IS MMA ILLEGAL IN YOUR STATE OR REGION? Maybe The ISCF Can Help Make It Legal.
To begin with, this is not about the ISCF wanting to Power over a Promoters Event. This is about making MMA more Professional and having accountability towards rules and regulations related to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.
As you all know, there are MANY MMA Promotional Companies around the world. However, there are not many, if any "TRUE" - "Non Promoting" MMA Sanctioning Bodies like the ISCF. The ISCF is often asked "What is a sanctioning body and why would I as an established or first time MMA promoter want to sanction my events with the ISCF?" The answer is both long and short.
To begin with, MMA is a sport that has a different status in many states by each states Athletic or Boxing Commission. Some State Commissions regulate it on only a Professional level such as Nevada and Florida and ban Amateur events. Some have banned it such as California while some states have let MMA go unregulated ever since it became a sport. Alabama, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming do not even have Athletic Commissions. However over the past several years the ISCF has been called upon by either state Commissions or MMA Promoters to step in and assist in regulating MMA in their state. In some states such as Georgia, Missouri and Illinois, MMA was about to be banned. However, when the ISCF team stepped in and made our duties known, MMA in these states became legal. Now promoters wanting to promote MMA events in these 3 states for example, must have their events Sanctioned by the ISCF to assure the proper safety rules and regulations are followed throughout the event. As of January 2005, the ISCF has been contacted by approximately 20 more states asking to have the ISCF as the required Sanctioning Body over all Mixed Martial Arts events in their state.
There are other Kickboxing Sanctioning bodies that claim to offer sanctioning for MMA. However, after a closer look at these organizations you will see they have only added the sport of MMA to their letters for financial gain and not to truly help the sport. Some even use a "Promotional Company" of MMA to be their leaders for their so called MMA sanctioning. Few, if any of them, actually have set rules and regulations for MMA bouts, officials and events let alone legit rankings and Champions. In other words, they have tried to invent just another way to take a promoters money without offering anything but letters to the paying promoter. This is not what the ISCF was created for.
This year, 2005, the ISCF has plans to begin meeting and discussing with state Boxing & Athletic Commissions across America to help oversee MMA to make it legal as well as make it safe, fair and professional. The ISCF also plans to do this in other regions of the World. Many of these commissions have already been in contact with the ISCF Headquarters while others may not even know an organization such as the ISCF exists. However, within the first 5 months of 2005, all of them will know who and what the ISCF is and what we can do to assure safety, fairness and professionalism in the fast growing sport of Mixed Martial Arts.
PROVIDING SAFETY AND FAIRNESS FOR MMA
MISSOURI As the Administrator for the Missouri Office of Athletics and President of the Association of Boxing Commissions, Chief Investigator Division of Professional Registration Central Investigation Unit for the State of Missouri Tim Lueckenhoff (Right) has supported the ISCF since 2002 as the only sanctioning body allowed to sanction MMA in the State of Missouri. Since this decision and with the help of the ISCF and the many great promoters in Missouri, MMA has become very popular across the State.
ILLINOIS After dealing with problems from Toughman events where they had unqualified officials along with additional problems from unregulated kickboxing and MMA promoters, the State of Illinois banned all fighting sports except Boxing in early 2004.
However, due to the work of IKF (International Kickboxing Federation) Promoter Rob Zbilski (Right) and IKF and ISCF Associate Bob Schermer (Left) later in 2004, both the IKF and ISCF were approved as the only sanctioning bodies allowed for Kickboxing and MMA in the State of Illinois.
GEORGIA In May of 1997 the Georgia State Boxing Commission tried to ban MMA. However, as time past there would be an individual whos work and efforts to save MMA in Georgia would be etched in ISCF History. Today the ISCF is the only approved and appointed Commission for MMA in the State of Georgia. However, this was not just by a simple appointment. It was because of the lead efforts of Mike Carlson (right) of Augusta Georgia. The State of Georgia originally wanted MMA to be banned. What has happened in Georgia with the ISCF provides some interesting history for not just MMA but a strong history of the ISCF. As an example, to read what the ISCF,Carlson and his many MMA Associates have done for MMA in the State of Georgia Click Here.
