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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 53 Pa.B. 8238 (December 30, 2023).

Pennsylvania Code



Subchapter B. AMATEUR MIXED MARTIAL ARTS


Sec.


29.21.    General provisions.
29.22.    General requirements.
29.23.    Amateur mixed martial arts license fee.
29.24.    Conduct of contests.
29.25.    Duration of rounds.
29.26.    Proper attire for contestants.
29.27.    Equipment.
29.28.    Legal techniques.
29.29.    Acts constituting fouls.
29.30.    Waiver of rule for contestants with three or more amateur bouts.

§ 29.21. General provisions.

 The Boxing Act, as it relates to professional boxers and Chapter 21 (relating to professional boxing) apply to amateur mixed martial arts competitors, promoters and other licensees, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Subchapter A (relating to professional mixed martial arts) applies to amateur mixed martial arts, except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.

§ 29.22. General requirements.

 (a)  Amateur contestants shall be at least 18 years of age.

 (b)  Amateur contests and exhibitions of mixed martial arts shall be conducted under the supervision and authority of the Commission.

 (c)  Amateur contestants shall be licensed by the Commission.

 (d)  Debut amateur contestants shall complete a Commission-approved form detailing the contestant’s experience and training in mixed martial arts competitions. The form may be obtained by request from the Commission office or from the Commission’s web site at http://www.dos.state.pa.us/sac. The trainer of the debut contestant shall certify that the contestant is skilled enough to compete and has never engaged in any type of professional mixed martial arts event. A professional boxer may compete as an amateur in a mixed martial arts event only with the approval of the Commission.

 (e)  The Commission may review the applicant’s experience, qualifications, medical records, win-loss record and training record as part of its determination whether to issue or renew any amateur mixed martial arts license.

 (f)  Amateur mixed martial arts contestants shall be covered by insurance which will be set by Commission policy and paid for by the promoter or sponsor of the event.

 (g)  Amateur contestants shall attend the prebout meeting with a designee of the Commission to review all rules and regulations of the Commission pertaining to amateur mixed martial arts.

§ 29.23. Amateur mixed martial arts license fee.

 A nonrefundable annual license fee of $10 must accompany each application for a license or renewal of a license as an amateur mixed martial arts contestant.

§ 29.24. Conduct of contests.

 Amateur events must have at least two professional bouts.

§ 29.25. Duration of rounds.

 (a)  A contest of amateur mixed martial arts with a contestant with three or less amateur bouts may not exceed three rounds of 2 minutes per round with a 1 minute rest period between rounds, except with the written or oral permission of the Commission or the Executive Director.

 (b)  A contest of amateur mixed martial arts with a contestant with more than three amateur bouts may not exceed three rounds of 3 minutes per round with a 1 minute rest period between rounds, except with the written or oral permission of the Commission or the Executive Director.

§ 29.26. Proper attire for contestants.

 (a)  Trunks. Each amateur contestant shall wear mixed martial arts shorts, biker shorts, boxing or kickboxing shorts during competition as approved by the Commission.

 (b)  Shirt or gi. Male contestants may not wear a shirt or gi during competition, other than a close-fitting rash guard. Any rash guard must be approved by the Commission. Female contestants shall wear a body shirt and blouse during competition.

 (c)  Shoes. Contestants may not wear shoes or padding on their feet during competition.

§ 29.27. Equipment.

 (a)  The gloves used in amateur mixed martial arts contests and exhibitions must be new for all main events. The gloves used for all undercard events must be in good condition and approved by the referee and the Executive Director or a designee before and during use or they must be replaced.

 (b)  Amateur contestants shall wear open finger gloves weighing at least 7 ounces, which shall be supplied by the promoter and approved by the referee and the Executive Director or a designee before and during use. Contestants are not permitted to supply their own gloves.

 (c)  Contestants shall wear a mouth guard, shin pads and instep pads during competition.

 (d)  Ankle wraps may be used during competition. Ankle wraps are subject to examination and approval by the referee and the Executive Director or a designee.

 (e)  Male contestants shall provide and wear a foul-proof groin protector during competition. The groin protector is subject to examination and approval by the referee and the Executive Director or a designee.

 (f)  Female contestants shall provide and wear a chest protector during competition. The chest protector is subject to examination and approval by the referee and the Executive Director or a designee. Female contestants may provide and wear a foul-proof groin protector during competition. The groin protector is subject to examination and approval by the referee and the Executive Director or a designee.

 (g)  For each contest or exhibition, the licensed promoter shall provide each contestant’s corner with a clean water bucket and a stool.

Cross References

   This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §  29.30 (relating to waiver of rule for contests with three or more amateur bouts).

§ 29.28. Legal techniques.

 (a)  The following acts constitute legal techniques while standing in any amateur mixed martial arts contest or exhibition:

   (1)  Closed hand strikes to head and body.

   (2)  Kicking to body and legs.

   (3)  Knees to body and legs.

   (4)  Throws.

   (5)  Take downs.

   (6)  Sweeps.

   (7)  Standing submissions.

   (8)  Chokes.

   (9)  Armbars.

   (10)  Shouldering.

 (b)  The following acts constitute legal techniques while on the ground in any amateur mixed martial arts contest or exhibition:

   (1)  Closed hand strikes to body and legs.

   (2)  Submissions (chokes, armbars, straight leg locks only).

§ 29.29. Acts constituting fouls.

 (a)  Disqualification from an amateur mixed martial arts contest and exhibition occurs after any combination of three fouls or after a flagrant foul as determined by the referee.

 (b)  The following acts constitute fouls in a contest or exhibition of amateur mixed martial arts:

   (1)  An act prohibited by §  29.12 (relating to acts constituting fouls).

   (2)  Any of the following illegal techniques while standing:

     (i)   Elbows of any kind.

     (ii)   Knees to head.

     (iii)   Kicks to knees or head.

     (iv)   Stomps on feet.

     (v)   Slamming. Throws should be completed in a controlled manner.

     (vi)   Throws against a joint.

     (vii)   Neck cranks.

     (viii)   Pinching, biting or gouging.

   (3)  Any of the following illegal techniques while on the ground:

     (i)   Striking to the head.

     (ii)   Neck cranks.

     (iii)   Heel hooks.

     (iv)   Finger locks.

     (v)   Toe locks.

     (vi)   Choking with hand on throat.

     (vii)   Smothering (hand over mouth).

     (viii)   Spine locks.

     (ix)   Hammer locks.

     (x)   Slamming.

     (xi)   Pinching, biting or gouging.

Cross References

   This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §  29.2 (relating to definitions); and 58 Pa. Code §  29.30 (relating to waiver of rule for contestants with three or more amateur bouts).

§ 29.30. Waiver of rule for contestants with three or more amateur bouts.

 (a)  An amateur contestant who has completed at least three amateur bouts may petition the Commission to waive the ‘‘striking to the head while on the ground’’ provision in §  29.29(b)(3)(i) (relating to acts constituting fouls) and the shin/instep pad requirement in §  29.27(c) (relating to equipment).

 (b)  The waiver will include only bouts in which both contestants have the required three-bout experience and both have agreed to conduct the contest with a waiver of the ‘‘striking to the head while on the ground’’ and the shin/instep pad rules.

 (c)  Grant of the waiver will be at the discretion of the Commission. In reviewing waiver requests, the Commission will consider factors including the win-loss record, conditioning, training, experience and skill level of each individual contestant.

Source

   The provisions of this §  29.30 adopted May 17, 2013, effective May 18, 2013, 43 Pa.B. 2714.



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