Professional Boxing Urged to Adopt Uniform National Standards For Brain Safety

August 23, 2015

As recently discussed, one of the most important questions in combat sports medicine is how much head trauma is too much? Although the answer is not known, the current regulatory landscape could use improvement in deciding when regulators should pull the plug on an athlete that is ‘too tough for their own good‘.  To this … More Professional Boxing Urged to Adopt Uniform National Standards For Brain Safety

MMA Fighters Association Publish Mission Statement; Launch New Website

August 21, 2015

Today the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association launched a new website.  Included at the site are articles, videos, archived podcasts and other media addressing issues important to the organization.  Fighters, Press and Supporters can sign up for the organizations newsletters as well.  Among the information contained there is the following background and mission statement of … More MMA Fighters Association Publish Mission Statement; Launch New Website

MMAFA Founder – Association is Growing and “I Am Getting Threats”

August 18, 2015

Arizona lawyer and founder of the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association Rob Maysey appeared on a podcast earlier this week where he discussed his efforts at organizing fighters, the anti-trust lawsuits, the Ali Act and other legal issues in the landscape of MMA. The MMAFA’s organizing efforts are perhaps one of the biggest fights in MMA right … More MMAFA Founder – Association is Growing and “I Am Getting Threats”

CTE Linked To Duration of Contact More Than Concussive History

August 17, 2015

Update – August 18, 2015 – another useful discussion was recently published in the text “Brain Neurotrauma” confirming that more insight into CTE is needed with the authors noting “Despite extensive publicity, the real risk of CTE among amateur and professional players has not been measured or adequately characterized and notions derived from autopsy studies, … More CTE Linked To Duration of Contact More Than Concussive History

South Carolina Becomes First State to Approve “Two vs Two” Mixed Martial Arts

August 17, 2015

Update September 29, 2015- The below event has now indeed taken place.  You can click here for details as reported at BJPenn.com. _________________________________ “Arena Combat”, a two on two variation of mixed martial arts hosted in an arena equipped with padded obstacles, has recently been approved by the South Carolina Athletic Commission. The SCAC has the … More South Carolina Becomes First State to Approve “Two vs Two” Mixed Martial Arts

UFC Piracy Investigator Accused of “Entrapping” Defendant in Piracy Prosecution

August 15, 2015

In my ongoing efforts highlighting the prosecution of UFC Pay Per View piracy cases, reasons for judgement were released this month by the US District Court, D. Hawaii, with some troubling allegations. In the recent case (Joe Hand Promotions, Inc v. Chalfont) the Plaintiff company, who has commercial licencing rights for various UFC pay per … More UFC Piracy Investigator Accused of “Entrapping” Defendant in Piracy Prosecution

Anderson Silva Suspended For One Year, Fined $380,000 For Doping

August 13, 2015

After months of delay following positive findings for the anabolic steroids drostanolone and androsterone and further positive findings for banned in-competition Benodiazepines Anderson Silva learned his fate before the Nevada State Athletic Commission which streamed live on UFC’s fightpass. The NSAC had little time for Silva’s ‘Thai Sex Liquid defense’ and found him liable for doping violations.  The hearing … More Anderson Silva Suspended For One Year, Fined $380,000 For Doping

The Problems With Anderson Silva’s “Viagra Defence ” Under Anti-Doping Standards

August 12, 2015

The ‘tainted supplement‘ defense is about as boilerplate as it gets when it comes to doping allegations in combat sports.  This week Anderson Silva is scheduled to appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission to answer to positive findings for drostanolone metabolites, a banned anabolic agent, which were detected in an out-of-competition test and then … More The Problems With Anderson Silva’s “Viagra Defence ” Under Anti-Doping Standards

Arkansas Athletic Commission Introduces Rapid Extreme Weight Cut Reform

August 10, 2015

Rapid Extreme Weight Cuts are one of the most dangerous and least regulated practices in combat sports.  (You can click here to access this site’s archived posts addressing the topic). Today it was announced (first reported by MMA’s official record keeper Kirik Jenness) that the Arkansas State Athletic Commission has passed regulatory reforms to address … More Arkansas Athletic Commission Introduces Rapid Extreme Weight Cut Reform

How Many UFC Fighters Are Not Subject To Their Anti-Doping Program?

August 10, 2015

When the UFC announced their aggressive anti doping program (and to their credit the most robust in professional sports) they basically acknowledged they are unilaterally moving forward with the program and will cross legal barriers as they arise. The biggest legal barrier?  Athlete consent.  It seems some athletes simply are not contractually bound by this program … More How Many UFC Fighters Are Not Subject To Their Anti-Doping Program?