Blood Spitting Draws 6 Month Suspension by NSAC for Caio Magalhaes

October 29, 2015

After UFC middleweight Caio Magalhaes lost to Josh Samman at the UFC’s TUF 21 Finale in July 2015 he displayed poor sportsmanship by spitting blood at his opponent and catching referee John McCarthy in the crossfire. Today the NSAC concluded this behavior constituted “conduct that is detrimental to a contest or exhibition of unarmed combat” and issued … More Blood Spitting Draws 6 Month Suspension by NSAC for Caio Magalhaes

Wanderlei Silva To Learn His Fate With NSAC Rehearing Today

October 29, 2015

Update November 30, 2015 – The rehearing was scheduled to proceed today but apparently has been further delayed another month. Update October 29 – The October 29 hearing has been adjourned for a month as Silva’s lawyer was not provided with relevant documentation in a timely manner ____________________ (photo via @fightersagenda) After having his lifetime ban for … More Wanderlei Silva To Learn His Fate With NSAC Rehearing Today

My Public Comments for the Nevada State Athletic Commission

October 29, 2015

Two regulatory topics that I have been vocal about that can benefit from reform in Nevada are their methods for determining in competition marijuana use and the apparent loophole that exists for blood doping in the State.  You can click here and here for my prior discussion of these issues. I have submitted the below … More My Public Comments for the Nevada State Athletic Commission

USADA Doping Archives – Two Year Ban After Testosterone Detected Through CIR Testing

October 28, 2015

Adding to this site’s archives of USADA anti-doping punishments (which are relevant for UFC fighters as these precedents set the tone for the suspensions they can expect under the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy) a decision was released today setting out a two year ban for an athlete found using testosterone. Today’s decision (Oscar Tovar) involves a … More USADA Doping Archives – Two Year Ban After Testosterone Detected Through CIR Testing

Nebraska Athletic Commission Sanctions Bout Involving Pre Operative Transgender MMA Fighter

October 26, 2015

Update – October 27, 2015 – Brian Dunn of the Nebraska State Athletic Commission replied to my inquiry about the regulatory framework of this bout as follows – Hi Erik, This bout was overseen by the Nebraska Athletic Commission.  We do not have any specific policy, but each bout is evaluated individually.  We considered this … More Nebraska Athletic Commission Sanctions Bout Involving Pre Operative Transgender MMA Fighter

Michigan Seeks To Regulate Amateur Mixed Martial Arts

October 22, 2015

Michigan, one of a handful of US States which allow but do not presently regulate amateur mixed martial arts, is seeking to pass legislation changing this.  This overhaul comes two years following the death of an amateur fighter in an unregulated Michigan event. The proposed legislation (Senate Bill -0152) as passed by Senate on October 22, … More Michigan Seeks To Regulate Amateur Mixed Martial Arts

Supreme Court of Canada Says Doping = Criminal Fraud in Sports

October 16, 2015

Update December 18 – today the Supreme Court of Canada published their full reasons for judgement.  A link to these can be found here. ______________________________________ I have previously suggested that PED use can amount to fraud in the world of combat sports and a cheating athlete can be exposed not only to regulatory consequences but … More Supreme Court of Canada Says Doping = Criminal Fraud in Sports

British Journal of Sports Medicine – Add Hydration Requirement to MMA

October 16, 2015

There are many documented cases of injury in MMA due to the profound dehydration that comes with rapid extreme weight cutting.  Perhaps the most dangerous risk is that of increased brain trauma and death that comes from being exposed to strikes while not being fully hydrated.  As this industry wide practice is becoming better recognized … More British Journal of Sports Medicine – Add Hydration Requirement to MMA

A Graceful Way Out of the Nick Diaz Fiasco for the NSAC

October 15, 2015

Update October 27, 2015 – Marc Raimondi at MMAFighting reports that there are indeed settlement discussions between Diaz and the NSAC making it appear that entry of a final order is being stalled to explore a non-judicial resolution to this saga. Update October 15, 2015 – the NSAC’s Bob Bennett responded to my inquiry unfortunately … More A Graceful Way Out of the Nick Diaz Fiasco for the NSAC

Nick Diaz White House Petition Crosses 100K Threshold – What Will This Mean?

October 14, 2015

MMA fighter Nick Diaz resonates with the public.  After being banned from combat sports for 5 years by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a controversial positive marijuana reading following UFC 183, there was an outcry of support for Diaz and criticism of the NSAC.  Perhaps the most interesting of which (in addition to securing … More Nick Diaz White House Petition Crosses 100K Threshold – What Will This Mean?