Update June 5, 2018. As reported by MMAFighting the WSBMMA has now released their list of medical suspensions following this event. These are as follows:
- Joey Beltran: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address face lacerations
- Tony Lopez: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address face and ear lacerations
- Bec Rawlings: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address potential hand fracture
- Alma Garcia: Suspended indefinitely, fighter needs to be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address potential fractured nose and face lacerations
- Irineu Beato Costa Jr.: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address potential concussion
- Johnny Bedford: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address potential right hand fracture
- Nick Mamalis: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address left eye laceration
- Reggie Barnett: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address potential right and left hand fractures
- Travis Thompson: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address left eye laceration
- DJ Linderman: Suspended indefinitely, fighter must be cleared by doctor before next fight; fight doctor recommends fighter seek medical attention to address left eye laceration
- Eric Prindle: Suspended 60 days
- Dale Sopi: Suspended 60 days
- Omar Avelar: Suspended 60 days
- Ricco Rodriquez: Suspended 30 days
- Lewis Rumsey: Suspended 30 days
- Maurice Jackson: Suspended 30 days
- Estevan Payan: Suspended 30 days
- Arnold Adams: Suspended 30 days
- Sam Shewmaker: Suspended 7 days
- Bobby Gunn: Suspended 7 days
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This weekend the first State athletic commission approved bare knuckle boxing event took place in Wyoming. The event, titled the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, created much buzz with numerous mainstream media outlets lending press to the show.
The event was regulated by the Wyoming State Board of Mixed Martial Arts. This legal entity does not have the power to oversee professional boxing. By statute they can only regulate mixed martial arts. They provided their stamp of approval to this event by characterizing it as a form of MMA, noting that the sport combines elements of both boxing and sports that allow clinch fighting.
While now a technically legal sport, a gap is left in how other jurisdictions will characterize this event. The most important aspect of regulators sharing data with each other is to ensure fighter safety and to recognize and respect medical suspensions handed out to fighters.
The Association of Boxing Commissions does not view bare knuckle fighting to be a form of professional boxing with ABC President Michael Mazzulli noting “It does NOT qualify as professional boxing as no gloves are worn“.
Similarly, Kirik Jenness, the official record keeper recognized by the ABC for professional Mixed Martial Arts in the US notes that the results of bare knuckle fighting will not be recorded in their database as it is not what is commonly recognized as MMA.
However, while both BoxRec (a boxing record keeper approved by the ABC) and Jenness will not record the results of the event both are prepared to record any medical suspensions handed out to the fighters.
This is an important step in legitimizing the event because it will keep it on the radar of other US and Canadian regulators who ought to respect any medical suspensions that the Wyoming State Board of MMA hands out to bare knuckle fighters.
Combat Sports Law 