Do Over!

Well well well. The Association of Boxing Commissions decided they needed a redo, or at least a clarification.

The Association of Boxing Commissions has announced that the document entitled "Proposed Amendments for the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts," encompassing definitions and interpretations of a multitude of terms set forth in the existing "Uniform Rules of Mixed Martial Arts" (effective April, 2001; a/k/a/ "The New Jersey Rules"), as well as several proposed amendments thereto, is intended solely as "Guidelines" to be considered by the ABC member commissions. The ABC emphasized that neither its member commissions, nor any other person, is to perceive this document as a mandate that each ABC member commission incorporate this document or any of its content into the laws and regulations under which the ABC member commissions respectively operate.

The Association of Boxing Commissions also has announced that it will form a seven member committee to conduct a thorough study of the current "Uniform Rules of Mixed Martial Arts" to determine what, if any, justification (medical or otherwise) may exist for amendment to the "Uniform Rules of Mixed Martial Arts." The intent of the ABC has been, and continues to be, uniformity and unification; so that the rules of MMA are the same in each jurisdiction in which this growing combative sport is authorized.

With integrity and safety serving as its touchstones, the ABC strongly encourages all of the "stakeholders" in the sport of MMA (including commissions, officials, ringside physicians, promoters, fighters, media and fans) to fully cooperate with the ABC’s MMA Committee toward these desired ends.

The committee will be chaired by Nick Lembo, New Jersey State Athletic Commission. Other members include, Jim Erickson, North Dakota Athletic Commission, Armando Garcia, California State Athletic Commission, Keith Kizer, Nevada State Athletic Commission, Dale Kliparchuk, River Cree Athletic Commission, Josef Mason, Colorado Athletic Commission, and Michael Mazzulli, Mohegan Athletic Unit.

Well this is good news that the ABC is creating a committee specifically to deal with MMA. But a lot of the statement reads like a massive 'not my fault' statement. While further unity and uniformity is a good thing and should be strived for the method that the ABC employed was just plain dumb.