US Athletic Commissioner Calls For Ali Act To Be Brought to MMA

September 1, 2021

For years the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association (MMAFA) has been lobbying Congress to bring the Ali Act to MMA. For those unfamiliar with the Act it sets certain standards for professional boxing across the US. Most noteworthy is it prevents promoters from controlling their own titles and gives rank and title as property rights … More US Athletic Commissioner Calls For Ali Act To Be Brought to MMA

Study – Updated Bare Knuckle Boxing Injury Data

August 16, 2021

Last year data was presented at the Association of Ringside Physicians Annual Conference giving the first glimpse of the safety track record of bare knuckle boxing compared to traditional boxing. The data revealed that bare knuckle boxers were suffeirng fewer concussions and fewer broken hands but also more cuts and abraasioins. Now, (and adding to … More Study – Updated Bare Knuckle Boxing Injury Data

Study Suggests BJJ Chokes Do Not Impair Cognitive Function And May Improve Arterial Blood Flow

August 12, 2021

Adding to this site’s database of combat sports safety studies, a recent study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports addressing whether BJJ athletes, who are subjected to repeated strangulation, sustain impaired cognitive function or reduced arterial blood flow from the practice. In the study, titled Elevated cerebral perfusion and preserved … More Study Suggests BJJ Chokes Do Not Impair Cognitive Function And May Improve Arterial Blood Flow

Study Calls for Need of More Boxing Headgear Concussion Data

August 3, 2021

Adding to this site’s database of combat sports safety studies, a recent study was published in the European Journal of Sports Science reviewing past data on injury prevention effectiveness for headgear in boxing. In the study, titled Concussions, cuts and cracked bones: A systematic literature review on protective headgear and head injury prevention in Olympic boxing, the … More Study Calls for Need of More Boxing Headgear Concussion Data

Study Documents Pro Boxer Rapid Weight Gain Data in California

July 30, 2021

The harms from rapid extreme weight cutting in combat sports (in order to then rapidly gain weight well above the weight class limit during competition) are well documented on this site. How much weight do professional boxers regain following these cuts? A recently published study in The Physician and Sports Medicine journal sheds light on … More Study Documents Pro Boxer Rapid Weight Gain Data in California

Full Colorado Approved “One Championship Global Ruleset”

July 27, 2021

Last week I reported that Colorado became the first US State Athletic Commission to approve the ruleset used by One Championship in Mixed Martial Arts which includes the use of knees to the head of grounded opponents. I made a further open records request to the State to obtain a copy of the full ruleset … More Full Colorado Approved “One Championship Global Ruleset”

Let’s Talk Olympic Boxing, Brain Trauma and Sexism

July 25, 2021

In boxing and other combat sports head gear does not prevent concussions. Head gear does not reduce concussions. At best head gear is neutral for concussions. More realistically head gear increases concussions. The science says so. Among the speculated reasons are it makes the head a bigger target so its hit more frequently, reduces field … More Let’s Talk Olympic Boxing, Brain Trauma and Sexism

Kansas Introduces “Champions Rules” For Older MMA Fighters

July 23, 2021

In the latest development in the ever shifting combat sports regulatory landscape, this week the Kansas athletic commission has introduced ‘champions rules’ for older (or possibly those deemed of lesser skill) MMA fighters. The ruleset will make its debut this weekend with a bout scheduled between a 38 year old and and 52 year old … More Kansas Introduces “Champions Rules” For Older MMA Fighters

One Championship (And Knees To Grounded Opponents) Coming to Colorado?

July 22, 2021

Update July 22, 2021 – Today Colorado’s Office of Combative Sports replied to my open records request. They confirm that One Championship rules have been approved in the State which indeed clear the way for the promoter to hold an event with knees to a grounded opponent. Below is the full reply of the commission’s … More One Championship (And Knees To Grounded Opponents) Coming to Colorado?