Update – September 16, 2020 – This morning Michael Mazzulli, Director of the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation responded as follows – “Presently I am not requiring any other tests (EKG is required) but my medical staff updates me on a daily bases with new protocol.” ____________________________________________________ Regulators around Canada and the United States … More What is the Standard of Care for Licencing Fighters After They’ve “Recovered” From Covid-19?

At UFC Vegas 10 this past weekend Ed Herman won a controversial bout against opponent Mike Rodriguez.  Rodriguez landed two clean strikes to the body causing Herman to crumble and being unable to continue for a considerable period of time.  Referee Chris Tognoni mistakenly called the second bodyshot a low blow but instant replay makes … More Let’s Talk Nevada’s Actual Instant Replay Rule and Controversial Herman/Rodriguez “Low Blow”

Today ViaSport, the BC Government’s lead delivery agency for sports programs, released their latest Covid-19 Protection Return to Sport Guidelines for the Province. Among the guidelines were permission for various combative sports to return to training with contact and even competition in Phase 3. The amateur combat sports under ViaSport’s umbrella are boxing, judo, karate, … More ViaSport Greenlights Contact Training and Competition for Amateur Combat Sports in BC

A few years back Nevada overhauled their combat sports rules to allow instant replay when fights concluded following injury to determine if the injury was caused by a fair blow or a foul.  More recently Nevada expanded their ability to use instant replay “at any time” to increase the ability of referees to get things … More Let’s Talk Daniel Cormier Eye Poke, Missed Calls and Nevada’s Instant Replay Rule

Further update September 3, 2020 – Today is is reported that the NAC handed Pena a 4.5 months suspension for this infraction.   Pena tested positive for marijuana in connection with UFC on ESPN 12 fight against Khama Worthy. Four-and-a-half month suspension, which expires Nov. 10, 15 percent fine of “show” purse, or $4050, and $218.04 … More Is Nevada Doing “Violent Bob Ross” Wrong When it Comes to Cannabis?

Imagine competing in a professional MMA bout and winning by submission.  Then, months later, you are told the bout was overturned to a no contest by the athletic commission in a process that you had no notice of nor were invited to participate in. That’s exactly what MMA fighter Sean Cerveny experienced. At LFA 80 … More New Mexico Athletic Commission Blunders Fighter Appeal Rights With Admitted Impropriety

Two arbitration judgements were released today documenting an anti-doping issue involving released UFC fighter Gilbert Melendez.  Of interest the decisions address when USADA has jurisdiction over a fighter who has been released by the UFC. In short Melendez tested positive for GHRP-6 and its metabolites GHRP-6(2-5)-OH and GHRP-6(2-6)-OH as the result of a urine sample … More Gilbert Melendez Handed 2 year Doping Ban For Violation After Being Released From UFC

Adding to this database of combat sports safety studies, a paper was recently published in the journal of Human Kinetics noting that there is no statistical advantage to athletes who outweigh their opponents via rapid extreme weight loss/gain practices in MMA. In the recent study, titled Worth the Weight? Post Weigh-In Rapid Weight Gain is Not … More Study – Weight Advantages From Weight Cutting/Gaining Non Factor in Bout Outcomes