Athletic Commisions

[falling_star]

I have a few ideas to offer up about the use of athletic commisions, entities that have a lot of bearing on the world of MMA. For those who aren't sure what an athletic commision does, briefly, it is an organization that licenses companies and athletes to compete in a particular state (the Nevada State Athletic Commision, for example). They also decide what is acceptable to present in a show (some states don't allow hardcore wrestling, for example, some will allow longer rounds for MMA fights than others, etc.) [B][U]Athletic Commision Presidents[/U][/B] Each area could have a president, with his/her own personality that will reflect in how things run in a particular area. Some may have an agenda against MMA, making it hard to get licensed in that area; others may have a soft spot for the sport and become MMA hotbeds. [B][U]In Relation to Companies[/U][/B] My first thought is that it could function similar to the way TEW lays out the audience for each area (Entertainment is Huge in most areas, Hardcore is good, etc.) but it would list the preferences of that area's athletic commision. Elements that could be used here might include: [B]Maximum/Preferred Round Length:[/B] The maximum number of minutes a round can last, or perhaps a preferred number would allow for the occasional promotion to try and sway the committee so that they can hold fights under their usual company rules. Example: an organization in Japan might traditionally hold fights with rounds lasting 8 minutes, which generally isn't the case in America because most athletic commisions won't allow rounds that long. Let's say that California is set to a maximum/preferred length of 5 minutes, it could be feasible to sway them into allowing 8 (providing the area president could be persuaded). Others, Nevada for example, could be set at 3 and find 8 minutes completely unnacceptable. Likewise, an area might be set to 5 as in the California example and not willing to move to 8 minutes. [B]Maximum/Preferred Number of Rounds:[/B] Similar to above, but the number of rounds a fight may last as opposed to the length of each round. [B]Maximum/Preferred Content:[/B] There could be a rating scale with 4 or 5 ratings (Very Low, Low, Medium, High, Very High, etc.) that would relate to how brutal they allow companies to be in their area. An area set to Very High, for example, would allow knees and blows to the head wheras others wouldn't. This rating could affect things like how willing a committee is to allow longer match lengths, higher number of rounds, etc. [B][U]In Relation to Fighters[/U][/B] Sometimes people just seem to get themselves into hot water with the athletic commision, and there is usually a price to pay. A fighter who badly injures another fighter could find himself unable to get licensed in that area again for a certain amount of time; others might accidentally or unknowingly break a rule and get fined or find himself in similar trouble as the first example. [B][U]In Relation to 'Dirty Business' (as mentioned [URL="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22268"]here[/URL])[/U][/B] It could also be possible to bribe the athletic commision, in areas where the president is keen to that sort of thing. It would make it a lot easier for things to go your way if you want longer rounds, but makes things incredibly hard if you get caught and find yourself unable to run shows there or at odds with a new president in the area. Sorry if it seems I'm just spouting off at the keyboard; I'm trying to just see what comes to mind, throwing against the wall, and seeing what sticks, so to speak.

[Guest loves2spooge]

hope bribing makes it in cant wait to do that

[lovestruck420]

[QUOTE=falling_star;214821][B]Maximum/Preferred Round Length:[/B] The maximum number of minutes a round can last, or perhaps a preferred number would allow for the occasional promotion to try and sway the committee so that they can hold fights under their usual company rules. Example: an organization in Japan might traditionally hold fights with rounds lasting 10 minutes, which generally isn't the case in America because most athletic commisions won't allow rounds that long. Let's say that California is set to a preferred length of 8 minutes, it could be feasible to sway them into allowing 10. Nevada, however, could be set at 6 and find 10 minutes completely unnacceptable.[/QUOTE] Are you kidding we barely get 3 min rounds........ Usually for smaller events its 1 or 2 min rounds

[falling_star]

[QUOTE=lovestruck420;214832]Are you kidding we barely get 3 min rounds........ Usually for smaller events its 1 or 2 min rounds[/QUOTE] Those were just examples. . . I'm far too exhausted to provide realistic examples! :eek: My mistake, though. . . like I said, I'm just throwing it all out there, and I didn't even think about the numbers I was using, I was just typing it as it came. Post will be changed for a better example, though. . .

[Wildcat]

Three minutes? The big promotions use at least 5, K1 and ZST use a 2 5 minute round format with K1 having the option of a third 5 minute round if needed, UFC uses 3 5 minute rounds for regular bouts and 5 5 minute long rounds for championship bouts and Pride uses a system of one 10 Minute round followed by two 5 minute rounds. In fact I don't know of one Professional MMA promotion that runs less than a five minute round format. Edit. As soon as I posted I remembered that IFL uses a format with 4 minute rounds. <_< shhh.

