Press Release
Ring Regulations For Martial Arts Events Approved
January 19, 2007
CONTACT: Armando Garcia, Executive Officer (916) 263-2195
SACRAMENTO – Regulations that offer athletes a ring as an option for a competition enclosure for mixed martial arts events have been approved by the Office of Administrative Law.
Previously, mixed martial arts athletes were only allowed to compete in a ring enclosed by a cage.
"There was strong stakeholder interest in providing this option," said Armando Garcia, Executive Officer of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). "The Commission and subsequently the Commission Program reviewed the proposed addition to the rules and shepherded it through the regulatory process," he said.
The mixed martial arts ring is different from a boxing ring. One of the main differences is the use of an additional rope and mandatory vertical ropes equally spaced on all sides of the ring.
The first event to be held in a ring will take place in Oakland on Friday January 19, 2007 when the International Fight League (IFL), hosts its first California event.
CSAC will hold a licensee/stakeholder informational meeting on January 31, 2007 in Los Angeles.
"The January 31 meeting in Los Angeles will be a great opportunity to discuss the new ring regulations and a variety of other issues with our licensees and other stakeholders," said Garcia.
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