Staff-
Ringside Physicians Dr. Steven Oxler and Dr. Vincent Guida

Scorekeeper Ellen Rubin

Timekeeper Fred Blumstein

Referees Keith Peterson, Tom Velasquez and Donnie Carolei

Judges Julius Proenza, Vincent Sinclair and Michelle Agustin

Inspectors Wayne Spinola, Erik Miller, Casper Oliver and Vincent Dudley

Shadow Judge Mark Kwapis

Ref Carolei
Fight #1
Super Middleweight (over 161 to168 lbs.)
Chris Weaver (116-176) vs. Dominic Urso (106-713)
Weaver. 163. Urso. 167.8
Weaver wins majority decision three rounds, 29-28, 29-28 and 28-28 Sinclair.
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Popularity: 20% [?]

Now that we’re seeing MMA become legal in more states and jurisdictions, we’re starting to see a quality gap developing in states with good commissions and states with bad commissions. Here in our area, New Jersey and Pennsylvania run good commissions which regulate professional and amateur mixed martial arts. In fact, New Jersey’s referees and judges are used nationwide, and even worldwide on some of the highest profile events out there. In contrast, the UWC didn’t even want Virginia’s commission, which only regulates professional MMA, involved in a Virginia event.

All this backstory brings us to Nick Lembo’s presentation last week in front of the Association of Boxing Commissions, where Nick emphatically (I’ve heard the term “bully pulpit” associated with his presentation) stated that states must control and regulate amateur MMA.
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Popularity: 3% [?]

Nick Lembo of the NJSACB made a presentation at last week’s ABC Convention in New Orleans last week on the issue of Unified Rules for Muay Thai. Nick played a similar role in the development of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. He’s also one of the most vocal advocates of a uniform ruleset being essential to the development of the sport.

The committee to develop the Unified Rules of Muay Thai has about one year to develop a proposed ruleset, which will be presented at the 2011 ABC Convention scheduled for Washington DC. Committee members include Clint Heyliger (New York, founder of US Muay Thai Association), Stephen Strotmeyer (Pennsylvania, USMTA) and Sakasem The Punisher Kanthawong & Kumron Mr. Axe Elbow Vaityanon, both incredibly accomplished Thai-born fighters.

We can see the benefits of the Unified Rules and the effect of state sanctioned effects in MMA. Effective sanctioning at the state level can make or break an event, as we see time and again in Virginia.

Popularity: 3% [?]

M-1 Global has announced the brackets for the 2nd round of their Selection Americas tournament.

Joshua Bacallao has officially advanced off the no contest fight with Josh Key last month. Originally it was thought that Bacallao and Key would both be re-entered into the tournament, but apparently Key, who struck his head on the ring apron and was withdrawn from the fight by Dr. Sherry Wulkan, is out of luck. Bacallao will face George Sheppard in the first lightweight semi-final.
**Update** I was told by NJSACB’s Nick Lembo that Key couldn’t advance in the tournament because he missed weight.

Hit the jump for the brackets:
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Popularity: 36% [?]

Everyone in the MMA community was saddened by the death of Michael Kirkham after a Rage in the Cage event in Columbia South Carolina. And in the wake of Kirkham’s passing, people are beginning to look at safety mechanisms in the sport of mixed martial arts, much as boxing is examined after a fighter is killed in a fight. An article by Jay Heater turned up on IdahoStateJournal.com which called for tighter regulation of amateur mixed martial arts. Kirkham was 1-2 as a fighter going into his April 24th bout with D’Juan Owens, who himself was a veteran of 11 amateur bouts.

Nick Lembo, Counsel to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, has been an outstanding resource for this website for the last 8 months, and has been my first phone call whenever I have a question regarding the oversight or administration of mixed martial arts. I asked Nick a few questions so I could understand better how fighter safety is managed through licensing and matchmaking.

For the record, South Carolina Athletic Commission does not sanction amateurs. The Rage in the Cage event from April was sanctioned by the ISKA.

