California Bill could give fighters new rights to challenge UFC contracts

California State Assembly wrote:
Luis A. Alejo, California Assemblymember (Democrat, 28th district – Salinas)


Proposal for Bill 2100: Professional Bill of Rights for MMA Athletes

AB 2100 authorizes the State Athletic Commission to revoke or refuse to renew the license of any mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter in California that participates in coercive and unfair contracting practices. This bill also extends the scope of the Boxers’ Pension Plan to include professional MMA fighters licensed in California.

A Muhammad Ali reform-like act is inevitable for MMA here. Thing is, Dana & Lorenzo themselves will be responsible for it.

Well, well ,well! Looks like government officials are paying more and more attention to the UFC and Zuffa's business practices every day.

You'd think that Lorenzo's being such a savvy business genius he'd figure out the pide piper of his mma business empire is playing a tune all over the air waves that is striking a sour note with adults and intelligent humans everwhere.

I'm wondering if Lorenzo or Frank forget to take the corporate public relations class in their MBA programs at their ivy league colleges. Maybe there is a reason that Bill Gates or Warren Buffet never maliciously attack competitors verbally in public or drop the F' bomb endlessly to the media, consumers and their shareholders.

Bad people with power and big egos always do "themselves" in. Be patient my friends from here on in til this thing comes crashing down... it's gonna be some fun to watch the golden boys squirm. LOL!

Hands up & opens your books boys!!!

California Assembly Bill could give fighters new rights, challenge UFC contracts
By Zach Arnold | April 11, 2012
FightOpinion.com

Our friend Rob Maysey pointed out recent developments in California that deserve your attention.

Luis A. Alejo, California Assemblymember (Democrat, 28th district – Salinas), is proposing big changes to Assembly Bill 2100. The bill, which is a Bill of Rights for both professional boxers & Mixed Martial Arts fighters, currently is laid out as the following according to this AB 2100 fact sheet.

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE

LUIS A. ALEJO, Assemblymember, 28th District
STATE CAPITOL
Room 2137
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 319-2028 Phone
(916) 319-2128 Fax

DISTRICT OFFICE
100 West Alisal Street
Suite 134
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 759-8676 Phone
(831) 759-2961 Fax

AB 2100: Professional Bill of Rights for MMA Athletes Fact Sheet

Summary

AB 2100 authorizes the State Athletic Commission to revoke or refuse to renew the license of any mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter in California that participates in coercive and unfair contracting practices. This bill also extends the scope of the Boxers’ Pension Plan to include professional MMA fighters licensed in California.

Purpose

The purpose of the bill is to prevent the mistreatment of MMA fighters in California by banning certain exploitative contracting practices that violate athletes’ freedom to work and their ability to support their families. Many California MMA fighters have retired after suffering multiple concussions, bone fractures, muscle tears, nerve damage and spine injuries, which threaten their ability to earn a living and support their families as they grow older. AB 2100 enables MMA fighters to benefit from the pension fund that has been available to boxers in the state since 1981.

Background

Mixed martial arts, also known as MMA, is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Many of the most talented and well-known professional fighters in the sport live in California and are licensed to compete in events held in this state. Since 2006, California has hosted more than 60 professional MMA events, making California a center of the mixed-martial arts world.

Fighters licensed in California who compete in these contests often undergo years of demanding training, and risk serious injury. Despite these physical risks, California MMA fighters have no pension benefits and limited protection against exploitation. Promoters often require that MMA fighters in California agree to coercive and oppressive contract terms that can include exclusivity clauses, unlimited merchandise rights agreements and legal waivers among other things.

This bill will protect professional MMA fighters from unethical business practices and would extend legal protection currently afforded to professional boxers by the Boxers’ Pension Plan and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000.

For more information on this bill, please contact Erika Bustamante at (916) 319-2028, e-mail erika.bustamante@asm.ca.gov.

*************

Now that you’ve seen the fact sheet for AB 2100, you have a sense of what the legislation is about. However, this week new changes were proposed by Assemblyman Alejo to AB 2100 that would change the landscape in a significant way. The proposed changes could give California MMA fighters a significant boost in terms of contractual rights and would take away some legitimate power from the major player(s) in MMA.

Let’s just say that Zuffa (UFC) will not be very happy about the proposed contractual changes. The proposed changes in this bill could spark a legal battle given that UFC contracts establish jurisdiction in Las Vegas, so how would a Zuffa fighter based in California be able to legally challenge the terms of the Zuffa contracts?