[SirFozzie]

More realistically, the Athletic Commision will issue medical suspension to those fighters injured/KO'd in a fight, and/or Drug/Steroid Suspensions. For example, here is the list of fighters on Medical Suspension from PRIDE Fighting Championship's most recent event (2/27): Medical Suspensions Stemming from Pride 33: -Nick Diaz has been medically suspended for six months (until August 24th) due to an injured and possibly broken orbital bone (the orbital bone is the bone that surrounds the eye socket). If Diaz is medically cleared before then, his minimum suspension would still last through April 26th. -Dan Henderson has been medically suspended for six months (until August 24th) due to a broken second metacarpal in his right hand. If Henderson is medically cleared before then, his minimum suspension would still last through April 11th. -Mac Danzig has been medically suspended for six months (until August 24th) due to an injured and possibly broken left thumb. If Danzig is medically cleared before then, his minimum suspension would still last through April 11th. -Takanori Gomi has been medically suspended for six weeks (until April 11th) due to damage sustained in his submission loss. -Wanderlei Silva has been medically suspended for six weeks (until April 11th) due to damage sustained in his KO loss. -Alistair Overeem has been medically suspended for six weeks (until April 11th) due to damage sustained in his KO loss. -Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been medically suspended for six weeks (until April 11th) due to damage sustained in his KO loss. -Jason Ireland has been medically suspended for six weeks (until April 11th) due to damage sustained in his submission loss. -Travis Wiuff has been medically suspended for four weeks (until March 27th) due to damage sustained in his submission loss.

[ACCBiggz]

Yes, but they are only suspended from Nevada. While the UFC and most companies abide by those rules because they are there to protect the fighters, you can ignore them... ex. PRIDE 33-34 Wanderlei may in fact participate at PRIDE 34, they haven't made up their mind yet, as it depends on his physical condition. Although with the sell, the Fertitta's may request he be pulled.

[SirFozzie]

[QUOTE=ACCBiggz;214853]Yes, but they are only suspended from Nevada. While the UFC and most companies abide by those rules because they are there to protect the fighters, you can ignore them... ex. PRIDE 33-34 Wanderlei may in fact participate at PRIDE 34, they haven't made up their mind yet, as it depends on his physical condition. Although with the sell, the Fertitta's may request he be pulled.[/QUOTE] All states in the US are required to honor each others suspensions, and Japan is strongly recommended to:, from the same site I got the PRIDE list from [b]Fighters who are under a medical suspension from the NSAC cannot fight anywhere in the world (including Japan) without facing possible disciplinary action.[/b] Ah, here's the section I was looking for, from the recent NSAC action against Gary Goodridge, one of the other decisions, they made: [b]In addition, Erin Toughill was granted her request for a fighters' license. Toughill's request required a special hearing because she previously fought while under an NSAC medical suspension. In 2006, Toughill was TKO'ed during a boxing match in Nevada, and she fought on an MMA card in California while under NSAC medical suspension. The NSAC agreed to grant her a license on the condition that it would only be for one fight, and then the NSAC will re-evaluate her case on medical grounds.[/b]

[ACCBiggz]

They don't have to abide by their rules, the NSAC is the NEVADA state athetlic commission, in the US they do normally honor each others yes. The UFC honors it every where they go, but back to this point.. they don't have to do it, obviously with promotions like the UFC everyone will know who is suspended and for how long, but like I said with the case of PRIDE.... Wanderlei is still billed for PRIDE 34 at this time, and DSE was going to have him fight, of coruse that depends on his personal health and the whole buyout portion. Edit: Silva's participation is in doubt because of a medical suspension received from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. However, the commission has stated that if a Japanese doctor clears Silva for competition, they will consider lifting the suspension three days early. However, he was billed by PRIDE prior to any of this. DSE isn't exactly known for their great ethics anyway.

[SirFozzie]

Yup. Maybe it would be possible to have a medical suspension be honored everywhere in that Country, and if someone who's under medical suspension in one country fights in another country, they risk having their suspension reset, or even lengthened.

[Adam Ryland]

Thanks for the ideas. A good simulation of athletic commissions is one of the hardest areas to get right, we're still doing the design on it, so please feel free to keep the debate going on the subject, it all helps!

[kettley]

[QUOTE=ACCBiggz;214858]They don't have to abide by their rules, the NSAC is the NEVADA state athetlic commission, in the US they do normally honor each others yes. The UFC honors it every where they go, but back to this point.. they don't have to do it, obviously with promotions like the UFC everyone will know who is suspended and for how long, but like I said with the case of PRIDE....[/QUOTE]The trouble with Nevada is that while they have no juristiction outside of Nevada they expect their suspensions to be upheld worldwide and if a company chooses to flout a ban by using a someone under suspension (even in another state/country) then the both the company and fighter in question risk losing their licencse to promote or fight in Nevada in the future. So if Pride ever wanted to come back to Nevada they have to uphold the ban or get approval to use him early. Same for any company who thinks about using a fighter banned by NSAC. It's really only a rule that applies to NSAC as they wield all the percieved power in the US... if a state like Wyoming ever tried promoting MMA (do they?) and they banned someone there's no way they could expect the ban to be upheld worldwide as nobody would care about losing the ability to fight or promote in Wyoming.

