California Releases Explainer Video on MMA’s Brand New Unified Rules

October 1, 2024

Earlier this year the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports voted to update the unified rules. The 12-6 elbow was removed as a foul and the situations where a fighter can be kicked and kneed to the head have been expanded. Today the California State Athletic Commission with the assistance of referee Mike Beltran … More California Releases Explainer Video on MMA’s Brand New Unified Rules

New Settlement Proposed For UFC Antitrust Lawsuit

September 26, 2024

Today it was revealed that a new deal was reached in one of the antitrust lawsuits against the UFC. In an SEC filing the following was revealed: As previously disclosed, TKO Operating Company, LLC (f/k/a Zuffa Parent, LLC) (“TKO OpCo”), a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), and/or certain of its affiliates, including … More New Settlement Proposed For UFC Antitrust Lawsuit

Study – PowerSlap Has Absurd Rates of Brain Injury

September 22, 2024

When you design a “sport” intended to give defenseless participants brain injury you unsurprisingly get brain injury. A lot of it. Those are the findings of a recent research letter reviewing objective signs of concussion amongst participants in PowerSlap. These findings are important because the promoters of PowerSlap try to emphasize its relative safety compared … More Study – PowerSlap Has Absurd Rates of Brain Injury

Study – EEG Readings May Help Screen for Early Signs of CTE

September 17, 2024

A study was published this month in the European Journal of Neurology suggesting that EEG readings may have promise in showing early signs of CTE. In the study, titled ‘Knock down the brain’: a nonlinear analysis of electroencephalography to study the effects of sub-concussion in boxers, the authors selected 21 boxers. They seperated the athletes … More Study – EEG Readings May Help Screen for Early Signs of CTE

Study – Fewer Neurological Problems Found in Boxers in Later 20th Century

September 17, 2024

An interesting study was published this month in the Archives of Neuropsychology breaking reviewing boxing brain trauma studies from the 20th century. In the study, titled Neurological Problems in Boxers during the 20th Century: a Review and Synthesis, the authors reviewed 45 articles addressing brain trauma in boxers published between 1928-1999. The goal was to … More Study – Fewer Neurological Problems Found in Boxers in Later 20th Century

UFC Apex to Host Inaugural “Battle Tag” Event

September 8, 2024

What is Battle Tag? Its the soon to be launched North American rebranding of a rapidly growing professional sport from India known as Kabaddi. Kabaddi is basically a team tag wresting elimination sport where “the objective of the game is for a single player on offence, referred to as a “raider”, to run into the … More UFC Apex to Host Inaugural “Battle Tag” Event

Study – MMA Fighters Show Evidence of Sub Concussive Harm Following Sparring

August 31, 2024

CTE is a disease of mileage and is caused by repeated exposure to sub concussive blows (brain rattling impacts that don’t produce symptoms of concussion). Many fighters take the vast majority of their sub concussive impacts in training as opposed to actual competition. This week a study was published showing that MMA fighters show evidence … More Study – MMA Fighters Show Evidence of Sub Concussive Harm Following Sparring

Study Calls For Better Brain Health Education for MMA Athletes and Coaches

August 6, 2024

One fairly consistent theme in research about brain injury in MMA is the need for better education about brain health basics in the community. This month another study was published calling for such steps to be taken. In the recent study, titled “Assessing the Incidence of Head Trauma in Australian Mixed Martial Arts: A Retrospective … More Study Calls For Better Brain Health Education for MMA Athletes and Coaches

Ontario Proposes Brain Health Education As Part Of Fighter Licencing

August 2, 2024

Last year the Athlete’s Voice Committee asked all Athletic Commissions to share brain health education materials as part of licencing. The Ali Act actually tells commissions to do so. Few do. But it appears ongoing advocacy is working and commissions are starting to listen. Ontario is in the process of overhauling how combat sports are … More Ontario Proposes Brain Health Education As Part Of Fighter Licencing