Here is the amended Assembly Bill 2100 text, which displays what the changes would look like to the bill:

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 9, 2012

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2012

ASSEMBLY BILL No. 2100

Introduced by Assembly Member Alejo

February 23, 2012

An act to amend Sections 18849, 18880, 18881, 18882, 18884, and 18887 of, and to add Section 18649 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to athletes, and making an appropriation therefor.

AB 2100, as amended, Alejo. Athletes: mixed martial arts fighters.

Existing law, the State Athletic Commission Act, creates the State Athletic Commission and makes it responsible for licensing and regulating boxing, kickboxing, and martial arts matches and wrestling exhibitions. Existing law prohibits a promoter from having a proprietary interest in a boxer or mixed martial arts fighter without the approval of the commission. Existing law creates the continuously appropriated Boxers’ Pension Fund and requires the commission to establish a pension plan for boxers and to deposit the moneys collected by the pension plan into the fund.

This bill would require a promoter to provide specified written and sworn statements regarding his or her financial interests to the commission before the promoter can receive compensation from a boxing or mixed martial arts contest. By requiring a statement to be made under penalty of perjury, the bill would expand that crime and would thereby impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also require the commission to revoke or refuse to renew the license of a mixed martial arts promoter who enters into a coercive contract, as defined, with a mixed martial arts fighter, who has been convicted of a felony or a gross misdemeanor, or who has been subject to specified law enforcement actions, investigations, or allegations. This bill would require the commission to establish a professional code of conduct for licensees. This bill would also extend the scope of the Boxers’ Pension Plan to include professional mixed martial arts fighters and would

rename the fund as the Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund. By providing for new moneys to be deposited in a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 18649 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

18649. (a) The commission shall revoke or refuse to renew the license of any mixed martial arts promoter that enters into a contract with a mixed martial arts fighter in the state of California if the contract contains one or more coercive provisions. A contract provision shall be considered coercive to the extent that it does any of the following:

• (1) Assigns any future merchandising rights to a promoter beyond the term of the promotional contract.


• (2) Automatically renews the contract or extends the term without good faith, arms-length negotiation.


• (3) Grants the promoter a right to match the terms of a competing offer or contract.


• (4) Grants the promoter a right to enter into exclusive negotiations with a mixed martial arts fighter.


• (5) Restricts a mixed martial arts fighter from sponsoring another firm, product, or individual.


• (6) Requires a mixed martial arts fighter to relinquish any legal claims for negligence that the fighter has, or may acquire in the future, against the promoter.


• (7) Restricts a mixed martial arts fighter from contracting with another promoter.


• (8) Requires a mixed martial arts fighter to forfeit any rights as a condition precedent to the fighter’s participation in a contest.

(b) The commission shall revoke or refuse to renew the license of any promoter if it finds that the promoter, or any person or entity that is a partner, agent, employee, stockholder, or associate of the promoter, has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude in any jurisdiction; is currently the subject of a state or federal criminal investigation; has been subject to a state or federal tax lien within the past five years; has failed to respond to a subpoena issued by any government agency; has been found to have violated any local, state, or federal law; has been sanctioned by a local, state, or federal judge; or has been credibly alleged to have violated international human rights standards.

(c) To ensure that individuals and entities licensed under this act observe common standards of decency, the commission shall, in consultation with the Association of Boxing Commissioners, establish a professional code of ethical conduct. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the commission shall enforce the code of ethical conduct.

SEC. 2. Section 18849 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

18849. No promoter, nor any person having a proprietary interest in the promoter, shall have, either directly or indirectly, any proprietary interest in a boxer or martial arts fighter competing on the premises owned, leased, or rented by the promoter without written approval from the commission. No promoter shall be entitled to receive any compensation directly or indirectly in connection with a contest until the promoter provides to the commission the following:

(a) A copy of any agreement in writing to which the promoter is a party with any professional athlete or contestant licensed under this act.

(b) A statement made under penalty of perjury that there are no other agreements, written or oral, between the promoter and the athlete with respect to that contest.

(c) All fees, charges, and expenses that will be assessed by or through the promoter on the athlete participating in the event, including any portion of the athlete’s purse that the promoter will receive.

(d) Any reduction in the athlete’s purse contrary to a previous agreement between the promoter and the athlete.

