Update January 11, 2017 – BlugrassMMA reports that this policy has now been repealed and pros competing on pro-am cards can weigh in day before with a second weigh in on the day of the fight with restrictions on how much weight can be regained. ____________________________________ When combat sports regulators turn their mind to solutions … More Ohio Athletic Commission Passes Troubling Weight Cut Reform
Following news that the UFC have hired lobbyists to stifle the passage of the Muhammad Ali Expansion Act, the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association have stepped up their public stance in support of the legislation. Today 48 individuals, along with MMAFA head Rob Maysey publicly signed their name to an op-ed letter supporting the legislation. … More Fighters Step Up Support for Muhammad Ali Expansion Act
After the largely popular early weigh ins conducted in California at UFC 199 MMAFighting.com’s Marc Raimondi, who has been perhaps the most consistent reporter addressing rapid extreme weight cut issues in the sport, advises that the same protocols will be used for UFC Fight Night 89 this week in Ottawa, Canada. Raimondi reports as follows: … More Ontario Adopts California Style Early Weigh Ins For UFC Fight Night 89
Reasons for judgement were released last week by Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen ordering UFC parent company, Zuffa LLC, to release more documents to the plaintiffs as part of their discovery obligations. Judge Leen provided the following reasons setting out the parameters of the dispute and ordered as follows: The parties disagree as to identity and … More UFC Ordered To Disclose More Documents in Anti Trust Lawsuit
(Artwork by Bob Mueller) As previously discussed, the Muhammad Ali Expansion Act was introduced in Congress in May, 2016. The Bill, which will seek to extend the protections of the Professional Boxing Safety Act to other professional combat sports such as kickboxing and MMA, will disrupt the business model of many promoters such as the … More UFC Hires Lobbyists to Fight Muhammad Ali Expansion Act
While mourning the deaths of Kevin Randleman and Kimbo Slice, veteran fighter Wanderlei Silva took to Instagram to share some thoughts on the perils of his profession. In his post Silva states that “We don’t know yet all the consequences caused by our profession, or the consequences on your bodies and minds…I attended a lecture … More Has Wanderlei Silva Made A Career Ending Concussion Admission?
(Artwork by Bob Mueller) As the world mourns the loss of Muhammad Ali far greater tributes have been written than I can piece together. I will leave that to the professionals. In my humble corner of the internet, however, attribution is called for to celebrate Muhammad Ali’s significant contributions to the world of combat … More Celebrating Muhammad Ali’s Contributions to Combat Sports Law
In my latest review of safety studies in the world of combative sports, a recent article was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine finding concussion ‘preventing’ sports equipment has ‘no effect’. In the recent study, titled “Current State of Concussion Prevention Strategies: a systemic review and meta-analysis of prospective, controlled studies” the authors evaluated 14 studies … More Study – Concussion “Preventing” Sports Equipment Of “No Effect”
Update June 7, 2016 – Sherdog reports that the UFC have released the following statement confirming that the UFC has in fact used the USADA exceptional circumstances policy for Lesnar: “On June 6, 2016, UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar was registered by USADA into the UFC Anti-Doping Policy testing pool. As part of the UFC Anti-Doping … More Brock Lesnar’s Return and the UFC’s USADA Policy
This week UFC parent company Zuffa, who is deep in the defence of an anti-trust lawsuit, was ordered to disclose a lawyer’s e-mail discussing the company’s business strategy for purchasing their biggest rival at the time, Pride FC. At the heart and soul of an anti-trust lawsuit lie allegations that a Defendant unlawfully stomps out … More Lawyer E-Mail – Zuffa Bought Pride “to shut the business down and acquire its fighters for the UFC”