[The_Watcher]

Adding Athletic Commisions would be such an awesome feature. I don't know if it's been stated or known but certain places like Ontario, Canada has outlawed MMA by their Athletic Commission, maybe there should be a Ban option or Unactive option so that certain areas won't allow MMA contests. Although having those certain areas open their MMA Ban in future game years would be great as well. Someone also stated an option to bribe the Athletic Comission. I'm sure it's been done, especialy by PRIDE, but if that option is going to be included there should also be a way where the Comission can deny your bribe(maybe if you're not offering enough money or something) and fines you for it.

[Sartagis]

[QUOTE=The_Watcher;214940]I don't know if it's been stated or known but certain places like Ontario, Canada has outlawed MMA by their Athletic Commission, maybe there should be a Ban option or Unactive option so that certain areas won't allow MMA contests.[/QUOTE] FYI: Non profit (ie amateur) MMA is allowed in Ontario. It's also the only place where MMA is banned in Canada.

[ACCBiggz]

[QUOTE=kettley;214935]The trouble with Nevada is that while they have no juristiction outside of Nevada they expect their suspensions to be upheld worldwide and if a company chooses to flout a ban by using a someone under suspension (even in another state/country) then the both the company and fighter in question risk losing their licencse to promote or fight in Nevada in the future. So if Pride ever wanted to come back to Nevada they have to uphold the ban or get approval to use him early. Same for any company who thinks about using a fighter banned by NSAC. It's really only a rule that applies to NSAC as they wield all the percieved power in the US... if a state like Wyoming ever tried promoting MMA (do they?) and they banned someone there's no way they could expect the ban to be upheld worldwide as nobody would care about losing the ability to fight or promote in Wyoming.[/QUOTE] I was bringing up that you don't have to follow it as they can not actually enforce it even though most smart organizations uphold their rulings and the rulings of all other athletic commissions as well. I just used the latest PRIDE thing as an example.

[eayragt]

OKay, so there's going to be huge debate over what affect Athletic commisions will have (suspensions, rules, licences), but what do people have about this being set in stone or flexible. eg, in real life, could Ontario lift their ban on MMA, leaving a new, untapped territory. Nevada suddenly putting rules in for shorter rounds. Some state deciding not to uphold suspensions from other areas (which could somehow start a war - if you use suspended fighters in X, you wouldn't be welcome back in Y).

[Adam Ryland]

My intention is to have nothing set in stone, I like the idea that the game world can evolve, with states changing their views on MMA from time to time. I think that adds an extra dimension to the game.

[JMimic]

Maybe there should be a behavior attribute on the fighters where if its lower that maybe they'll test positive for something after a fight and thus get suspended things like that. Medical suspensions would be nice too if someone really gets beat up and gets hurt.

[SirFozzie]

Also, the Athletic Comission should also step in and not allow obvious mismatches (IE, Mirko Cro Cop versus Joe The McDojo "fighter")

[syndicate]

if you are using a promotion in the united states you should be able to have some states have mma outlawed so then you could do what plenty of other promotions do and use indian reservations

[ACCBiggz]

[QUOTE=SirFozzie;215120]Also, the Athletic Comission should also step in and not allow obvious mismatches (IE, Mirko Cro Cop versus Joe The McDojo "fighter")[/QUOTE] Which PRIDE is also known for, PRIDE 34 will feature Zulu/Butterbean. Also, Indian Casinos don't require regulation.

[JMimic]

[QUOTE=SirFozzie;215120]Also, the Athletic Comission should also step in and not allow obvious mismatches (IE, Mirko Cro Cop versus Joe The McDojo "fighter")[/QUOTE] You mean Eddie Sanchez? :D

[SirFozzie]

That was stuck in my mind, yes Z( a lot of folks on the MMA boards I hang out at were wondering why that was allowed, I know Pride had some fights turned down by the NSAC for their Vegas shows

[ACCBiggz]

Difference is Eddie Sanchez vs. Cro Cop isn't the same as Butterbean vs. Mark Hunt. Or Mirko vs. a guy with a 0-0 record. Eddie was undefeated, had a win in the UFC, and is now a full time MMA fighter. The difference between PRIDE and UFC is that PRIDE will try to have Butterbean or another type of fighter/wrestler take on the likes of Mark Hunt, Fedor, etc. for publicity and that is what they mean by mismatch. (Fedor or Hunt was rumored for PRIDE 34, but with Fedor fighting Lindland in mid April they decided to go with Zulu/Butterbean instead)