Although they are on record for saying they do not like MMA, the Georgia State Boxing Commission has tried to ban or step in to regulate MMA after the ISCF made it legal. However, the Georgia State Boxing Commission did not have good intentions in mind during their cause. In the end, the ISCF saved MMA in Georgia from a Boxing Commission who wanted to ban and control it and not have any sanctioning bodies play a part in the sports success such as the ISCF. The reason? The Georgia State Boxing Commission wanted to help their Boxing Promoters because MMA was becoming more and more fan popular than boxing and taking more and more sponsorship $$ from their good "friends" who promote Boxing. MMA needed a group that was FOR them, not a group that just wanted their money and could honestly care less about MMA and actually wanted to see it fail. Enter once again the efforts of Mike Carlson, his MMA Associates in Georgia with the supportive efforts of the ISCF. To read about this in detail, Click Here.
NO! The ISCF's history of trying to become THE ONLY SANCTIONING BODY in states makes me not want to see them anywhere.
If you are all about that sport then you do what's right for the sport. Instead they try to make it so that NO ONE ELSE can sanction events unless it is held under them. The accomplishment of them getting a state and becoming the only sanctioning body is HUGE for them and is something they brag about in private and in public.
THE ISCF is a responsible organization and to be honest I have a huge amount of respect for them. They do a great job and care about the competitors! They are an asset to every sport they sanction.
However, this is America and it's all about CHOICE! And the ISCF has predatory tactics IMHO.
C'mon - that state of GA was only trying to protect their 'friends' and the ISCF made it much better? Yeah right, now no one can have a show in GA but the ISCF's 'friends'.
You guys go right ahead and help them. Then if you piss them off somehow you'll never be able to have a show in your state again unless you make up with them because you may not have a choice of another organization! If you have them on your side then great - you'll have a wonderful organization behind you. If not, then watch out!
By Janell Cole, The Forum Published Friday, February 11, 2005
BISMARCK - Mixed martial arts bouts are unregulated in North Dakota, and that bothers Secretary of State Al Jaeger and a West Fargo fight promoter.
Senate Bill 2356 proposes outlawing the sport unless the secretary of state writes a set of administrative rules about how it may be conducted.
In North Dakota, the secretary of state oversees boxing.
Promoter Chris Nelson of West Fargo, who runs Dakota Fighting Championship, supports the bill. He told the Senate Government and Veterans Affairs committee on Thursday that he wants the sport regulated or banned.
Nelson said his tournaments already have an ambulance on site and doctors' examinations of fighters. But there is no requirement that other promoters do the same.
The sport is growing nationwide and is televised on sports channels, Nelson said.
"It's getting bigger and bigger all the time."
The North Dakota Peace Officers Association sent a lobbyist to support the bill.
"Law enforcement needs this bill to have that direction about what activity is lawful and what is not," said John Olson for the peace officers.
I have always liked you but what you have posted is pretty irresponsible and shows a blatant misunderstanding of the facts.
We do have a good handful of promoters promoting here in GA and we have arguably the most active MMA scene in the country.
There have only been 2 promoters denied the right to sanction in GA by the ISCF (with good cause) and those have been discussed elsewhere.
You say that
"C'mon - that state of GA was only trying to protect their 'friends' and the ISCF made it much better? Yeah right, now no one can have a show in GA but the ISCF's 'friends'."
No... what the ISCF did was keep MMA legal in the state to begin with. If it wasn't for the ISCF being the sanctioning body in GA then NO ONE would be having MMA shows in GA because it would be illegal. The boxing commission was doing everything it could to make it illegal and is still doing their best to put people in control who are not the most responsible people to put the sport in the hands of.
The ISCF is first and foremost about the well being of the sport and that's why they conduct business the way they do, keeping the criminal element and the shady element out of GA MMA. The boxing commission wants it the other way around.
ISCF has NEVER been opposed to allowing other sanctioning orgs in the state of GA. There was even a House Bill that would have allowed this but the proponents quit sponsoring the bill when it was introduced that "no convicted felons could promote, regardless of what sanctioning org they used". Funny how all the ones whining about a monopoly backed off and didn't even push to dissolve the monopoly because all they really wanted was for convicted felons to be able to promote.
And as far as a state only having one legal sanctioning organization, why do you have no problem with Nevada, Jersey, Florida, etc.? The athletic commissions in those states are the only ones allowed to sanction under law. What makes the GA/ISCF situation any different?
Granted, there have been some "bumpy" policies within the ISCF in GA in the past but those are in the process of being amended. I am going to send you an email with some facts that I really wish you'd spend some time researching.
