Athletic Commissions

Quick Hits: WEC 47 Gate, Karalexis-Pettis & More

- According to the Ohio Athletic Commission, WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz drew a live attendance of 8,700 and a gate of $401,000. The commission also announced that Brian Bowles, Dominick Cruz, Joseph Benavidez, Javier Vazquez, L.C. Davis, and Bart Palaszewski all passed their post-fight drug tests. [MMAWeekly.com]

- UFC veteran Alex Karalexis will battle Anthony Pettis in a lightweight affair at WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber. Karalexis and Pettis were originally slated to fight at WEC 43 but the fight was scrapped due to an injury. WEC 48 will mark the promotions first foray on pay-per-view as they showcase a world class card that includes Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber, Benson Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone, and Mike Brown vs. Manvel Gamburyan. [Sherdog.com]

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WEC 47 Fighter Salaries and Bonuses

The Ohio Athletic Commission has released the official list of fighter salaries for WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz which took place on Saturday, March 7 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Following the event, WEC officials handed out $10,000 bonuses for Knockout of the Night, Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night. The recipients of the awards were as follows:

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The Battle for MMA in Ontario Wages On

Sportsnet’s “Showdown” Joe Ferraro sits down with Noble Chummar, UFC’s legal counsel in Ontario, to look at the political fight taking place to bring mixed martial arts to Ontario.

Chummar belongs to a committee that is currently working to get the sport regulated in Ontario. According to Chummar, “The name of the game is patience. We can’t rush this because it’s too big and UFC completely supports the slow learning process, the slow education process of bringing people on side and we’re working at that pace to make it happen.”

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Quick Hits: Huerta Considering UFC Return, Vasquez to Replace Hominick & More

— Despite announcing his intention to focus on his acting career full-time, UFC lightweight contender Roger Huerta is now considering a full-time return to the organization following a split decision loss to Gray Maynard at last week’s UFC Fight Night 19 that fulfilled his latest UFC contract. “I can’t go out with two losses in a row,” Huerts said. “I don’t think I’m going to call it quits anytime soon. I’m still open to acting. Hopefully we get something going with that, but I’m not going to prioritize acting now. I’ll still prioritize fighting. If the UFC wants me back, I’d be willing to go back.” [Sherdog.com]

— Seasoned veteran Javier Vasquez has been tapped to replace an injured Mark Hominick against Deividas Taurosevicius in a featherweight bout at WEC 43 on October 10 in San Antonio, Texas. Hominick will reportedly be sidelined for about a month due to a reoccurring back injury. Vasquez fell in his WEC debut last month, dropping a split decision to L.C. Davis at WEC 42. [MMA Junkie]

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NSAC Approves Instant Replay and Takes Action Against Greasing

The Nevada State Athletic Commission held a meeting last week that saw a new rule get passed allowing referees in Nevada to utilize instant replay.

Also approved was a rule prohibiting the use of a foreign substance on a fighter’s body prior to or during a fight that could result in an unfair advantage. According to MMAWeekly.com, NSAC executive director Keith Kizer said the rules could take effect in as early as 30 days.

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Cole Province Tests Positive Following WEC 42

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has announced that Cole Province tested positive for Methasterone metabolite folowing his bout with Fredson Paixao at WEC 42, which took place on Aug. 9 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to MMAWeekly.com, Methasterone is a “designer steroid” taken orally that is similar to Drostanolone, the steroid that both Hermes Franca and Josh Barnett tested positive for in California.

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Barnett Breaks Silence on Positive Test

Josh Barnett and his management team, Excel Sports Management, have released an official statement to the media regarding Barnett’s recent positive test for steroids under the watch of the California State Athletic Commission.

It marks the first time that Barnett has addressed the media since the test results forced the abrupt cancellation of Affliction’s “Trilogy” show and the subsequent folding of the promotion last week. The complete unedited statement is available after the jump.

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NSAC Suspends Sherk for Post-Fight Exit, Maybe

Following his surprising unanimous decision loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 98 this past weekend, Sean Sherk has been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for 45 days. On top of his required medical suspension that is. At least so he says.

Just as Dana White stated after the bout, Sherk literally ran out of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas with no shirt, and his fight shorts and gloves still on, neglecting to even give the ringside doctor a second to look him over.

According to Sherk, his emotions were running high and he went outside to take a jog and keep his emotions in check after suffering just the fourth loss of his career and his first defeat to a fighter that hasn’t currently or previously held the UFC welterweight title:

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Penn Not Interested in Fighting in Vegas Again

Just like Sean Sherk after his battle with the California State Athletic Commission over a disputed positive steroids test, UFC lightweight king B.J. Penn now wants no business with the state of Nevada after commission officials recently stated that disciplinary action over UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre’s debated vaseline use during their UFC 94 fight is unlikely.

In his latest video blog (which is above), Penn states that he has “no interest” in ever fighting in Las Vegas or Nevada again and that NSAC figurehead Keith Kizer “can’t be trusted”. Penn also discusses his preparation for his title defense against Kenny Florian, which will come on August 8 in Philadelphia at UFC 101.

CSAC Announces Policy Changes

The California State Athletic Commission today announced several changes to their set of rules and regulations. All changes are set to go into effect immediately and may have quick results in terms of boxing and mixed martial arts events held in the state.

Among the changes include how a fighter may appeal a positive test for a performance enhancing substance or drug of abuse, the amount of tape permitted to be wrapped around a fighter’s wrist, and which fighters will be subjected to pre-fight drug tests.

However the biggest addition to the rules involves the new ability for a bout to be changed to a no-contest regardless of what kind of drug a fighter tests for, including previously non-fight changing substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and pain killers.

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