ABC - New rules, Weight classes, thoughts...

[Mikey-Z]

Taken from Sherdog.com:

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MONTREAL -- A revised edition of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts were passed Thursday by the Association of Boxing Commissions via a majority vote at the ABC's annual conference.

The amended document -- drafted by the ABC's MMA Chairman Dale Kliparchuk, New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Deputy Attorney Nick Lembo, ABC President Timothy Leuckenhoff and veteran referee "Big" John McCarthy -- primarily provided clarifications to the already existing Unified Rules instituted in April 2001 that serve as a regulatory beacon for the sport throughout North America.

Within the revised regulations, verbiage was added to further define what constitutes an illegal strike to the back of a competitor's head. The revised rules now distinguish the back of the head as the "crown of the head down the centerline of the skill into the spine, with a 1 inch variance to each side." This is commonly referred to as the "Mohawk" definition.

Proponents supporting the ear-to-ear definition spoke of the need to preserve fighter safety, particularly in dealing with the tender area along the spine.

McCarthy, who presented the revisions to ABC members with Kliparchuk and Lembo, told the group that the "Mohawk" definition had always been the intended interpretation of the rule since its 2001 inception and had never been the cause of serious injury during the sport's tenure. McCarthy urged that altering the definition to include the entire back area would alter the mechanics of the sport.

McCarthy described the scenario in which one fighter can take another's back, but would no longer be able to punch his opponent from that position.

"If you start doing things to try and make boxing fit within MMA, you start to allow the rules to control a position so the fighter can actually go to that position because they realize they can not be attacked there. The opponent who had dominance over me now doesn't have the ability to do much to me," said McCarthy.

In addition, verbiage prohibiting elbow strikes in the downward "12-to-6 o'clock" motion was stricken, as the original rule's intention was to prohibit the technique to the restricted spinal cord area, not ban the actual movement itself. Elbow strikes of all kinds are now permissible, except to illegal areas.

Smothering the mouth or nose of an opponent has been added to the Unified Rules' fouls list, prohibiting a fighter from using his hand to prevent his opponent's ability to breathe. According to the new verbiage, this does not include choke attempts where a fighter's mouth is covered by his opponent's arm.

Fouls constituting unsportsmanlike conduct were consolidated together in the revised document, while the recovery period allowed to a fouled fighter was clarified in the new text. A fighter who has been struck with a low blow will have up to five minutes to recover. All other fouls will be assessed by a physician, who will make a determination within five minutes if the fighter is fit to continue.

A proposed amendment allowing knees to the head of a downed opponent did not make it into the revised regulations for a vote. ABC President Leuckenhoff said the technique had been discussed in the weeks prior to the conference, but it was decided the move would be too radical for some legislatures still considering the sport at this time.

The fourteen weight classes include: flyweight (up to 105 lbs), super flyweight (over 105.1 to 115 lbs), bantamweight (over 115.1 to 125 lbs), super bantamweight (over 125.1 to 135 lbs), featherweight (over 135.1 to 145 lbs), lightweight (over 145.1 to 155 lbs), super lightweight (over 155.1 to 165 lbs), welterweight (over 165.1 to 175 lbs), super welterweight (over 175.1 to 185 lbs), middleweight (over 185.1 to 195 lbs), super middleweight (over 195.1 to 205 lbs), light heavyweight (over 205.1 to 225 lbs), heavyweight (over 225.1 to 265 lbs), and super heavyweight (over 265.1 lbs).
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(More at site)

Thoughts?

Big John rocks. While I think the weight class change is maybe a year or two too early (in terms of MMA popularity), I'm assuming it will probably take another year or two before all the commissions get it passed in their respective states and all the orgs should have adjusted by then.

And thank god for the back of the head rule clarification. I always thought the ear-to-ear definition allowed someone to 'turtle' too effectively and avoid punishment from backmount.

[stu46]

Does NSAC, CSAC and UFC need to comply with the ABC's rules?

[skooly]

Way too many new weight classes.

[GodZilla]

Would make it easier to fight in 2 different classes

[Highway Riding]

total BS. this is what killed boxing..

[GodZilla]

Originally Posted by Highway Riding

total BS. this is what killed boxing..

You think?

[turismo]

Originally Posted by skooly

Way too many new weight classes.

true

[Someguy350]

the question is. whos rules are these?? each boxing commission is free to make whatever rules they want. for us here in alberta. this is what allows one fight club down south to allow knees to the head, to a grounded opponent. because they have their own boxing commision down there. but everyone else north of them, abides by the no knees to the head rule.

[zdrift78]

it's up to the athletic commissions in each state as well as the promoters whether or not they choose to accept and implement the ABC's rules, etc. that being said, i would say the elbow rule and the back of the head rule are the only additions that seem logical. implementing that many weight classes is just plain stupid.

oh and btw they also call for making smothering of the mouth and nose illegal, which i agree with.

[Fluid1]

Originally Posted by stu46

Does NSAC, CSAC and UFC need to comply with the ABC's rules?

Nay.

[stu46]

Originally Posted by Fluid1

Nay.

didn't think so. i don't see the big deal

[Highway Riding]

Originally Posted by GodZilla

You think?

Yes sir when u have 15 different weight classes it maks it hard to keep track of who is champion..

[stu46]

Originally Posted by Highway Riding

Yes sir when u have 15 different weight classes it maks it hard to keep track of who is champion..

can't keep track of 15 fighters? how can you accomplish anything at work or pass any test in school?

[Mikey-Z]

I don't mind the weight classes though. While i think "Super Middleweight" isn't needed (186-205 is fine), the lighter weight classes could use it. Guys like Sakurai, Gomi, Diego Sanchez - they're pretty big for 155 and a bit undersized against the larger 170-175ers like GSP, Fitch, Alves, etc.

It's a bit early for it though. The 'established' talent pool isn't enough to fill all the weight classes just yet. I'm sure in about 2-3 years it will be, and it makes sense at the rate the sport is going.

[stu46]

at the lighter weights, more divisions are needed since a slight advantage in weight is a huge difference.

[Fluid1]

I agree. Going from 135 to 145, that 10 pounds is a higher percentage of overall weight than the 10 pounds between 225 and 235.

[stu46]

Originally Posted by Fluid1

I agree. Going from 135 to 145, that 10 pounds is a higher percentage of overall weight than the 10 pounds between 225 and 235.

you're setting a trend. you can't start agreeing with my post.
someone needs to disagree, and that person is you.

eta: noobs don't count.

[350zex]

Originally Posted by stu46

Does NSAC, CSAC and UFC need to comply with the ABC's rules?

no and from what I've heard all those ac's already said they didn't like the rules

[Fluid1]

Originally Posted by stu46

you're setting a trend. you can't start agreeing with my post.
someone needs to disagree, and that person is you.

eta: noobs don't count.

Okay, I can play foil.

I think that there should be NO weight classes, that each fight that is contracted should be individually classed, and that each class has a 2 pound spread that both fighters have to make.

For example:

Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin could be a 201-202 pound spread.
Matt Hughes vs. Tiago Alves could have been 174-175

[USN HM 350Z]

I still think fighters should have to weigh in 2 hours before the fight. That would keep people fighting closer to their natural weight.

would have people dropping 40 pounds before a fight, only to rehydrate and carb up the day before to gain 20 or so pounds of it back.