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Commission unifies MMA rules

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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.

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Kimbo Slice, Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images Kimbo Slice, Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images

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July 5, 2008  10:52 AM ET
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What ever happened to boxing news? Ahh yes, the inevitable decline of the lesser blood sport. "Are you not entertained?" LMAO, what, not enough drive by shootings, gang violence, war, rape, murder in this country to keep your thirst for violence in check?! Come on America....give it a rest man!

July 5, 2008  11:46 PM ET
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They are changing the rules for the better

July 5, 2008  11:53 PM ET
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OK, now there restricted area between skull and spine with one inch variance. Who will care about that in ring? What next - no eye gouging, throat kicking, weapons, neck breakers, foreign objects? Right back to boxing then. Why not sit down and bake cupcakes?

July 7, 2008  04:16 AM ET
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WAY too many weight classes. 14? That is beyond retarded. It will only lead to the same annoying thing we have in boxing where somebody is able to fight at 5 different weights by skipping a meal at Burger King or by drinking an extra gallon of milk. They need about 7 or 8. Period.

July 7, 2008  01:28 PM ET
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I'm thinking about starting a touring toddler MMA

 
July 7, 2008  03:19 PM ET
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Why is Bimbo Slice wearing panty hose on his head? is he preparing to rob a 7-11?

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