SEC. 3. Section 18880 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

18880. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

• (1) That professional athletes licensed under this chapter, as a group, for many reasons, do not retain their earnings, and are often injured or destitute, or both, and unable to take proper care of themselves, whether financially or otherwise, and that the enactment of this article is to serve a public purpose by making provisions for a needy group to insure a modicum of financial security for professional athletes.


• (2) Athletes licensed under this chapter may suffer extraordinary disabilities in the normal course of their trade. These may include acute and chronic traumatic brain injuries, resulting from multiple concussions as well as from repeated exposure to a large number of subconcussive punches, eye injuries, including retinal tears, holes, and detachments, and other neurological impairments.


• (3) The pension plan of the commission is part of the state’s health and safety regulatory scheme, designed to protect boxers and mixed martial arts fighters licensed under this chapter from the health-related hazards of their trade. The pension plan addresses those health and safety needs, recognizing the disability and health maintenance expenses those needs may require.


• (4) The regulatory system of California is interrelated with the conduct of the trade in every jurisdiction. Athletes licensed under this chapter participate in contests in other states and many athletes who are based in those other jurisdictions may participate in California on a single-event basis.


• (5) The outcomes and natures of fights in other jurisdictions are relevant to California regulatory jurisdiction and are routinely monitored for health and safety reasons, so that, for example, a knockout of an athlete licensed under this chapter in another jurisdiction is paid appropriate heed with respect to establishing a waiting period before that athlete may commence fighting in California.


• (6) The monitoring of other jurisdictions is an integral part of the health and safety of California athletes licensed under this chapter due to the interstate nature of the trade, and therefore the regulatory scheme for contests and athletes under this chapter should reflect this accordingly.


• (7) Some mixed martial arts promoters licensed under this chapter engage in certain exploitative, oppressive, and coercive contractual practices that violate athletes’ freedom to work and their ability to support themselves and their families as professional athletes.


• (8) It is necessary and appropriate to establish standards to protect the rights and welfare of mixed martial arts fighters licensed under this chapter from unscrupulous promoters and coercive contractual practices.

(b) The provisions of this article pertain only to professional boxers and mixed martial arts fighters licensed under this chapter.

SEC. 4. Section 18881 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

18881. (a) The commission shall, consistent with the purposes of this article, establish a pension plan for professional boxers and professional mixed martial arts fighters who engage in boxing or mixed martial arts contests in this state.

(b) The commission shall, consistent with the purposes of this article, establish the method by which the pension plan will be financed, including those who shall contribute to the financing of the pension plan. The method of financing the pension plan may include, but is not limited to, assessments on tickets and contributions by boxers, mixed martial arts fighters, managers, promoters, or any one or more of these persons, in an amount sufficient to finance the pension plan. Any promoter that receives a fee for televising a boxing or mixed martial arts contest performed in the State of California on a pay-per-view or network telecast shall pay 5 percent of the gross receipts from the telecast, exclusive of federal, state, or local taxes, into the Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund. For purposes of this section, the term “sufficient” means that the annual contributions shall be calculated to achieve no less than the average level of annual aggregate pension plan contributions from all sources for the period from July 1, 1981, through December 31, 1994, and adjusted thereafter to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for California as set forth by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(c) Any pension plan established by the commission shall be actuarially sound.

SEC. 5. Section 18882 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

18882. (a) At the time of payment of the fee required by Section 18824, a promoter shall pay to the commission all amounts scheduled for contribution to the pension plan. If the commission, in its discretion, requires pursuant to Section 18881, that contributions to the pension plan be made by the boxer or mixed martial arts fighter and his or her manager, those contributions shall be made at the time and in the manner prescribed by the commission.

(b) The Boxers’ Pension Fund is hereby continued in existence and renamed as the Boxers’ and Mixed Marital Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund. All contributions to finance the pension plan shall be deposited in the State Treasury and credited to the Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13340 of the Government Code, all moneys in the Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund are hereby continuously appropriated to be used exclusively for the purposes and administration of the pension plan.

(c) The Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund is a retirement fund, and no moneys within it shall be deposited or transferred to the General Fund.

(d) The commission has exclusive control of all funds in the Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund. No transfer or disbursement in any amount from this fund shall be made except upon the authorization of the commission and for the purpose and administration of the pension plan.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the commission or its designee shall invest the money contained in the Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund according to the same standard of care as provided in Section 16040 of the Probate Code. The commission has exclusive control over the investment of all moneys in the Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund. Except as otherwise prohibited or restricted by law, the commission may invest the moneys in the fund through the purchase, holding, or sale of any investment, financial instrument, or financial transaction that the commission in its informed opinion determines is prudent.

