MMA

Mixed Martial Arts Proposed in Maryland

 

It is the opinion of the State Athletic Commission that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions are not legal in Maryland, but a bill before the Maryland General Assembly may change that.

Sen. Joan Carter Conway, a Baltimore Democrat, and Del. Kirill Reznik (he studies Kempo!), a Montgomery County Democrat, have introduced respective Senate (SB 649) and House (HB 795) bills that would legalize MMA by giving the State Athletic commission oversight.

State regulation of athletic competitions depends on a State’s particular statutes and agency regulations. Some states allow any competition that they do not specifically regulate, whereas Maryland falls on the other side and disallows any striking competitions not regulated.

Currently, more than half the states in the U.S. allow both amateur and professional MMA competitions. For a comprehensive listing of all states, see the International Kickboxing Federation listings.

If passed in Maryland, the new law would require the State Athletic Commission to promulgate regulations for MMA competitions, similar to those already existing for boxing, kickboxing, and wrestling. Likely Maryland’s regulations would follow New Jersey’s Mixed Martial Arts Unified Rules of Conduct.

Unfortunately, agency regulations are promulgated through a long notice and comment procedure where proposed regulations are drafted, then reviewed by agencies and respective counsel, and then published for public comment. Agencies then review the public comments before finalizing the regulations and republishing. This process is not quick and it is doubtful that MMA competitions will be taking place in Maryland anytime in 2008 even if the current bills are passed.

Even that is not a done deal, as there are many reasons why a particular bill may be held up in committee, fail to be passed into law, or just turned into useless sausage by the grinding political process.

If you are at all interested in seeing MMA in Maryland, the best thing you can do is contact your district’s State Senators and Delegates (i.e., not your U.S. Senators and Congressmen) and let them know by telephone, email, or letter.

You can find the contact information for the Maryland elected officials representing your area here: http://mdelect.net/. Let them know you are a voter that supports Mixed Martial Arts and ask them to vote in favor of Senate Bill 649 and House Bill 795. 

Big thanks to Ground Control’s John Rallo who has been pushing for this for years.

Current Maryland regulations and laws regarding boxing, kickboxing, and wrestling:

Maryland Athletic Commission Regulations (COMAR)

Subtitle 14 STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION

09.14.01 General Provisions
09.14.02 Applications and Licensing
09.14.03 Boxing Contracts and Sanctions
09.14.04 Safety and Health Standards for Boxers
09.14.05 Boxing Facilities and Equipment
09.14.06 Conduct of Boxing Contests
09.14.07 Ring Officials
09.14.08 Wrestling Regulations
09.14.09 Control and Taxing of Tickets
09.14.10 Prohibited Practices
09.14.11 Hearing Regulations
09.14.12 Amateur Boxing Regulations
09.14.13 Prohibited Substances
09.14.14 Kickboxing Regulations
09.14.15 State Championships

 

Maryland Statutes on Athletic Contests

 

Md. Code, Business Regulations.

TITLE 4. ATHLETICS

Subtitle 1. Definitions.

• 4-101. Definitions.

Subtitle 2. State Athletic Commission.
• 4-201. Established.
• 4-202. Membership.
• 4-203. Chairman.
• 4-204. Quorum; meetings; compensation; surety bond; staff; office.
• 4-205. Miscellaneous powers and duties.
• 4-206. Disposition of money.
• 4-207. Authority of Secretary.
• 4-208. Termination of certain provisions.

Subtitle 3. Boxing, Kick Boxing, and Wrestling.
• 4-301. "License" defined.
• 4-302. Scope of subtitle; headgear for amateur boxing.
• 4-303. License required.
• 4-304. Qualifications of boxers and kick boxers.
• 4-304.1. Blood tests for boxers and kick boxers.
• 4-305. Applications for licenses.
• 4-306. Surety bond.
• 4-307. Issuance of license.
• 4-308. Scope of license.
• 4-309. Term of license.
• 4-310. Denials, reprimands, suspensions, and revocations - Grounds; penalties.
• 4-311. Same - Hearings.
• 4-312. Judicial review.
• 4-313. Contests authorized.
• 4-314. Neurological examination required.
• 4-315. Boxing contests.
• 4-316. Boxing, kick boxing, or wrestling in fake contests.
• 4-317. Publication of seat prices.
• 4-318. Ticket scalping.
• 4-319. Ventilation and safety of structures.
• 4-320. Allowing unlicensed person to act or participate in contest prohibited.
• 4-321. Accepting money or gifts for favors.
• 4-322. Penalties.
• 4-323. Injunctive relief.

© 2008 Martial History Magazine.