Second: The PROPOSED amendments (the web site states final rules should be posted by Feb. 16) to the way the ISCF operates sanctioning events within 50 miles of another planned show are MUCH better than what was happening in GA (I am referring only to the "2 week on each side" rule). Also, it appears that one can only go through the ISCF office for event planning (under the proposed rules), which is also much better than having to go through another ISCF promoter (who MAY have a vested interest in not allowing another show.....notice I said "may", I am only speaking about obvious possibilities). These would be good changes, if adopted.
Third: I believe that it is never a good idea to have a civilian organization acting as a "quasi-governmental agency", which is what happens when only one organization is allowed to sanction any kind of event in a state. Even amateur boxing has USA Boxing and Golden Gloves. One runs the risk of the organization not being responsive to the people. THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK ON THE ISCF. It is much better, however, to have more than one reputable organization able to sanction events, regardless if they organize and promote their own shows or not.
QUOTE"And as far as a state only having one legal sanctioning organization, why do you have no problem with Nevada, Jersey, Florida, etc.? The athletic commissions in those states are the only ones allowed to sanction under law. What makes the GA/ISCF situation any different?"QUOTE
These state commissions have a history of allowing multiple organizations operate within their jurisdictions, and they are a full governmental body, responsible to the people of the state. That certainly does not make them perfect, however, as seen in Florida's huge fees.
Cam, I'm not going to say a lot because I feel that Hiza Geri has summed it up eloquently in a way that won't ruffle feathers LOL Great writing and he knows what he's talking about (do you write for a site?). Trust me, I've not only researched but my dealings with the IKF/ISCF have been personal as well - both from the inside and outside.
In regards to denying sanction - don't forget ONE OF THEM WAS ME! Frank Vazquez and I were told that if Jamie Levine fought for us, or if we used his cage or even if "we see you eating lunch with him" (quote from Steve Fossum on the telephone with me), then we were never allowed to hold an event with the ISCF. We had backing from a major record company, willing to put anything in Escrow, etc. but never could get approved. We chose a date for a show in GA but it was too close to another promoters date. Choosing another date made it too close to another's ISCF promoter's event. It was a no win situation. We were told to "look on the website for a date" but it was horribly outdated. Most events were listed as tentative or missing altogether.
Yes, I think GA was a little broken. If there are proposed changes then that is great. An outside promoter being forced to go through local promoters to have an event sanctioned is wrong IMHO. It's not anything against you guys. I know all of the GA reps and I think highly of them, but it's just not right to be forced to ask local promoters for sanctioning.
I have done MANY MANY things with and for the IKF. I have been very impressed by their ability to run quality events. They are all good people and an assett to every sport they sanction. That doesn't mean that I can't disagree with a couple of their ideas. They have the goal of being the only sanctioning body in states and I highly disagree with that. The ISCF/IKF didn't invent MMA and they weren't a part of MMA for many years. Why should they now be the 'ONLY' sanctioning body for it?
Also I keep reading that "we are the only sanctioning body that isn't a promotional body". One could say that the biggest event the IKF does every year is it's own show - The IKF North American Amateur Tournament.
On the other hand - WOW. The IKF tournament is far and away one of the best run events in the country. I have been to many grappling tournaments, many fighting shows, and almost all of them could learn something from the IKF when it comes to event organizing. They also have a genuine concern for the athletes that compete. And that runs all the way to the top.
But I just don't agree with a couple things and I will probably be vocal about them. I'd like to just respectfully disagree with you on them. I hope you don't think that I am being negative to you, I just feel differently about it then you guys. I do like hearing your information though, as I always have an open mind to understanding someone else's position. Definitely send me an email with that info.
IS MMA ILLEGAL
MISSOURI
from unregulated kickboxing and MMA promoters, the State of Illinois banned all fighting sports except Boxing in early 2004. 
individual whos work and efforts to save MMA in Georgia would be etched in ISCF History. Today the ISCF is the only approved and appointed Commission for MMA in the State of Georgia. However, this was not just by a simple appointment. It was because of the lead efforts of Mike Carlson (right) of Augusta Georgia. The State of Georgia originally wanted MMA to be banned. What has happened in Georgia with the ISCF provides some interesting history for not just MMA but a strong history of the ISCF. As an example, to read what the ISCF, Carlson and his many MMA Associates have done for MMA in the State of Georgia