(f) The administrative costs associated with investing, managing, and distributing the Boxers’ and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters’ Pension Fund shall be limited to no more than 20 percent of the average annual contribution made to the fund in the previous two years, not including any investment income derived from the corpus of the fund. Diligence shall be exercised by administrators in order to lower the fund’s expense ratio as far below 20 percent as feasible and appropriate. The commission shall report to the Joint Committee on Boards, Commissions, and Consumer Protection on the impact of this provision during the next regularly scheduled sunset review after January 1, 2007.

SEC. 6. Section 18884 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

18884. (a) A promoter may, but is not required to, add to the price of each ticket sold for a professional boxing or professional mixed martial arts contest, an amount specifically designated on the ticket for contribution as a donation, either or both, to the pension plan established pursuant to Section 18881. The additional amount shall not be subject to the admissions tax required by Section 18824 or any other deductions. Nothing in this section shall authorize the addition of such amounts to less than all the tickets sold for the professional boxing or professional mixed martial arts contest involved. The promoter shall pay additional contributions collected in accordance with Section 18881.

(b) Any additional contributions received pursuant to this section shall not be considered to offset any of the contributions required by the commission under Section 18881.

SEC. 7. Section 18887 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

18887. In addition to any other form in which retirement benefits may be distributed under the pension plan, the commission may, in its discretion, award to a covered boxer or a covered mixed martial arts fighter, a medical early retirement benefit in the amount contained in the covered boxer’s or covered mixed martial arts fighter’s pension plan account at the time the commission makes this award and in the manner provided in the regulations governing the boxers’ and mixed martial arts fighters’ pension plan. This benefit shall be in lieu of a pension.

SEC. 8. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

http://www.fightopinion.com/2012/04/11/california-assembly-mma-bill/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fightopinion+%28FightOpinion.com+-+Your+Global+Connection+to+the+Fight+Industry.%29

Wait and see is a good policy, but damn I feel jubilation.

Out of nowhere (for me at least)

I'm less optimistic. Snakes dig new holes.

WAR CALIFORNIA

Great news!

Here´s some more good news from Sweden for non-zuffa mma

A long-discussed nonprofit body aimed at furthering MMA around the globe, including recognition at the Olympics, is now a reality.

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation officials today announced via press release the official launch of the new organization, which is based in Sweden and aims to assist in the governing of the amateur game.

if they include MMA into the Olympics, they better not put that shit in a cage

RussianTopTeam wrote:if they include MMA into the Olympics, they better not put that shit in a cage

Agree. Since Sweden is involved in this organization I think they will use the ring because our biggest promotion Rumble of the Kings use a ring and it´s makes it more accepted as a real sport.

Johan Lofgren wrote:Great news!

Here´s some more good news from Sweden for non-zuffa mma

A long-discussed nonprofit body aimed at furthering MMA around the globe, including recognition at the Olympics, is now a reality.

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation officials today announced via press release the official launch of the new organization, which is based in Sweden and aims to assist in the governing of the amateur game.

Zuffa are backing these guys in fact:

With UFC behind IMMAF, federation president outlines growth plan, Olympic potential

While UFC officials on Thursday continued their promotion for this weekend's UFC on FUEL TV 2 event, the wold's largest MMA organization also took a moment to publicly support the efforts of the newly launched International Mixed Martial Arts Federation.

The new federation, which seeks to organize the amateur ranks of MMA around the globe in an effort to eventually bring the sport to the Olympics, officially launched early Thursday morning.

UFC exec Marshall Zelaznik praised the new organization for its efforts, and MMAjunkie.com took part in a Q&A session with IMMAF president August Wallen, the former head of the Swedish MMA Federation. Read on to find out more about the IMMAF's plans.

"The UFC is behind and supports the work that August and his team are doing on the federation," Zelaznik said at today's press conference. "We're excited to be aligned with them in terms of their vision for what MMA can be in the world.

"It's a pretty significant moment, we believe, in the growth of this sport."

