Update – July 21, 2016 – according to Ken Pavia Alexander Shlemenko won his appeal and is free to fight _________________ This week the California State Athletic Commission handed out a three year suspension to Alexander Shlemenko who tested positive for prohibited PED’s following his last Bellator bout. This is no doubt evidence of a … More Lessons From the Shlemenko Affair
The California State Athletic Commission has been one of the more vocal regulators about the dangers of Rapid Extreme Weight Cuts in combative sports. They continue to take action with the AC’s Executive Officer, Andy Foster, recently being grated permission to purchase a Body Composition Analyzer to use at weigh ins. In a meeting held … More CSAC Takes Further Steps to Crack Down on Rapid Extreme Weight Cutting
With the recent creation of the Saskatchewan Athletics Commission and with the Province set to host their first UFC event in August, 2015 the SAC has now finalized their professional MMA Rules. I have obtained a copy and you can access these here –Saskathewan Pro MMA Rules The rules largely mirror the so-called unified rules of MMA with few … More Saskatchewan Finalizes Professional MMA Rules
The one night elimination tournament is at the foundation of the history of modern mixed martial arts but the format has all but disappeared since the early days of the sport. Today, Bellator MMA announced plans to host a one night 4 man elimination tournament in California. Is that even legal in the State? The … More A Statutory Breakdown of Bellator’s Planned One Night Elimination Tournament
Today the USADA has released the nuts and bolts of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy publishing the following documents – UFC-anti-doping-policy UFC-arbitration-rules UFC-tue-policy UFC-whereabouts-policy While this policy can and should be applauded as the most comprehensive private solution in the professional combat sports industry in relation to doping, there are a few significant loopholes that appear … More Details of USADA Anti Doping Policy Revealed – Let’s Talk Loopholes
He’s back! After a brief hiatus “Showdown” Joe Ferraro has relaunched his podcast. Today I had the pleasure of appearing on Joe’s revamped show along with UFC commentator Jon Anik discussing some of the latest legal topics in combat sports. You can listen to the full episode here. I’d like to thank Joe for having me as … More Welcome “The Showdown” Podcast Listeners
Update June 14, 2015 – Jason Cruz reports the cases have now been consolidated in Nevada with Judge Richard Boulware taking conduct. You can click here for background information on Judge Boulware. _____________________________________ With the various anti-trust lawsuits against Zuffa being transferred from California to Nevada earlier this month comes some expected administrative disarray. In … More Zuffa Motion To Stay Discovery Dismissed By Nevada Judge
Update June 10, 2015 – Jim Genia has tweeted the following update announcing that the Senate has accepted the revamped Bill leaving it in the hands of the NY State Assembly – ___________________________________________ As the New York State Assembly struggles to gather the needed votes to pass proposed legislation to legalize professional MMA, the Bill … More New York Overhauls MMA Bill as Deadline Looms
1. Despite what your contract says you may be employees 2. If so, you are entitled to certain minimum protections under law, including the right to unionize As the UFC continues to solidify its market position as the pinnacle promotion for elite professional MMA more discussions are taking place about the need for a fighters … More What UFC Fighters Can Learn From Strippers and Cheerleaders
Today the UFC announced a vigorous in house program designed to weed out and punish athletes using performance enhancing drugs. The move is one that should be applauded. If ever there was a genre of sports that cannot tolerate cheating with PED’s it’s combative sports. Given the varying, sometimes impotent and sometimes non-existent patchwork of … More UFC Announces Aggressive Anti Doping Policy
Combat Sports Law 