S.C. Code Regs. § 20-27.12 - Requirements for a ring or caged area

(A) Mixed martial arts shall be held in a Commission approved ring or caged area.

(B) The ring or caged area specifications for mixed martial arts must meet the following requirements:

(1) The cage must be of circular type dimensions or have as many as eight (8) equal sides;

(2) Two (2) sides opposite of each other must each have a designated color, one (1) side blue the opposite red;

(3) The ring or cage must be no smaller than twenty (20) feet wide or no larger than thirty-two (32) feet across;

(4) The floor of the ring or caged area must be padded with ensolite or another similar closed-cell foam, with at least a one (1) inch layer of foam padding, with a top covering of canvas, duck or similar material tightly stretched and laced to the platform of the ring or caged area. Material that tends to gather in lumps or ridges must not be used;

(5) The platform of the ring or caged area must not be more than four (4) feet above the floor of the building and must have suitable steps for use of the contestants;

(6) A ring must have five (5) ring ropes, not less than one (1) inch in diameter and wrapped in soft material. The lowest rope must be no higher than twelve (12) inches from the ring floor;

(7) Ring posts must be eighteen (18) inches away from the ring ropes. Ring posts must be made of metal, not less than three (3) inches in diameter, nor more than six (6) inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to between five (5) and seven (7) feet above the floor of the ring or caged area, and must be properly padded in a manner approved by the Commission or Commission Representative;

(8) The fencing used to enclose the caged area must be made of a material that will prevent a contestant from falling out or breaking through the caged area onto the floor of the building or onto spectators, including, without limitation, chain link fence coated with vinyl;

(9) Any metal portion on the interior of the ring or caged area must be covered and padded in a manner approved by the Commission or Commission Representative and must not be abrasive to the contestants;

(10) The ring or caged area must have two (2) operational entrances that must not be obstructed at any time during an event. The entrance must be padded or covered and padded so that there is no exposed metal on the interior of the ring or caged area;

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

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

(13) A Commission approved ring stool must be placed in each corner. All ring stools must be thoroughly cleaned at the conclusion of each fight;

(14) A plastic water bottle and a clean bucket must be placed in each corner. All buckets must be thoroughly cleaned at the conclusion of each fight.

Notes

S.C. Code Regs. § 20-27.12

Added by State Register Volume 36, Issue No. 6, eff June 22, 2012; State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/26/2015.