- A. A Muay Thai contest shall be held in a ring or in a fenced area.
B. A ring used for a Muay Thai contest shall meet the following requirements.
- (1) The ring may not be smaller than 20 feet square and may not be larger than 32 feet square within the ropes.
(2) The ring floor shall:
- (a) Extend at least 18 inches beyond the ropes;
- (b) Be padded with Ensolite or another similar closed-cell foam, with at least a 1-inch layer of foam padding, which shall extend beyond the ring ropes and over the edge of the platform;
(c) Have a top covering of canvas, duck, or similar material that:
- (i) Does not tend to gather in lumps or ridges; and
- (ii) Is tightly stretched and laced to the ring platform; and
- (d) Be free of any obstruction or object, including a triangular border;
(3) The ring platform:
- (a) May not be more than 4 feet above the floor of the building; and
- (b) Shall have suitable steps for the use of the Muay Thai contestant;
(4) The ring posts:
- (a) Shall be made of metal;
- (b) May not be more than 3 inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to a minimum height of 58 inches above the ring floor;
- (c) Shall be at least 18 inches away from the ring ropes; and
- (d) Shall be properly padded in a manner approved by the Commission.
(5) The ring ropes:
- (a) Shall be five in number;
- (b) May not be less than 1 inch in diameter;
- (c) Shall be wrapped in soft material; and
- (d) Shall be at least 12 inches above the ring floor.
C. A fenced area used for a contest of mixed martial arts shall meet the following requirements:
- (1) The fenced area shall be circular or have at least four equal sides.
- (2) The fenced area may not be smaller than 20 feet wide and may not be larger than 32 feet wide in diameter.
(3) The floor of the fenced area shall:
- (a) Be padded with Ensolite or another similar closed-cell foam, with at least a 1-inch layer of foam padding; and
(b) Have a top covering of canvas, duck, or similar material that:
- (i) . Does not tend to gather in lumps or ridges; and (ii.) Is tightly stretched and laced to the platform of the fenced area.
(4) The platform of the fenced area:
- (a) May not be more than 4 feet above the floor of the building; and
- (b) Shall have suitable steps for the use of the Muay Thai contestants.
(5) The fence posts of the fenced area shall be:
- (a) Made of metal, not more than 6 inches in diameter, extending from the floor of the building to between 5 and 7 feet above the floor of the fenced area; and
- (b) Properly padded in a manner approved by the Commission.
- (6) The fencing used to enclose the fenced area shall be made of a material that will prevent a Muay Thai contestant from falling out of, or breaking through, the fenced area onto the floor of the building or onto the spectators.
- (7) Any metal portion of the fenced area shall be covered and padded in a manner approved by the Commission and may not be abrasive to the Muay Thai contestant.
- (8) The fenced area shall have two entrances.
- (9) There may not be any obstruction on any part of the fence surrounding the area where Muay Thai Contestant are to be competing.
Authority: Business Regulations Article, §§4-205, 4-301, and 4-303, Annotated Code of Maryland
Effective date: September 29, 2025 (52:19 Md. R. 956)