Last week in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (“ABC”) annual conference, regulators brought in three new procedural changes to the official Unified Rules of MMA. These ‘procedural changes’ are simply codifications of best practices in several situations that often come up during a bout. In short these note … More MMA’s 3 New Unified Rule Clarifications
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
Older fighters require special consideration when it comes to licencing. According to the Association of Ringside Physicians these athletes are at increased risk of “neurological, orthopedic, and ophthalmological injuries” and they require extra care when being cleared for competition. They further note that an athletes “past athletic achievements” matter little and regulators should be instead … More Ringside Doctors – Older Fighters At Increased Risk of Brain, Bone and Eye Injuries
This month the Association of Ringside Physicians, doctors specializing in overseeing the health and safety of athletes at combat sports events, published their latest position statement on headgear. In short they state that “Headguards should not be relied upon to reduce the risk of concussion or other traumatic brain injury. They have not been shown … More Ringside Doctors – Headgear Doesn’t Help With Concussions
From time to time the Association of Ringside Physicians publish consensus statements on various health and safety issues in combat sports. These often guide the positions of athletic commissions that oversee the regulation of these sports. Last month the ARP published their latest and revised position statement on transgender athletes competing in combat sports. In … More Ringside Doctors Say Transgender Athletes Should Not Compete in Combat Sports Against Cisgender Athletes
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
Combat Sports Law 