Dave Holland, executive director of the VDPOR (or whatever his title is, I don’t care enough to look it up), has actually managed to some how do something right. But he did it in such a complete ass backwards way, that he still screwed it up. As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, Virginia and Shine Fights were teaming up to do for MMA what Vanilla Ice did for rap.

And yes, we are talking about the same Shine Fights that completely imploded in May. This time, Shine is priming themselves for another gong show by planning an 8-man one night tournament, meaning that the two finalists will fight 3 times in one night.
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Popularity: 5% [?]

As if Virginia hasn’t given us enough cause to boo in the past year, they’ve decided to team up with Shine Fights to present Ultimate Gong 2010 Lightweight Grand Prix. A one-night, 8-man tournament promoted by Shine Fights and sanctioned by the VDPOR (executive director, the esteemed Mr Dave Holland).

This format, bringing 8 professional fighters to compete in 7 fights in the course of one evening, is just slathered with desperation. First, its a hail-mary pass from Shine Fights, a promotion that some contend still hasn’t paid off contracts for a show in North Carolina that was cancelled by the state while the company’s CEO was in a Florida courtroom getting his face beat in by Don King.
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Popularity: 9% [?]

Thanks to judge Henry Krawiec for providing the official results, and Brad Pole for the tip on the DQ controversy

Maryland is just beginning to spin up to speed in regulating MMA, and with Shogun‘s John Rallo having an exclusive deal with Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena, MMA fights are rare in Charm City. But Cage Time has successfully run three events “down the shore” in Ocean City MD. This third event was the first I was able to get any news out of, and unfortunately, there were some issues.
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Popularity: 27% [?]

I few days ago I came across MyMedLic.com, a company that helps fighters, promoters and commissions with all the medical paperwork associated with fighting. MyMedLic was started by two former IFL employees, and it looks like they provide an outstanding service. Rebecca Johnson, COO of MML, was kind enough to answer some questions about the company for me.

Rebecca, let’s start at the natural beginning. Explain what exactly MyMedLic.com is, and what the company does, please.
MyMedLic.com is a website that was created with the fighter in mind. It is a database for MMA fighters, kickboxers, boxers and wrestlers to hold their medical reports, assist them with Commission contact information in order to get their license forms, and we also assist in the acquisition of licensed medical doctors that give a discounted rate for specific exams to our members for the purpose of obtaining a license. We like to say it is a one stop shop of information. But not only do we assist athletes, we assist promoters with their fight cards!
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Popularity: 11% [?]

The plot thickens. Round 2 in a story that Kevin Iole broke yesterday for Yahoo! Sports has Bellator counsel Patrick Ewing English completely dismissive and incredibly nonchalant regarding a lawsuit filed by UFC parent company, Zuffa Inc. In fact, if you only read English’s quotes in this MMAFighting.com article, it sounds a lot like Zuffa said some nasty things about Bellator on their Facebook wall.

For example:

What happened, clearly, is the UFC got a hold of an intemperate e-mail that was sent and got concerned about whether legitimately confidential documents were being circulated. In point of fact, the documents are really not confidential – and nothing’s been done with them in any case. I know the folks at the UFC very well. I have a call in to them, and I’m sure that when they’re free they’ll give me a call back, and we’ll discuss it and tell them exactly what we’ve got – and I think that will allay their concerns.

If English thinks this can be resolved with a phone call, and a casual conversation, he apparently doesn’t read the internets.

Zuffa’s attorney, Donald Sutherland Campbell doesn’t agree with English (surprise, they’re opposing counsel).

(The suit) involves, at its essence, a theft, under the law, of information that is not entitled to be shared or used and abused.

Bjorn Rebney continues to be the worst villain in television history, saying that he’s a fan of the UFC, and “I’ll be watching the fights on Versus on Sunday. I’m a fan of the organization and I appreciate what they do.”

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Zuffa has filed a lawsuit in Clark County NV implicating Bjorn Rebney and agent Ken Pavia in stealing trade secrets.

The suit alleges that Ken Pavia, who is “Managing Partner” of the mundanely named MMA Agents management firm, delivered confidential documents to Bellator being compelled by an email sent by Rebney on July 4th. The papers Pavia supposedly gave to Rebney were contracts, and would have given Bellator a competitive advantage.
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Popularity: 10% [?]

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% [?]