Whenever a participant dies as a result of injuries sustained in a combat sport, the regulation and safety of that sport is called into question.  So far, MMA has been able to avoid this scrutiny, but unfortunately, we recently lost Michael Kirkham after a fight in South Carolina.  In general, and without speaking specifically about South Carolina’s regulatory body, how safe is mixed martial arts compared to boxing, or any other combative sport?

Mixed martial arts, with proper oversight, is as safe, or safer than boxing or other combat sports.

The NJSACB and NSAC tend to set the standard for how combat sports are governed at the state level.  So can you explain how some processes are done in New Jersey?  For example how are fighters, professional and amateur, licensed and cleared to fight?

First, fighters must clear any existing suspensions. They must then pass medical requirements and obtain a license. For an amateur license, you must be 18. In rare cases of outstanding backgrounds, a waiver can be granted to age 16. For a pro license, you must prove the requisite skill level and background experience. Finally, once licensed, the proposed match ups need to be approved.

And I know that as Counsel to NJSACB, and the top representative of the SACB at MMA events, matchmakers submit their proposed fights to you, and you either clear the fight, or reject the fight.  I imagine this is more an art than a science, but what criteria do you use to approve fights submitted by matchmakers?

I am not the top representative for the agency. I have, however, given presentations to the ABC membership with regard to MMA Matchmaking.

You are correct that it is more an art than a science and the below is what I consider:

1-FIGHTER’S PRO AND AMATEUR RECORD
The first step should be to check with the national database and obtain the fighter’s professional and amateur mixed martial arts record. Also take note of fights that may have been recorded as non-sanctioned results (NSF). This provides an overall picture of the fighter’s win-loss ratio, level of activity, type of opposition and method of conclusion for all contests.
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Popularity: 9% [?]

The first fight scheduled for last night’s M-1 Global show was supposed to be Brian DeMuro vs Mike Winters at 170 pounds. DeMuro came in 6.4 pounds over the 171 allotment for welterweights and was penalized $500 plus an additional $140 if he were to win the fight. Last night about twenty minutes before the fights, Kevin The Garv Garvey told me that the fight was scratched. According to the official results which were emailed out by Nick Lembo and the NJSACB, DeMuro failed his pre-fight physical after complaining of injuries. He’s under medical suspension for a laundry list of tests and is now at jeopardy of missing his next fight, scheduled for April 17 with Asylum Fight League. DeMuro is also suspended until he pays Mike Winters the over weight fine. He also needs to have his ribs X-rayed, get clearance from a chest surgeon and a GI specialist. At 2-6 as a pro, with all those tests and a $500 fine hanging over his head, this could be the last we hear from Brian DeMuro.

That said, hit the jump for the official results from Saturday night’s M-1 Global: Selection Americas event.
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Popularity: 19% [?]

Jon Price at RIE: Philly Biker Brawl in October

It might be Tapout’s motto, but David Holland really is bad for the sport. Holland, who presides over mixed martial arts in Virginia is, in my opinion, the definition of inept. We are now over a month out from the last professional event in Holland’s jurisdiction, and we’re still talking about this idiot’s idiotic ways. Dan Miragliotta was on Luke Thomas‘ radio show the other night to discuss the gong show down there. Here is promoter Jon Price’s response to a statement released by Holland (which as Miragliotta said, looks like it was written by a 3 year old – lol). Before we get into Jon’s letter, let me say that after discussing the events surrounding last month’s Respect is Earned show with people who were in attendance, reading statements from people like Ben Saunders and Dave Holland, I have to say that I believe Jon Price’s account. Dave Holland’s statement reads to me like someone who knows the jig is up, and is looking to throw blame anywhere but at themselves.

Remember, David. Every time you point a finger at someone, your pointing three back at yourself. I’m giving you The Finger, but that’s a whole different thing.
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Popularity: 11% [?]