Yesterday I had the pleasure of appearing on UFC Central Radio to discuss some of the legal topics addressing combat sports in Canada. You can listen to the interview here. I’d like to thank Showdown Joe Ferraro for having me as a guest once again. If you are visiting here for the first time … More Welcome UFC Central Listeners!
As previously discussed intense and frequent sparring can have more negative effects on brain function than the frequency of knockouts in competition. A further study addressing the effects of cumulative subconcussive hits was recently published in the journal Neurology. You can find an abstract of the study here. The author compared a group of NCAA hockey … More Study Shows Multiple Subconcussive Hits Take Their Toll on Brain Function
Since their creation earlier this year the BC Athletic Commission has been one of the busiest in the Country overseeing a host of amateur and professional combat sports events with perhaps the most high profile being the recent World Series of Fighting event this past weekend in Vancouver. With all of these events how many … More BC Athletic Commission Still Without TUE Policy; WADA Standards Likely Default
Earlier this year I wrote to the Government of Ontario asking if they will use the powers section 83 of the Criminal Code gives them to legalize amateur combat sports. So far they have replied with silence. Until the Government acts it is worth noting that not only is amateur MMA technically illegal in Ontario but … More Ontario Responds to Section 83 of the Criminal Code With Silence…
On the heels of the NFL $765 Million Concussion lawsuit settlement comes a proposed class action filed by 10 former NHL players. This high profile lawsuit seeks damages based on allegations that the NHL fraudulently concealed or otherwise kept relevant data about concussive risks from its players and further that the league failed to take … More Informed Consent – What Combat Sports Promotions Can Learn From the NHL Concussion Lawsuit
I thought that Weyburn Saskatchewan would be the first to teach us what happens when an unsanctioned combat sport is hosted in a post Bill S-209 world but the matter is apparently still “under investigation”. Moving East, Charlottetown PEI has just demonstrated the modern reality of what occurs when a combat sports event is planned … More PEI Kickboxing Event Shutdown Demonstrates The Realities in the Post Bill S-209 World
If you spend any time discussing the result of GSP’s title defense at UFC 167 there is no shortage of controversy among fans. Some believe GSP fairly won three rounds, others say no way, others yet say if GSP won three rounds the two he lost far outweighed those. From there many are quick … More MMA Scoring Contraversies; Sometimes the Solution is Right Before Your Eyes
MMA has come a long way in the past 20 years and the biggest promotion in the sport has ambitious plans for continued global growth. Few things can derail ambitious plans faster, however, than foreseeable tragedy and the aftermath of subsequent litigation. With this in mind there are three potential areas worth canvassing that have … More The Three Biggest Legal Threats to Mixed Martial Arts
In my ongoing efforts to highlight relevant safety studies addressing combat sports, the following articles are worth reviewing for those interested in this subject: Effects of taekwondo kicks on head accelerations and injury potential Knowledge about sports-related concussion: is the message getting through to coaches and trainers? Dehydration and Performance on Clinical Concussion Measures in … More Combat Sports Safety Literature Update
Earlier this year the Government of Saskatchewan legalized amateur MMA and other combat sports and announced plans to create a Provincial Athletic Commission to address professional combat sports. The first legislative step to make this a reality has now taken place. The Government introduced Bill 108 “An Act Respecting the Athletics Commission and Professional Contests … More Saskatchewan Athletics Commission Act Passes First Reading
Combat Sports Law 