Month: March 2014

How (and why) Athletic Commissions Can Clean Up PED Abuse in MMA

March 28, 2014

_________________________ At this week’s Canadian Bar Association combat sports legal conference  I asked the UFC’s lawyer, Michael Mersch, whether Zuffa has any plans to conduct regular, random, out of competition PED testing for their contracted fighters.  In short his answer was no however the details of his reply give good insight that, should a lawsuit … More How (and why) Athletic Commissions Can Clean Up PED Abuse in MMA

“Rates of KOs and TKOs in MMA are higher than previously reported “

March 27, 2014

Findings were published in this month’s American Journal of Sports Medicine studying “incidence, risk factors, and characteristics of knockouts (KOs) and technical knockouts (TKOs) from repetitive strikes in professional MMA“.  The study focused specifically on UFC’s pay per view cards. The study concludes that “Rates of KOs and TKOs in MMA are higher than previously … More “Rates of KOs and TKOs in MMA are higher than previously reported “

Insight Into Zuffa’s Concussion Lawsuit Defence Strategy

March 26, 2014

                    Like all major sporting organizations, the UFC is aware of legal threats their business model poses and considers legal strategies in response to these. On March 25, 2014 the UFC’s Michael Mersch and Tom Wright along with two local attorneys hosted the Canadian Bar Association’s Professional Development … More Insight Into Zuffa’s Concussion Lawsuit Defence Strategy

What the ABC Thinks About Oklahoma’s One Night Elimination MMA Tournament

March 26, 2014

UPADATE – After a series of setbacks this event was pushed back from its June date and is now scheduled to take place on October 3, 2014. ___________________________________________________________________ It is reported that the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission has approved a one night, 8 man elimination MMA tournament.  Promoted as the “Battlegrounds ONE Tournament” it is advertised as … More What the ABC Thinks About Oklahoma’s One Night Elimination MMA Tournament

ARP Calls For Weight Cut Reform in Combat Sports

March 25, 2014

Dangerous weight cutting practices have been attracting an ever increasing spotlight in the combat sports community.  The Association of Ringside Physicians have now weighed in on the issue providing the following press release (ARP Weight Cut Reform Press Release) calling for reform: Introduction Unhealthy and sometimes dangerous weight loss practices continue to be a significant problem in … More ARP Calls For Weight Cut Reform in Combat Sports

Fight Purse Uncertainty – A Problem That Should Never Happen

March 24, 2014

It is rumored that, following WSOF Canada’s Ford v. Powell card, fighter pay issues arose with some cheques issued being cancelled or otherwise not clearing.  I reached out to WSOF Canada to verify these rumours but at the time of publication they have yet to respond:       _____________________________ I am advised by a source … More Fight Purse Uncertainty – A Problem That Should Never Happen

Do the SMAA’s Licencing Policies Violate Canadian “Mobility Rights”?

March 23, 2014

As the Government appointed body tasked with amateur MMA regulation in Saskatchewan the SMAA is an agent of Government and must ensure that they operate with legal protections in mind including those set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Unfortunately one of the SMAA’s policies appear to run afoul of these protections, specifically … More Do the SMAA’s Licencing Policies Violate Canadian “Mobility Rights”?

Saskatchewan Professional MMA Bill Passes into Law

March 22, 2014

          Less than a year following passage of Bill S-209 the landscape for professional MMA in Canada continues to take shape with another Province formally legalizing the sport. On March 18, 2014 the Saskatchewan Athletics Commission Act  (Bill 108) passed Third Reading.  The Act creates a Province wide Athletics Commission which will … More Saskatchewan Professional MMA Bill Passes into Law

Cleaning Up PED’s in Combat Sports – Perhaps Science Has the Answer

March 19, 2014

Research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society this week with an apparent breakthrough in PED testing noting that a new method has been identified which “is a thousand times more sensitive to performance enhancing drugs“. The new method is apparently commercially viable, inexpensive and can identify various PED’s up to two … More Cleaning Up PED’s in Combat Sports – Perhaps Science Has the Answer