A long-discussed nonprofit body aimed at furthering MMA around the globe, the IMMAF is based in Sweden and promises to remain a democratic, nonprofit organization. Consistent application of rule sets and safety measures are among the IMMAF's key goals, as well as the establishment of potential world championships, and ultimately, official recognition of the sport from SportAccord, an umbrella organization established in 2009 that strives to "unite, support and promote its member international sports federations and organizations," according to its charter.

While the IMMAF would not have any direct involvement in the professional side of the sport, by establishing individual national federations, the company could aid the UFC in its global-expansion efforts.

"In the U.S., you have governments that regulate sport," Zelaznik explained. "In other parts of the world, the government also gets involved, but in many more parts of the world, you actually have these independent federations that are non-profit bodies that actually sort of manage the sport.

"In places like Europe or throughout Asia, where you don't have government oversight, these federations are very important. And so, when you see a group that develops a federation like they've done here, an international federation that we see is a well-intentioned, meaning group that is going out with a vision to organize, if you will, and benefit the entire sport the way a government might do it around the world, for us, we're hoping to just put a little wind in the sails of the international federation so they can go out and create this vision that they have as it relates to not only the amateur space, but also the development of oversight of a professional MMA."

Following today's pre-UFC on FUEL TV 2 press conference in Stockholm, MMAjunkie.com and two other reporters spoke with IMMAF president August Wallen. Here is the conversation:

MMAjunkie.com: This will obviously be a tremendous undertaking. What's the motivation behind taking on such a huge project?

Wallen: I think it's a burning passion for the sport. We have been working to make it legal (in Sweden) and be able to ultimately hold UFC in the Ericsson Globe Arena. That's been a process in Sweden for many, many, many years. I would say we would like to keep this moving.

We get a lot of questions from other countries. Some countries, like Finland, for example, have an MMA federation that is more or less functioning. Most countries do not. If we want to see amateur or professional events in some countries, there needs to be national federations, and they need to be recognized by an international federation.

If you take France, for example, to get a permit in France, you need to have a national federation. To have a national federation that is recognized by the states to have a permit, you need to have it be recognized by an international federation. If there is no international federation, then it is impossible to get a permit. So you have that side. If you want to arrange a professional event in France, you need to have an international federation. Then we have to be recognized to be recognized as a sport by SportAccord to be a true sport. To do that, we have to have an international federation. We need to have international competitions, like a world championship.

MMAjunkie.com: Obviously the UFC is lending their support, but what does that actually mean in terms of you and the IMMAF? Is the UFC going to be offering any input into how you operate, how you move forward, or are they simply saying they're here if you need them?

Wallen: As it looks, they have functionaries that could help out. Marc Ratner, for example, is very, very, competent. In that sense, we'll have support and know-how, which is important. They have also said they will also make financial support, and then they'll endorse and support us, officially, and because it's the biggest and most dominating MMA promotion, that means a lot. All the fans and all the fighters are looking to the UFC.

We are totally autonomous, of course, and we take donations. We're not sponsored or anything. It's donations, and we handle the money according to our guidelines. But this means that we will be able to work faster and harder toward our goals. I think it's really what's needed right now.

Reporter: How does your federation relate to the UFC or the numerous promotions in Europe and elsewhere?

Wallen: Obviously, the IMMAF is democratic and non-profit. The association is registered in Sweden. Formally, we have no ties to any promotions whatsoever. Any promotion is very welcome to donate to the federation, which we hope that promotions that have passion for the sport will do. We think and hope and are very thankful that the UFC will do it.

Reporter: How hard is it going to be to accomplish all you want to?

Wallen: It's extremely hard. No one has been able to do it, so far. Since there is no true international federation right now, I think it has been really, really hard. I think some have tried, and we have to analyze why they failed. Maybe they didn't have the financial backup. Maybe they didn't have the correct people. Maybe they were into making profits. There are federations going out making press releases, but they actually come into this to make profit. This is independent, non-profit and democratic. That's very important.

We have to see. Our biggest challenge, I think, is to work with people and unite all the time.

Reporter: How many countries are involved right now?

Wallen: To start with, we start from scratch. Zero. Nothing. That's actually the purpose. We want to start from scratch because if we start with Brazil, Brazil has six federations right now. If we took one of those federations and took their side, we would fragment Brazil even worse. Italy, I think, has three federations. Sweden has one. Finland has one, but there is one called Shooto, as well, so there's more or less two. So instead of taking sides, instead of taking one of the Brazilian federations, we're going to sit down with all six and ask them, 'Could you, together please, could you form one Brazilian federation?'

