A ref's point of view: Does MMA need a sanctioning body?

[SlimDavy]

Hi,

I would just like to gauge your opinions a little.

Although their are some excellent individual fighters here in the UK, and indeed some top promotions, do you think that promoters & coaches should support a National Sanctioning Body that would ensure promoters meet certain criteria when running shows, match-making for titles, etc?

The reason i ask is that in pretty much any part of the UK there seems to be promotions popping up that each have their own version of 'British', and more laughably, 'European' champions.

With a sanctioning body would it not give the title more credibility?

Do you think it would raise standards?

Your input appreciated.

[CraigSt.Clair]

An interesting question this, is it not possible that since UKMMA is still a relatively small group of people that we could self regulate if people stopped being dicks and got along?

[Neil Hall]

Massive question, I think Craig is right though at this point, it should all start with self regulation and a progression from there. the more people in the industry insist on good standards and improvments the closer we will get.
Much more to discuss for sure but, just a quick answer for now.

[CraigSt.Clair]

Massive question, I think Craig is right though at this point, it should all start with self regulation and a progression from there. the more people in the industry insist on good standards and improvments the closer we will get.
Much more to discuss for sure but, just a quick answer for now.

Much nicer way of putting what I wrote lol

[marc goddard]

Short answer no, but at the same time yes!!!

No - why? because who runs it? We are still a relitaviley small group and expertise can only come from within and this would cause huge conflict and questionable practices - unless those involved/appointed completely resigned and stepped away from all current involvement with any and all association[s] to ensure and satisfy total impartiality. This is the nonly way a governing body of any description can work. Also anything or any "body" imposing any form of restriction or punishemnt will need to be adhered too by all concerned. My fear is that we would just have a huge "unlicensed" scene just as we see in boxing right now.

Yes -why? because fighter safety [prime importance] licensed fighters, suspensions, medicals etc are only ever a good thing, this is alot closer than people may think and this is the first step to implement before we go about setting the infra-structure for the above. Licensed officials, matchmakers, clubs, promotors etc - this will come in time. For now we can trust the reputable shows and promotors to self govern from within and ensure the standards are continually raised and exceeded.

It is quite difficult to answer here in full without going into huge detail. if you search yourmma.tv i had an interview with Jay after one of my Ref & Judge seminars that details exactly the content that you are looking for.

Hope this helps.

[Jay]

It is quite difficult to answer here in full without going into huge detail. if you search yourmma.tv i had an interview with Jay after one of my Ref & Judge seminars that details exactly the content that you are looking for.

Here is the interview! (http://www.yourmma.tv/fighters/interview-details.asp?index=8)

[marc goddard]

Thanks Jay!

Here is another even mnore in depth that I had done http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Anarchy-in-the-UK-34824

Thanks.

[BakedBean]

Marc do you think it would be more plausable/workable/possible to have some sort of web based organization that promoters could become members of which would not have power over the promotion itself but would have equal democratic powers over fighters/officials?

So for example if a fighter let one show down or struck an opponent after the final bell the issue could be flagged up to the group and the voted on by the members as to the action that should be taken (banned from all member promoters shows).

The members would all have to agree to have certain standards and any further standards would be voted on before introduced.

If a member is not honouring the agreement then they can be voted out.

This would not be the same as a governing body but would achieve some of what a body would achieve and would give fighters certain assurances if they fought on member shows.

Would perhaps ceperate some of the wheat from the chaff so to speak.

I say web based as the involvement would need to be cheap as i cannot see everybody going to meetings around the country and it would make it very simple to inform everybody by email of an issue and then enable them to vote on it.

It would be a start and it would be cheap for everybody.

[marc goddard]

BB! thanks for the response, i will look at and answer in detail later.

Cheers.

[Neil Hall]

Another point I made before would be to attempt to acheive regional co-operation between promoters as a starting point and for them to at least agree on basic practises.

There are certain areas where there are a lot of events on in a condensed area, the North East, the North West, Midlands, etc etc. I am trying to get the promoters in the regions I work mostly, to co-operate with each other, with a view to building some of the criteria and issues mentioned above.

It is a difficult task as there are always petty arguments. Many promoters are looking to only use experienced officials now though and realise the benefits of that. They are open to having working relationships with other promoters and with Officials but it is still a long way from us having a governing body.

As Marc says, the "expertise" would have to come from within the industry and until people can start to get on and co-operate with each other it is going to be a difficult thing to acheive.

In time hoepfully we can acheive something resembling a governing body but we have to start with the basic building blocks mentioned and look after the sport itself as a whole and protect it from non supporters. More particulalrly with fighter safety and requirments first and foremost and good sensible practise by promoters.

[SlimDavy]

Thanks to all that commented and expressing your opinions. Good article there by Marc.

Just a few points:-

- Are the main promoters following the unified rules as laid out by the American Athletic Associations/Commissions? It is very easy to get confused as from the local events i have been to that promote Amateur, Semi-pro, Pro-B, and Pro rules, i often think that as the sport is so young in the UK, that aren't we confusing ourselves with the sheer amount of variations of formats available for fighters? This then brings us to the titles on offer.... Semi-pro British champion. Pro European champion, etc. I haven't done a head count but i am pretty sure i live within a 5 mile radius of at least 4 British middleweight champions!!!!!

- Are the athletic commissions of the US made up of experienced people from MMA?


It is a hard one to see how regulation could come about. I certainly think that we are capable of self-regulating to a degree, but it would take a lot of time and effort, and a lot of publicity from the main figureheads to push the concept... The BBBoC is only a private limited company yet it regulates pro boxing quite well, even though there is an explosion of unlicensed events happening. It would take a lot of educating for people to want to only participate in sanctioned events.

[Neil Hall]

The main promoters are following the Unified rules and some are using NSAC rules for their amateur rules.
However there are still many promoters using the varied sets of old style rules all around the UK.

From a Referees point of view sticking to the 2 sets of rules above is the way forward (Rules will and do evolve over time, but currently, these are what we have leading the way). I do appreciate that smaller events want to please the fighters and fans loclal to them with various sets of rules to allow for that, but ultimatley we need to be pushing for the above which is what I try and do wherever I go.

I do still Referee the older/various rules on some events, in fact I think in my earlier refereeing it could have helped my development as far as mental agility and adaptability and certainly to have a keen eye, when I could be Refereeing up to 4 sets of rules in the same event. Now though we should be striving to persuade all the Promoters to use the Unified Rules.

[SlimDavy]

Thanks Neil. I think Unified & NSAC Amateur is the way forward. For some reason the UK is fascinated with 'classing' ie A,B,C class, meaning different rules for each class, (often referred to as amateur, semi-pro, and pro rules, but now incorporating pro-b rules?? which i am asuming is NSAC Amateur, but whereby fighters get paid??) it just gets confusing. They do it with Muay Thai, K1, and MMA.

Is the different rules in the States just as confusing?

[BakedBean]

BB! thanks for the response, i will look at and answer in detail later.

Cheers.

Any responce to this?