1. Despite what your contract says you may be employees 2. If so, you are entitled to certain minimum protections under law, including the right to unionize As the UFC continues to solidify its market position as the pinnacle promotion for elite professional MMA more discussions are taking place about the need for a fighters … More What UFC Fighters Can Learn From Strippers and Cheerleaders
Today the UFC announced a vigorous in house program designed to weed out and punish athletes using performance enhancing drugs. The move is one that should be applauded. If ever there was a genre of sports that cannot tolerate cheating with PED’s it’s combative sports. Given the varying, sometimes impotent and sometimes non-existent patchwork of … More UFC Announces Aggressive Anti Doping Policy
Update June 3, 2015 – I have obtained a copy of Judge Davila’s full reasons granting Zuffa’s motion to transfer the Anti-Trust lawsuits to Nevada and these can be found here – Judge Davila Reasons Granting Zuffa Motion to Transfer ____________________________________________________________ John Nash of BloodyElbow.com, who has provided second to none coverage of the Anti Trust … More UFC Class Action Transferred to Nevada
Reasons for judgement were recently released by Judge Davila shedding light on the procedural timetable for the next steps in the UFC Anti Trust Class Action lawsuit. Zuffa is looking to delay their discovery obligations and have filed a Motion to Stay Discovery. The court ordered as follows – 1. Plaintiffs shall file their Opposition … More UFC Class Action Procedural Update
In the wake of Nevada’s recent decision to up the ante for doping violators in combat sports, California appears geared to do the same. This week California Senate Bill 469 underwent hearing and passed a vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Bill seeks to increase the California State Athletic Commission’s penalties for doping violations … More California Looks To Up Doping Penalties To 40% of Fighter’s Purse
UPDATE – The UFC appear to be standing their ground in the face of McMann’s criticism releasing the following statement: “The new UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy (AOP) equally recognizes each athlete’s tenure in UFC, as well as any bout appearances in the WEC and Strikeforce for the period those organizations were under the Zuffa, LLC … More Sara McMann Suggests UFC’s Reebok Uniform Deal Discriminatory to Women
Reasons for judgement were released this week by the US District Court, D. Arizona, ordering the owners of a commercial establishment to pay $9,000 for piracy of UFC 148. In this week’s case (Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Chileen) the Defendants displayed UFC 148 at their restaurant without paying the commercial sub licencing fee. The … More $9,000 In Damages Ordered After UFC 148 Piracy
Update May 20, 2015 – Silva will be appealing Judge Earley’s ruling to the Nevada Supreme Court which is fortunate for the sake of obtaining reasons which squarely address the bounds of the NSAC’s jurisdiction. MMAFighting reports as follows: “We are very confident in our position that the NSAC [sic] cannot discipline a person not licensed … More The Unclear Scope of the NSAC’s Out of Competition Drug Testing Powers
Today Nevada District Court Judge Kerry Earley overturned the NSAC’s lifetime ban of Wanderlei Silva after he admitted to running from an out of competition drug test. The Court ruled that the NSAC did have jurisdiction to conduct the out of competition test however the Court found that the punishment was “arbitrary, capricious and not … More Wanderlei Silva”Arbitrary and Capricious” Lifetime Ban Overturned
Update – The below list was apparently voted on and approved with a handful of modifications. This range of penalties is expected to be in force as of September 2015. Here is the finalized list as reported by Shawn Al-Shatti – Tier 1: Sedatives, Muscle relaxants, Sleep aids, Anxiolytics, Opiates, Cannabis 1st offense: 18-month suspension, fine of … More Nevada State Athletic Commisison Proposes Stringent PED Penalties
Combat Sports Law 