After years of taking the position that the Criminal Code only allows Provinces to oversee two types of professional combative sports (boxing and MMA) the BC Government has had a change of tune and have announced the Province will legalize professional kickboxing.  They have done so noting that pro kickboxing rules can simply be a … More BC To Legalize Pro Kickboxing

A Ringside Physician present at Tim Hague’s fatal boxing bout in 2017 admitted in court filings that Hague was assessed for “Depression and Suicidal Ideation” in the months prior to his death. As previously discussed Hague, a former UFC fighter, died from brain trauma after a boxing bout on June 16, 2017 in Edmonton Alberta. … More Ringside Doctor – Tim Hague Assessed for “Depression and Suicidal Ideation” Before Fatal Bout

Update August 13, 2019 – KO Boxing, the promoter for the bout in question and co-Defendant in the lawsuit have now filed their Statement of Defense.  They conclude with the following position: “At the time of the Braidwood fight, the Deceased was an adult with the capacity to make decisions affecting his health and safety, … More City of Edmonton Looks To Hide Behind Waiver in Tim Hague Wrongful Death Suit

Update August 23, 2019 – Today the Nevada Athletic Commission responded to my public records request for all of Brock Lesnar’s UFC bout agreements in their jurisdiction.  As reported below these deviated from the pay he actually received for these bouts as revealed in the antitrust litigation.  These bout agreements can be found here – … More Did Regulators Deceive the Public About Brock Lesnar’s UFC Pay?

The definition of a grounded fighter in MMA is important as knees and kicks to the head of such an opponent are prohibited.  In 2016 the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (the “ABC”) softened the rule with the belief that some fighters were gaming the system by changing from standing to grounded by … More ABC Overhauls “Grounded” Fighter Definition in Hopes to Re-Unify Rule

Update December 6, 2019 – Today UK Anti Doping released a statement noting that their anti doping charge against Whyte has been “withdrawn”.  In short UKAD notes Whyte did test positive for a banned substance but concluded that the levels detected were “consistent with an isolated contamination event, and they are not suggestive of doping. … More Should Dillian Whyte Have Been Provisionally Suspended by the UKAD Before The Rivas Bout?

Cannabis remains banned in-competition under the UFC’s custom tailored USADA anti doping program.  Today USADA revealed that Alen Amedovski was handed a 6 month suspension for testing positive for Carboxy-THC at a urinary concentration exceeding the permitted limits for the in-competition timeframe on April 20, 2019, at Fight Night 149 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. His … More UFC’s Alen Amedovski Receives USADA Supsension for Marijuana

France is one of the most high profile countries yet to legalize Mixed Martial Arts.  Today it was announced that the longstanding ban will be coming to an end as of January 1, 2020. Roxana Maracineanu, France’s Minister of Sports, tweeted the following announcement noting the sport will be legalized and governed by a yet … More France to Legalize Pro and Amateur MMA as of January 1, 2020

Update: MMA refereeing pioneer and co-writer of the unified rules John McCarthy was kind enough to weigh in with his views on this topic: _________________________________________________ The now famous toe kick oilcheck.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about I can do no better job describing the incident than the one and only Robin Black.  … More Let’s Talk the Toe Kick Oilcheck and MMA’s Unified Rules

The below article was first published in June 2019 and is updated as new jurisdictions legalize Bare Knuckle Boxing ________________________________________________________ When this site started several years back MMA was illegal in certain jurisdictions and regulatory progress was mapped out.  Now Bare Knuckle Boxing “BKB” is walking a similar path and its regulatory story, much like … More Documenting Bare Knuckle Boxing Legality