So we start from scratch by taking no sides. Our goal is to unite and not fragment even worse. Today, we received an application from the Swedish MMA Federation that they want to join. We have contact with others, but they will have to announce that themselves, of course.

MMAjunkie.com: The creation of amateur world championships could potentially mean the extension of amateur careers. MMA supporters always talk about the safety of MMA vs. boxing, but in boxing, fighters have much longer amateur careers. Boxers also seem to show more signs of brain damage at the end of their careers. Have you given any thought to any bad this new system could create?

Wallen: You're thinking about doing many, many, many fights in a career. An amateur boxer may do 150 career fights. It's the same in Thai boxing. We could go into a discussion where we say, 'What's the more dangerous sport?' We have that discussion a lot in Sweden – boxing compared to MMA or whatever. I think there are big differences between boxing and MMA.

If you look at how much time MMA fighters spend wrestling per minute, how many punches are delivered to the head per minute, how many fights do you have per year, and you take the amount of fights per year times the amount of punches oriented to the head over a year, and you compare that to another sport that no one mentioned, and you take the amount of impact toward the head during training and fighting, I think it's good. I don't think you should go from zero to the unified rules. I think it would be good if you started with submission wrestling and then amateur MMA. You have a solid amateur record of maybe 30 fights – that's just an example – and then you go into pro fighting.

I mean how many hockey players didn't play junior hockey? How many soccer pros did not play soccer before they became a pro? Formula 1 – how many Formula 1 drivers never drove a car before? I think we need to build that, and of course we need to take all the safety into mind and really make a good investigation of the turnout. But I think this will make a big majority of fans and people who train MMA to be able to compete on their level, and I think that's important.

To get to be a recognized sport, you have to have a worldwide amateur circuit. That's what we have to have, and we have to have a world championship. Go to SportAccord and say, 'Hey, we have a lot of professional promotions.' Out of their perspective, that is not a sport. The sport of MMA is regulated by a non-profit federation. Then, of course, there can be professional promotions and circuits, but that's something else.

Reporter: How do you deal with the different sets of rules between different organizations?

Wallen: In the long-run, I think it's inevitable that it has to be streamlined – in the long-run. But our goal is not to go in to any country and say, 'You've got to do this or that.' How you have amateur MMA in Finland, I mean that is up to the Finnish federation, I would say, and their legal situation – if you need to have permits or whatever. The thing is, when we have a world championship, then we must have the best possible set of rules. That has to build on the experience of those who have arranged amateur MMA.

We can see in Finland, how many knockouts did you have? How many injuries? What's the turnout? Sweden has a lot of amateur fights now. How did they turn out? How are the amateur fights in the U.K.? When we have a set of rules for a world championship, when we have that, I think most countries will – I would – start to change and adjust to that set of rules. That's not something you should force. You use the experience from Finland, Sweden, U.K., wherever there is amateur fights, and you use that experience to build a good set of rules that we can unite on an international level.

If you don't want to keep your set of rules in Finland and then you have to change when you come to the world championships, or you want to use the same rules all over, that's up to the international federations. I don't see that we should force anyone to do anything. We want to use the experience.

Reporter: There are other federations, some from wrestling and kickboxing, that have launched international MMA federations. Is that an issue?

Wallen: I know that there are many trying to get into this. I know that there is a big kickboxing organization in the world, and they also founded an MMA federation. The thing is, most people in that federation are not doing MMA. There are federations of other sports, and they want to include MMA. But I think it's important that those who work with an international MMA federation and those that represent MMA in a country are doing MMA – that their interest is MMA, that their total focus is MMA. I believe that is important, that it's someone with passion and interest in MMA – not someone that's doing another sport that's maybe shrinking slowly that's interested in adopting something else to get maybe more members or more support from the International Olympic Committee or whatever.

I think that this sport, MMA, deserves its own federation and that the people with passion for this sport are the one engaged in it. That's my belief.

Reporter: You've openly discussed the Olympics. When could that be possible?

Wallen: In the long-run, I think it's the dream of any athlete to be able to compete in the Olympics. In the long-run, I think it's our goal to put MMA in the Olympics. But that's a long way down the road. What we want to do, at least this year, is totally focus on administration and getting national federations in as many countries as possible and get national representatives so we can form federations quickly. When we have enough countries, I think beginning international competitions is the next step. When we have good world championships, then even more people will want to join, I think.

