Nevada Athletic Commission Accused of Holding Wanderlei Silva Hearing “Hostage”

Lost in yesterday’s news of Nick Diaz’s drastically reduced suspension following his Nevada Athletic Commission marijuana saga, is Wanderlei Silva’s prolonged and ongoing battle with the Commission reaching back to a ducked out of competition drug test in May of 2014. In short Silva ran and was issued a lifetime ban and a $70,000 fine … More Nevada Athletic Commission Accused of Holding Wanderlei Silva Hearing “Hostage”

Mixed Marital Arts Fighters Association Petition for Ali Act Expansion

Today the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association launched an online petition seeking for support to expand the Muhammad Ali Act to professional Mixed Martial Arts. The petition can be found here and reads as follows – To: Chairman, House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Stop unfair and anticompetitive practices in MMA. MMA is the fastest growing … More Mixed Marital Arts Fighters Association Petition for Ali Act Expansion

Nevada Athletic Commission Reduce Diaz Penalty; Delay Silva Re-hearing Until February

Further Update January 12, 2016 – Diaz and the NAC reached a settlement agreement that was unanimously approved at the hearing.  His suspension was reduced from 5 years to 18 months.  His fine was reduced from $166,462 to $100,000.  Diaz was ordered to provide the NAC three clean urine test results before is next contest … More Nevada Athletic Commission Reduce Diaz Penalty; Delay Silva Re-hearing Until February

Lessons and Reflections from Cro Cop’s Negative Doping Test

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

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

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

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

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

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

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