps or
ridges may not be used.
For cage events, the enclosed area must be circular or have at least six
equal sides and be at least 20 feet wide and no larger than 32 feet wide.
The floor of the caged area must be padded with Ensolite, vinyl or similar
closed-cell foam, with at least a one-inch layer of foam padding. Foam
padding must have a top covering of canvas, duck or similar material tightly
stretched and laced to the platform of the caged area. Material that gathers
in lumps or ridges may not be used.
This article courtesy of mmamemories.com