Combat Sports Law

The Mohegan Department of Athletic Regulation has become the latest athletic commission to implement weight cut reforms in combat sports.

As reported by theMMAreport.com, the Mohegan Commission has sent a letter to fighters scheduled to compete at Bellator 153 advising of the new regulations which are similar to recent reforms passed in California.  The letter read as follows –

Important Notice For All Fighters and Managers

In the combative sports industry, regulatory commissions are in the process of determining the best way to discourage excessive and extreme rapid weight loss prior to a contest. It should not be a badge of honor to lose weight in a manner that is unsafe and unhealthy, and in the near future there will be new safeguards implemented that will affect you.

One immediate safeguard implemented by The Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation as of January 30, 2016 is the banning of all IV hydration practices/uses, in an effort to curtail unhealthy weight loss. If a fighter is found to have utilized an IV for rehydration after weighing in at Mohegan Sun, he/she will not fight and will be fined and suspended nationally for 6 months.

In addition, all fighters on the upcoming Bellator 153 card will have two options to weigh in on April 21, 2016 at Mohegan Sun. The following processes will be utilized:

All Fighters must declare by 6:00 PM on Wednesday April 20, 2016 with Bellator Officials (information will be forward to the MTDAR) which process of weighing-in that they will be selected. The fighter’s decision will be final once it has been reported to the MTDAR.

Option 1. 11:00 AM -12:00PM WEIGH-IN APRIL 21, 2016

– If a fighter decides to weigh-in prior to the public weigh-in, they will be able to do so between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. This will be considered their OFFICIAL WEIGHT. If for any reason the fighter fails to make weight, he/she will have up to two hours to re-weigh at which time the weight will be considered FINAL. Any fighter not having officially weighed in by 12:00 p.m. must wait until 5:00 p.m. to weigh-in publicly. After the weigh-in the MTDAR will take the fighters blood pressure and pulse, this will not affect your eligibility to fight the following day.

Option 2. 5:00 PM APRIL 21, 2016-LIVE WEIGH-IN / PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF ALL WEIGHTS

-All fighters must attend the Live Weigh-in Event. Fighters who have completed the weigh-in process shall step on the scale and have their previously recorded official weight announced. Fighters who have not yet weighed will be OFFICIALLY WEIGHED at this time. If for any reason the fighter fails to make weight, he/she will have up to two hours to re-weigh at which time the weight will be considered FINAL.

* All fighters are required to sign their Mohegan Tribe Athletic Regulation bout contact prior to stepping on the scale.