It's taken a year and a half, but mixed martial arts promoters operating in the state of California now have an option to use a cage, as popularized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or a roped-ring, such as the one employed by the International Fight League or PRIDE Fighting Championships, Armando Garcia, the executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission, informed Sherdog.com Wednesday morning.

Friday night in Oakland, Calif., the IFL will become the first MMA organization to make use of the new rule, when it kicks off its 2007 season.

An informational meeting will take place Jan. 31 in Los Angeles, Garcia said, to discuss the impact of this news on mixed martial arts in the Golden State.