When we have national federations, membership federations all around the world, and we have world championships that are good, then we can apply for SportAccord – not until then. We need to be worldwide with worldwide competition to apply for SportAccord. When we are there, then you can start looking at the Olympics, but that's all the way down the road.

But you talk to any athlete and say, 'Would you like to compete in the Olympics?' who would say no? That's something we have to have as a vision down the line, but getting a lot of national federations, starting world championships, applying for SportAccord, that's things we can control. When you're going into the Olympics, you have to compete with other sports that want to go into the Olympics. We need to find a country that would like to have MMA as a demonstration sport at the Olympics when they organize it. Which countries would be interested in doing that? Then it comes down to, 'OK, which country will get the next Olympics? Please let it be….' It's things out of our control. We can do our best to be ready for it, but it's things out of our control. We're going to focus on the things that are in our control right now.

MMAjunkie.com: You've stated that you're not taking sanctioning fees right now, but how long is that sustainable? Can you survive off of donations alone? Doesn't there have to be some financial income at some point?

Wallen: Right now, we do all the work pro bono, and we're looking into donations. I think the UFC will donate, and I hope that others will donate, as well. When we have the first general assembly, it will be up to the member countries to decide if each country should pay a membership fee and so on. That's not something that we want to decide for them. They should decide. The more we can keep it down, the better, I think.

There are a lot of federations that want to get sanctioning fees and this and that. This is 100 percent passion for the sport. We're looking into the way other world federations are running sport, and we think that's MMA deserves.

MMAjunkie.com: You've outlined the long-term goals for the promotion, but what's the next step. What happens now?

Wallen: Looking at each country. Just south of Sweden is Denmark. What's the situation in Denmark? Is there a federation in Denmark? If not, are there prominent people who could start that type of a federation? Do they need support? Find them, get them in motion, get them the support they need.

Look at the next country. Germany is just south of Denmark. Go country to country, and hopefully as word gets out, people will start mailing us, contacting us. 'In Nicaragua, we want to …." You know what I mean? In any country, we want to organize ourself. We want to start a federation here. What do we need to do? Then we can give them support.

We will go country to country, as fast as we can, and then we hope that people will be interested in any country and will contact us.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28211/with-ufc-behind-immaf-federation-prez-outlines-growth-plan-olympic-potential.mma

Johan Lofgren wrote:

RussianTopTeam wrote:if they include MMA into the Olympics, they better not put that shit in a cage

Agree. Since Sweden is involved in this organization I think they will use the ring because our biggest promotion Rumble of the Kings use a ring and it´s makes it more accepted as a real sport.

These guys might use a cage since zuffa is behind them.

ZuffaKiller wrote:

Johan Lofgren wrote:

RussianTopTeam wrote:if they include MMA into the Olympics, they better not put that shit in a cage

Agree. Since Sweden is involved in this organization I think they will use the ring because our biggest promotion Rumble of the Kings use a ring and it´s makes it more accepted as a real sport.

These guys might use a cage since zuffa is behind them.

If they do I´ll go berserk The ring is one of the biggest threats to the Zuffa version of mma.

ZuffaKiller wrote:Zuffa are backing these guys in fact:

Publicly Zuffa supports it but privately would be very different.

Fedor and M-1 has already been trying to get MMA into the Olympics and getting huge headways in Russia. You now see MMA treated as a sport and not as an entertainment program like WWE/UFC and now even have Alex working for the government.

Once MMA gets accepted into the Olympics, just watch how the Russian's and the growth of MMA would be in Eastern Europe, watch the Gov support grow in Eastern Europe.

UFC would be left in the dust when this happens.

(1) Assigns any future merchandising rights to a promoter beyond the term of the promotional contract. - BOOM Zuffa already do this.
(2) Automatically renews the contract or extends the term without good faith, arms-length negotiation. - BOOM there goes another Zuffa contract clause
(5) Restricts a mixed martial arts fighter from sponsoring another firm, product, or individual. - HAHAHA Zuffa loses out again. They did this to Hendo and Fedor.
(7) Restricts a mixed martial arts fighter from contracting with another promoter. - DAMN that means that JDS can fight Fedor in M-1 Global, and Zuffa cant do shit about it.
(b) The commission shall revoke or refuse to renew the license of any promoter if it finds that the promoter, or any person or entity that is a partner, agent, employee, stockholder, or associate of the promoter, has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude in any jurisdiction; is currently the subject of a state or federal criminal investigation - IM SURE most of this apply to the mafia sister and their bald cheer leader. I wonder if this extends to things outside of MMA or limited to MMA related items.
(c) To ensure that individuals and entities licensed under this act observe common standards of decency - FUCK FUCK FUCK, would be what Dana said when he read this section. Dana is in deep shit.

