Update August 9, 2023 – I have obtained a copy of Judge Boulware’s reasons certifying the lawsuit as a class action. Here they are in full ______________________________________________________________________ In December 2020 Judge Boulware stated the lawsuit alleging abuse of illegal monopsony power by the UFC was likely going to be certified as a class action. Then … More UFC Antitrust Lawsuit Officially Certified As Class Action

Last week in Las Vegas the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports approved an official unified set of bare knuckle fighting rules. One commission abstained from voting with every other commission unanimously approving the ruleset. Bare knuckle fighting remains illegal in several jurisdictions including some who approved the vote at the ABC conference. The … More Official “Unified Bare Knuckle Fighting” Rules Approved by ABC

This week the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports hosted their annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Present were regulators from across the US, Canada and beyond. As part of the Athletes Voice Committee (a new committee formed this year to give fighters an organized seat at the regulatory table) we presented three initiatives … More Athletes Voice Committee Advocates For Unified Appeal Rights, Manager Regulation and Improved Brain Health Education

Another rule clarification came forth at this years annual Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports conference in Las Vegas. In short it is being proposed that cut persons be allowed to work a cut during a round if the cut came about from a foul. The practice clarification reads as follows: Intention: When a … More ABC Proposes Using Cutpersons During Rounds To Attend To Fouls

This week the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) brought forth a proposed codification to referee practices after they stop a bout to take a foul. There is presently inconsistency about how referees position fighters after breaking for a foul. In short the new clarification notes that no fighter should be rewarded by … More ABC Proposes Clarifying Fighter Positioning Post Foul

This week a bout occurred in California (amateur bout overseen by CAMO) where an opponent lost and then won. Caught in a Von Flue choke, tapped out, went out. The referee somehow missed this and the bout continued. The fighter then went on to score a KO victory. The footage speaks for itself. CAMO, like … More A Case For MMA Appeal Reform

The UFC reportedly brings in more profit than all other MMA and boxing promoters in the world COMBINED. John Nash of BloodyElbow reports on UFC finances with more detail than any other journalist I am aware of. I will simply let the above fact and the below tweet speak for themselves.

The PFL is an MMA promotion that tries to separate themselves from the pack by having a regular season, playoffs, and seasonal champions in MMA. Real sport with merit dictating advancemnt, not promoter whims. This week, however, the PFL meddled with this format bringing its integrity into quesiton. By way of background Natan Schulte and … More Is the PFL’s “Season” Format Totally Made Up?

This weekend an event in Calgary is being promoted called “The Canadian Knightfall Championships“. Never heard of this? Basically people dressed in full armour with weapons bludgeoning each other. Have a look at the below tweet for reference. Is this legal? Let’s break things down. Like with any novel ‘combat sport’ in Canada the ‘prize … More The Questionable Legality of Knight Fighting