Combat Sports Law

  (Artwork by Bob Mueller) As the world mourns the loss of Muhammad Ali far greater tributes have been written than I can piece together.  I will leave that to the professionals.  In my humble corner of the internet, however, attribution is called for to celebrate Muhammad Ali’s significant contributions to the world of combat … More Celebrating Muhammad Ali’s Contributions to Combat Sports Law

Update June 7, 2016 – Sherdog reports that the UFC have released the following statement confirming that the UFC has in fact used the USADA exceptional circumstances policy for Lesnar: “On June 6, 2016, UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar was registered by USADA into the UFC Anti-Doping Policy testing pool. As part of the UFC Anti-Doping … More Brock Lesnar’s Return and the UFC’s USADA Policy

This week UFC parent company Zuffa, who is deep in the defence of an anti-trust lawsuit, was ordered to disclose a lawyer’s e-mail discussing the company’s business strategy for purchasing their biggest rival at the time, Pride FC. At the heart and soul of an anti-trust lawsuit lie allegations that a Defendant unlawfully stomps out … More Lawyer E-Mail – Zuffa Bought Pride “to shut the business down and acquire its fighters for the UFC”

Last week Congressman MarkWayne Mullin introduced a Bill to expand the Professional Boxing Safety Act to other combative sports.  The text of the Bill has now been published and I reproduce it below. As previously discussed, this is a Bill to amend a statute and it does not make for straightforward reading.  To understand exactly … More Text of MMA’s “Ali Act” Now Published

UPDATE June 2, 2016– the text of the Bill has now been published and can be found here.  ______________________ The long rumored attempt to expand the protections of the “Ali Act” to MMA have now taken the first formal steps with Bill 5365 being introduced in the US House of Representatives by Republican MarkWayne Mullin. … More Bill To Expand “Ali Act” to MMA Introduced in Congress

In the parallel world of anti-doping efforts of combat sports there is potential for friction between regulatory bodies and privately contracted anti doping agencies.   Diego Brandao, for example, was disciplined by both USADA and the NSAC for a singular anti doping violation. Brandao received similar penalties by both authorities but this result will not … More Nevada Looks To Open Books of Promoter Anti Doping Contracts

Yesterday a lawsuit was filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, leveling serious allegations against MMA promoter Bellator. The lawsuit alleges that Bellator wrongfully dismissed the Plaintiff Zachery Light, Bellator’s former “talent development director” who was terminated from his position on March 17, 2016. The lawsuit alleges that Bellator engaged in … More Bellator Sued in Wrongful Dismissal Suit With Serious Allegations