WAC 36-14-300   Requirements for ring or enclosed area.  (1) Mixed martial arts contests and exhibitions may be held in a ring or in an enclosed area.

     (2) A ring used for a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts must meet the following requirements:

     (a) The ring must be no smaller than sixteen feet square within the ropes.

     (b) The ring floor must extend at least twenty-four inches beyond the ropes. The ring floor must be padded with ensolite or another 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.

     (c) The ring platform must not be more than four feet above the floor of the building and must have suitable steps for the use of the participants.

     (d) Ring posts must be made of metal, not more than three inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a minimum height of fifty-eight inches above the ring floor, and must be properly padded in a manner approved by the department. Ring posts must be at least twenty-four inches away from the ring ropes.

     (e) There may be no more than five ring ropes, not less than one inch in diameter and wrapped in soft material. The lowest ring rope must be at least twelve inches above the ring floor.

     (f) There must not be any obstruction or object on any part of the ring floor.

     (3) An enclosed area used in a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts must meet the following requirements:

     (a) The enclosed area must be circular or have at least four equal sides and must be no smaller than twenty feet wide.

     (b) The floor of the enclosed area must be padded with ensolite or another similar closed-cell foam, with at least a one-inch layer of foam padding, with a top covering of canvas, duck or similar material tightly stretched and laced to the platform of the enclosed area.

     (c) The platform of the enclosed area must not be more than four feet above the floor of the building and must have suitable steps for the use of the participants.

     (d) Enclosure posts must be made of metal, not more than six inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to between five and seven feet above the floor of the enclosed area, and must be properly padded in a manner approved by the department.

     (e) The material used to construct the enclosed area must be made of a material that will prevent an unarmed combatant from falling out of the enclosed area or breaking through the enclosed area onto the floor of the building or onto the spectators, including, without limitation, chain link fence coated with vinyl.

     (f) Any metal material used in the enclosed area must be covered and padded in a manner approved by the department and must not be abrasive to the participants.

     (g) The enclosed area must have at least three entrances.

     (h) There must not be any obstruction on any part of the enclosure surrounding the area in which the participants are to be competing.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.08.017 and 43.24.023. 04-16-045, § 36-14-300, filed 7/28/04, effective 8/28/04.]