Category: Uncategorized

Lessons and Reflections from Cro Cop’s Negative Doping Test

January 10, 2016

Last year legendary fighter Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic unceremoniously retired from MMA in the midst of a doping scandal.  Cro Cop admitted to out of competition use of Human Growth Hormone shortly after being subject to USADA testing and earned the unwelcome distinction of being the first fighter to be sanctioned under the UFC’s/USADA anti doping regime. … More Lessons and Reflections from Cro Cop’s Negative Doping Test

Gary Goodridge Discusses the Reality of Living With CTE

January 9, 2016

The risks of long term brain injury for athletes who choose a career in MMA and other combat sports is a reality. While this site spends much time summarizing scientific literature addressing these risks a personal story is far more persuasive than data and statistics. Recently legendary combat sports fighter “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge highlights … More Gary Goodridge Discusses the Reality of Living With CTE

UFC Issues Payment Reductions Following Outfitting Policy Infractions

January 7, 2016

Update January 12 – Cerrone has suggested that his fine was $10K or more.  It has also been confirmed that Rafael Dos Anjos was the second fighter to be  fined a “significant amount”for wearing an Evolve MMA t-shirt prior to weigh ins, and lastly that Nate Diaz was the third to be fined, his violation apparently … More UFC Issues Payment Reductions Following Outfitting Policy Infractions

Mayweather v. Ortiz Pay Per View Piracy Leads to $2,200 Damage Award

December 29, 2015

Adding to this site’s archived case summaries involving combat sports PPV piracy, reasons for judgement were recently released by the US District Court, WD Kentucky, Louisville Division, assessing damages following commercial piracy of the Mayweather v. Ortiz boxing card. In the recent case (J & J Sports Productions Inc. v. Caro) the Defendant operated a … More Mayweather v. Ortiz Pay Per View Piracy Leads to $2,200 Damage Award

Following Fighter Death ONE Championship Creates Strict Weight Cut Reforms

December 23, 2015

Earlier this month ONE Championship fighter Yang Jian Bing died from complications secondary to a rapid extreme weight cut for a bout scheduled in the Phillipines.  A senseless tragedy that would be made even worse if the landscape which influences fighters to make such extreme cuts remained intact.  Fortunately for the integrity of the sport ONE … More Following Fighter Death ONE Championship Creates Strict Weight Cut Reforms

Supreme Court of Canada – Doping in Sports is Criminal Fraud Against Gambling Community

December 18, 2015

Earlier this year I discussed an important decision by the Supreme Court of Canada finding that doping in sports can amount to criminal fraud.  Today the Supreme Court of Canada published their full reasons for judgement. What does this have to do with MMA and other combat sports?  A lot.  The takeaway from this important … More Supreme Court of Canada – Doping in Sports is Criminal Fraud Against Gambling Community

California Tackles Rapid Extreme Weight Cuts in MMA

December 17, 2015

Update January 4, 2016 -Full video of the Summit has now been published and can be viewed here –   Update – MMAFighting’s Marc Raimondi attended the summit and authored this helpful summary of what transpired. _______________________ Today the California State Athletic Commission is holding a “Dehydration and Weight Cutting Summit” in Los Angeles. The … More California Tackles Rapid Extreme Weight Cuts in MMA

$20,000 Damages Suggested For Piracy of UFC 175

December 17, 2015

Update January 12, 2016 – this week Magistrate Judge Delaney vacated the below default judgement. _________________________________ Reasons for judgement were recently published by the US District Court, ED California, suggesting damages of $20,000 following the commercial piracy of UFC 175. In the recent case (Joe Hand Promotions Inc. v. Toto) the Defendant operated a sports bar … More $20,000 Damages Suggested For Piracy of UFC 175

White House Responds to Nick Diaz Nevada Suspension

December 9, 2015

After surpassing the 100,000 signature threshold the White House was forced to respond to Nick Diaz’s 5 year suspension issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Unsurprisingly the official response was short noting this is not a matter in the Federal Government’s jurisdiction.  Of interest the comment notes if there are federal issues in the … More White House Responds to Nick Diaz Nevada Suspension

What Standards Do the UFC/USADA Have For TUE’s?

December 7, 2015

Update  December 15, 2015- USADA’s media relations specialist Ryan Madden has replied and confirms that, despite the silence in the TUE policy, that USADA uses WADA standards when reviewing TUE applications under the UFC anti doping policy.  Madden advised as follows Thanks for your patience… I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. Regarding … More What Standards Do the UFC/USADA Have For TUE’s?