Johan Lofgren wrote:Great news!

Here´s some more good news from Sweden for non-zuffa mma

A long-discussed nonprofit body aimed at furthering MMA around the globe, including recognition at the Olympics, is now a reality.

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation officials today announced via press release the official launch of the new organization, which is based in Sweden and aims to assist in the governing of the amateur game.

Yeah, I was just reading about that. There are articles on Bloody Elbow and MMA Junkie. They want each nation to also have a national federation that works with them. The only scary part is that UFC supports them and they will be guests at the upcoming event in Sweden which falls in line with the standardization of the sport. They want to standardize the rules (just through guidelines though) which is not a good thing. I like full rules, PRIDE rules, Unified Rules, ring, and cage for the variety in the sport it offers. They need a ranking system and they need to one day crown world champions which reportedly is a goal of theirs. Safety regulations, such as, ring side doctors, prefight medical screenings,.., would be great for the sport so hopefully that is where they put their focus.

Though TUE amendment passed, CSAC expects lengthy review, few exemptions

Those looking to get a therapeutic-use exemption in California could face a long wait, according to California State Athletic Commission Executive Director George Dodd.

The commission this week passed an amendment that allows fighters to use banned substances in competition if it can be proved they are medically necessary.

But the amendment's specifics are still being ironed out, Dodd said, and if hurdles to making it law are cleared, the exemption process won't be easy.

"It's going to be pretty elaborate," he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Testosterone and marijuana, of course, are the banned substances that draw the most attention in the combat-sports world. The former is often called legal cheating while the latter is dismissed as a performance-enhancer.

On April 24, both could be in the spotlight. At a meeting of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem is expected to explain an abnormally high level of testosterone, and welterweight Nick Diaz (and California medical-marijuana patient) Nick Diaz could attempt to fight his suspension for marijuana metabolites.

Prior to this week's ruling, the CSAC had no formal rules in place for therapeutic-use exemptions, which came to light in late 2010 when UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone and claimed he had permission from the commission's previous executive director.

Dodd said the aim of the amendment, which is modeled after an exemption process employed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), is to provide "a screening process to allow those individuals the opportunity to fight as long as they stayed within certain parameters."

In other words, to make sure the playing field is level.

Under Dodd's stewardship, one fighter, former Strikeforce champ Dan Henderson, was granted a "one-time exemption" to fight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 while taking doctor-prescribed testosterone. During a meeting Monday in Sacramento, CSAC counsel Anita Scurry said Dodd had no authority to do so and whatever process was in place was "informal." Dodd said the decision was based on the commission's desire to evaluate the potential issues that may arise if a rule granting therapeutic exemptions were put in place.

A representative from the Department of Consumer Affairs, which falls under the same state agency as the CSAC, expressed concerns that the amendment under review isn't specific enough and opens a window to abuse.

The amendment is now set for review by the DCA as well as California's Office of Administrative Law, who will gauge whether it meets a set of criteria to be adopted into the CSAC's regulations. Dodd said it could be passed in as few as 60 days or as long as two years, if at all.

"It's still a lengthy process," he said. "There's some obstacles that we're going to run into."

However, Dodd already has an idea of what the process is likely to entail. At the very least, exemption candidates will need to provide a chain of documentation from an endocrinologist proving the medical necessity of a banned substance. The CSAC's medical board, which on Monday added its own hormone specialist to its ranks, will then review the paperwork. Additionally, the candidate will need to appear before the commission.

Timing, then, will be critical for fighters who often get bookings on notice of three months or less.

"The medical board only meets three or four times a year, so you could get your documents into the medical board, but if the medical board has already met, you probably won't fight in California," Dodd said.

If an exemption is granted, the commission will decide its term and may review it periodically.

Dodd noted that the exemption process is not specifically geared for testosterone and marijuana.

"We're still in our infancy (with the process)," he said. "We're still working out the logistics. So again, it's not going to be an easy process."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/28214/though-tue-amendment-passed-csac-expects-lengthy-review-few-exemptions.mma