ABC President Urges Edmonton to follow the Unified

Underground
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 http://topmmanews.com/2010/01/20/abc-president-urges-edmonton-to-follow-the-unified-rules/



Please Pat, for the love of god, do the right thing.

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 Only 9?

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:-(

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jkennedy - All I can think of is how badly some of the refs up there have fucked up under regular rules. This has 9 kinds of bad all over it.



My thoughts exactly.

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Yves Lavigne - :-(


I might get roasted for even posting here again but I would like to know your thoughts on this Yves. Why the :-( ?? Are you in agreement with the new rules and regulations the Edmonton Comission have decided to adopt or against them. If you don't mind, please tell me why you are for or against. I would like your opinion as an experienced referee. Thank you.

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Wow, thats the return of pride right there!

I favour some of those rule changes, but the sport in North America isn't ready for it yet.

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I think a lot of the recent articles addressing this issue have been a bit misleading. People keep saying that the ECSC is changing the "Unified Rules" where that is not the case. They are simply allowing the use of the other rule set. There will still be use of unified rules in Edmonton, and also the availability to use the "DREAM rules".

I find this no different than the difference in varying rule sets for other sports, look at football, the NFL, the CFL, and the ARENA league are all football, yet they each operate under separate variations on the rules. Each has there respective fans and followers. I agree that the sport of MMA benefits from being unified and regulated, but I also believe that the sport needs room to grow and offer a choice to fans, be they hardcore, or just a part timer.

There are a few people who keep using the term "dangerous" when discussing the "DREAM rules". I feel this is also a bit misleading as any decent MMA fan or practitioner knows that the difference in rules is negligible when it comes to safety. People are simply bringing safety into the argument as a way to scare and mislead the masses with misinformation and scare tactics.

The use of DREAM rules is not the core issue, it is simply being used as the focal point of a political agenda. I wish those involved would stop covering up their true intentions by playing the safety card.

Just my 2 cents

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jwloco - I think a lot of the recent articles addressing this issue have been a bit misleading. People keep saying that the ECSC is changing the "Unified Rules" where that is not the case. They are simply allowing the use of the other rule set. There will still be use of unified rules in Edmonton, and also the availability to use the "DREAM rules".

I find this no different than the difference in varying rule sets for other sports, look at football, the NFL, the CFL, and the ARENA league are all football, yet they each operate under separate variations on the rules. Each has there respective fans and followers. I agree that the sport of MMA benefits from being unified and regulated, but I also believe that the sport needs room to grow and offer a choice to fans, be they hardcore, or just a part timer.

There are a few people who keep using the term "dangerous" when discussing the "DREAM rules". I feel this is also a bit misleading as any decent MMA fan or practitioner knows that the difference in rules is negligible when it comes to safety. People are simply bringing safety into the argument as a way to scare and mislead the masses with misinformation and scare tactics.

The use of DREAM rules is not the core issue, it is simply being used as the focal point of a political agenda. I wish those involved would stop covering up their true intentions by playing the safety card.

Just my 2 cents


The problem is that you may have a new system under which NO North American referee has been trained under or experienced with. Therein is the potential for disaster, the infrastructure isn't ready for an onset of new rules. Thats why it could be dangerous.

Would you want to fight under those rules with a referee that hasn't experienced that sort of difference yet? North south knees to the head, soccer kicks, knees to the head of a turtled opponent, all very dangerous indeed WHEN an ignorant or inexperienced referee does not know what to look for.

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Well will agree with the concernon the ability of the ref to make the right call when needed. I know this has bee an issue with Edmonton refs for a while now. I actually made it a point to talk directly to the ref who was at the CCF press conference o ask a few questions and go over any concerns I had.

My questions were answered, some not exactly the way I expected, but answered non the less. Do I think Edmonton refs are the best?NO Do I think they are the worst? NO. I worry about the refs no matter where I will fight, I have seen/heard of refs dropping the ball in every Provence they have MMA. Unfortunatley for myself at the time, getting fights outside Edmonton is not real option as I can not afford the cost of travel, and I am no where near important enough to have a promoter pay for me to travel outside Edmonton. Therefore I take the fights I can, and at least I know I am getting the best money ( even though its not much) I can to fight and put myself at risk

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wow. i dont understand the hate towards these rules. they look good to me. if anything, knees on the ground are good. same with the judging of the whole fight and not rounds.

