A protection system for a rotary cutter, with the rotary cutter including a deck and one or more blade assemblies extending below the deck for cutting vegetation. The protection system comprises a protection annulus associated with one of the blade assemblies, with the protection annulus secured to a bottom surface of the deck and positioned between the deck and the blade assembly. The protection annulus has a width extending from an inner radius of the protection annulus to an outer radius of the protection annulus. The protection annulus has a height extending vertically downward from the bottom surface of the deck. The width of the protection annulus is greater than the height of the protection annulus.