Commission updates unified MMA rules

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Association of Boxing Commissions has ratified changes to the unified rules of mixed martial arts aimed at enhancing safety and altering weight classes.

The ABC, which provides regulatory guidelines for MMA and boxing in the U.S. and Canada, made the changes during its annual meeting Thursday in Montreal. Among the amendments passed to the unified rules, first adopted by the State Athletic Control Board in New Jersey in 2001, is clarification on what constitutes an illegal blow to the back of a fighter's head. The commission has defined this restricted area as the top of the head through the centerline of the skull to the spine, with a one-inch variance to either side.

Another rule change removes a restriction on the use of elbows to strike. The previous rule prohibited "downward pointing of elbow strikes." Those blows are now legal, except to restricted areas of the body, such as the back of the head mentioned above.

"Allowing downward elbows makes sense," Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I think we were over-regulating that aspect with the way the rules were written. It's where the blow lands that makes elbows dangerous. The reasoning behind this change makes sense."

Kizer, whose duties associated with UFC 86 and a boxing event Saturday in Las Vegas kept him from attending the ABC meeting, adds that he is just learning about the revised rules and intends to review them in more detail in the coming weeks. He will take a particularly close look at a change to the light heavyweight division that shifts the weight range to 205 to 225 pounds. Previously, the light-heavyweight division ranged from 186 to 205 pounds.

"I don't get that one," Kizer said. "I'm surprised by it. I need to understand the reasoning behind the change. I didn't think there was a big concern over how the weight classes were structured. This change creates a significant weight differential in the division and leaves only a 40-pound gap at heavyweight."

The heavyweight division now has a revised range of 226 to 265 pounds.

It's at the discretion of state athletic commissions whether to adopt the unified rules.

While Kizer is a proponent of consistency and uniformity of rules for the sport, he doesn't expect the NSAC to adopt the revised regulations immediately. The NSAC typically reviews rules on an annual basis, with the next assessment expected next year.

The ABC is a nonprofit organization, with its membership comprised of state athletic commission representatives from across the U.S. and Canada.</div>

some good progress, but the LHW division being 205-225?!?! interesting. Does that mean another weight class will be added? They can't have Middle Weight cover 176-204 Lbs.

Now if they would just add Knees to the head on the ground. That would really help non-wrestlers vs wrestlers and would make a huge difference when in the north/south position.

 

I like that proposal, but I think BJ would move up from 155.. as per the video you posted, it's hard for him to have the discipline to stay at 155
he's like the in and out burger too much

 

the NJASC is also on record as saying they will not adopt the weight categories too, which is huge since New Jersey was the first state with sanctioned rules for MMA.