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oh i see. thanks old chap.

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Maximum Fighting -  

-First off they are NOT Dream Rules they are the rules of different organizations that have been in Japan/st1:place/st1:country-region and other parts of the World over the year. "THEY ARE NOT DREAM RULES"

 /o:p

-         I am %1000 against these rules and they will NEVER be in the Maximum Fighting Championship. They are very dangerous and even more dangerous with low level fighters in this case.

 /o:p

-         I think the promoter in this case even that I think he should not be promoting, it is not his fault, it is the fault of the Commission for allowing him to do them.

 /o:p

-         When shows are at The River Cree The River Cree Commission regulates the shows there. They do not have jurisdiction outside of that. Same as the Edmonton Commission they can not regulate outside the City of Edmonton/st1:place/st1:city.




This is catagorically the smartest post I've ever seen from a promoter.

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Maximum Fighting -  -First off they are NOT Dream Rules they are the rules of different organizations that have been in Japan and other parts of the World over the year. "THEY ARE NOT DREAM RULES" -         I am %1000 against these rules and they will NEVER be in the Maximum Fighting Championship. They are very dangerous and even more dangerous with low level fighters in this case.  -         I think the promoter in this case even that I think he should not be promoting, it is not his fault, it is the fault of the Commission for allowing him to do them.  -         When shows are at The River Cree The River Cree Commission regulates the shows there. They do not have jurisdiction outside of that. Same as the Edmonton Commission they can not regulate outside the City of Edmonton.


It's sad to have promoters with these attitudes. The introduction of the gi right off the bat makes things safer. It's more likely to be grabbed meaning less punching, it also facilitates submissions meaning less fights will be decided by strikes. The most important thing to cut out as far as safety goes is concussions, naturally given the nature of the sport this should be done by facilitating and encouraging alternatives rather than outright banning any strike that can cause it. As for knees to a downed opponent, it's no more dangerous than elbows or punches with taped and gloved hands. These rules are a step in the right direction for safety.

Referees on the other hand I can't say anything for, but at the very least the gi, and shoes, are a good thing for safety.

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If we're changing rules to make it more cool, why don't we allow axes and chains and pets? That'll be funner.

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jkennedy - Jerry I have no doubt that the fighters in Edmonton, as ugly as they are, will be well trained and willing to put on epic fights regardless of the rules. My concern isn't their ability to fight heroically but the general incompetence shown by the people who are entrusted to make sure that the fighters have the opportunity to be safe. While your corner is charged with keeping you clean and ready for the next round they are still emotionally attached to the fighter they tend to. The ref is suppose to be the one who overrides all decisions and keeps fighters safe.



emphasis on the ugly fighters part

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A fight is a fight, the athletes competing under the rat ive rules set will prepare accordingly and although i think there is some space for tweaking what ive read is allowed (ie shoes) the 100 percent upside to this is the experience fighting under that rule set if a local athlete is looking to compete in japan/china or elsewhere overseas.

to be honest i didnt tnink public opinion would be so much in support of the new rules but based on what ive read on Keither kizers post the public has spoken.

looking forward to seeing how the show unfolds

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A couple points,

1. I think the story here is how a commission that is a member of the ABC can make new rules without them being ratified by the rest of the ABC. The ABC will have to boot out Edmonton or start allowing all of its members to use whatever rules they want.

2. The actions of the Edmonton commission will hurt Edmonton's chances of getting a UFC, WEC, or other big show. There is no doubt that ZUFFA will avoid this commission. That is too bad because Edmonton is the heart of MMA in Canada.

3. Smart move by Lino and the CCF for getting these rules added to his show. He has gotten some fantastic marketing from it.

4. I don't care about 10 minute rounds in the CCF. Last CCF had 9 fights, not one lasted 5 minutes! I have my doubts that there will be one fight that will even last longer than the 10 minute first round. Adding weapons like knees to the head on the ground will only increase the odds of fast finishes.

5. The new judging method in the CCF. It won't matter.
Local shows tend to have fights that end fast. Only one fight (out of 27) in the history of the CCF has gone to a decision. I am not worried about unqualified judges blowing a decision. There will be no fight going to a decision to blow.

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That's why it makes sense to have rules that are more straightforward. Elbows are allowed except 12-6 from the top? Knees are allowed except on the ground? Upkicks are allowed only when the top guy is on both feet? All that kind of stuff is stupid. Streamline and simplify the rules so both the refs and the fighters know them, while under stress.

Streamlining and simplifying also means allowing more techniques, but that's really a god thing. It should really be down to allowable weapons and allowable targets. Make the head, down the spine and under the crotch illegal targets. It's pretty straightforward. Allow strikes with hands, forearms, elbows, shoulders, knees, shins and feet to legal targets. Then just add in the obvious fouls (eyegouging, fishhooking), everything else is already covered (teeth aren't a legal weapon, so biting isn't allowed, groin isn't a legal target). Yeah it allows stomps and knees on the ground, but there won't be any confusion and grey area when a fighter is transitioning.

The apparent ECSC rules don't go quite far enough, but they are a step in the right direction.

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I understood it was more Jeff Blattnick. What did BJM contribute to beyond ref stoppages?

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Hi everyone

I have for the most part taken a back seat to discussions surrounding the upcoming CCF #5 show February 27th here in Edmonton, but recent events have put me in a position where I am compelled to step forward and make our position clear.

Just in terms of sheer activity it is safe to say Edmonton is the hub of Canadian MMA at this point, it is also where I live, the place I call home and the jurisdiction in which I host my event. Love me or hate me my passion for this sport is undeniable as I ‘unlike most of my detractors” have been involved at all levels of the sport doing everything from setting up events as hired help for other promoters to competing myself in the cage. It is with this experience and the support of the friends and family around me that I have setup CCF in the fashion that the athletes can appreciate..

I wont insult you with the lame “By a fighter for Fighters” shick so many in this industry often try to do but I ask you to keep in mind I have been in the trenches myself so I don’t only talk out of my wallet like my detractors. I have lost money in the past with mma but keep going because I sincerely love it. This leads me to ask why they would I take moves bad for the sport?


Lets get one thing clear.. SAFETY is my #1 concern… So I ask anyone genuinely concerned to email me pasqualino santoro at chris-lino@hotmail.com, any supporting evidence that these internationally recognized set of rules is a unjust risk to the athletes. Were that the case I wouldn’t have the show.. we all know that people can get hurt in combat sports it is a risk accepted by all. As such we don’t force people in the ring they all chose to compete and are trained athletes.

I like anyone have my detractors especially in such a competitive mma market but I don’t get where some of this fear mongering is at all justified.f dream themselves were to come to Edmonton and host a show I don’t think I would hear a thing.

In the best cases these detractors “who I wont do the favour of mentioning by name” are just mma fans with internet connections and too much time on their hands watching and commentating about many events using the same set of rules we are now using As for the rest the ironic thing is in some cases this isn’t the first time they have cried wolf regarding this sport . Why it not same people at KO boxing promotions who cried bloody murder and tried to have MMA outlawed in Edmonton at its inception that now run Edmonton’s mma show The fight club “TFC” and are one of the most vocal and dramatic detractors of this step forward for athletes? These are the people I have chosen to ignore and keep tying to focus on my positive work.

Not everyone who competes in mma will go to the ufc , why should our Athletes not have a place they can prepare for competition overeas? IE Japan, China, Brazil??

The rules we are running the show under going forward are more or less used world wide and are actually implemented in more places that rules suggested by our detractors. And as such I have made the proper steps to create a place for Canadian and north American athletes to experience them before taking their next steps to international competition.

To the so called “MMA media” out there slamming the show there is not much I can say except try to develop a bit of professionalism and try reporting what is news rather than trying to create it. If you want to report on something I think its news worth that 95 percent of people responding to Keith kizzers post on the www.mma.tv forum support our shirt to the international set of rules. In the event you have trouble finding what im talking about here is a like for you

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.frame&page=1
posted under ABC President Urges Edmonton to follow the Unified

To everyone else thanks for your continued support it makes all this possible, We will have some big announcements coming up soon and our poster will be released shortly.

p.s
to start things off right the man many considered the face MMA “wanderlai silva” will be here with his new generation of athletes competing in CCF in the future.. its going to be a wild ride!!!!

P.Santoro