Published by on September 27th, 2008 in Current Events
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From: ABC MMA Chairman Nick Lembo, NJSACB
Re: ABC Pro and Amateur MMA Rules Comments-Close of Comment Period
Date: September 23, 2008
The close of the advertised and published comment period for outside
parties was September 17, 2008.
I would like to thank the following websites for publishing my
invitations for any interested parties, including the public, to
comment:
ADCC News, Angermanagement4mma, Bloody Elbow, Bloody Knux, CBS Sports,
Fight Opinion, Fighters, Fightlinker, Fight Ticker, MMA Convert, MMA
Linker, MMA Madness, MMA Memories, MMA Online, MMA Opinion, MMA
Playground, MMA.TV, MrSport, NYCFIGHT, Sherdog, UFC Junction and USKBA.
I would especially like to thank the following individuals who
submitted written comments for me to share with the Committee. I truly
appreciate their time and value their input.
Comments were received from:
Ricardo Almeida is from New Jersey. Ricardo is a well known veteran of
the UFC as well as Pride and Pancrase, both of Japan. He has won
numerous submission grappling and jiu-jitsu tournaments. He is a
Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and has his own academy and affiliate
schools. He has trained and cornered many professional and amateur
competitors.
Brendan Barrett is from New Jersey and has fought professionally for
the IFL, Ring of Combat, Reality Fighting and Extreme Challenge.
Dr. Mark Belafsky, now of California, recently retired as the longtime
Chairman of New Jersey’s Medical Advisory Council.
Katrina Belcher, of Tennessee, is the editor of The Ultimate Female
Fighter. Com, the founder of National Association for MMA Fight
Professionals, and is a student of krav maga, grappling, agedo and
kendo.
Eugene Bellida is a fan from New York.
Dr. Johnny Benjamin, of Florida, is the Chairman of the Department of
Orthopedics, Director of the Joint Implant Center and Director of
Medical Specialty Procedures Surgery Center in Vero Beach.
Jeff Blatnick is from New York and is an Olympic gold medalist in
wrestling. Jeff was the head of the Mixed Martial Arts Council from
1997-2000 for the UFC, under its prior ownership. Jeff developed fight
rules, medical policy, scoring criteria. Jeff authored the Mixed Martial
Arts Council Manual. Jeff is licensed as a referee and judges with the
New Jersey commission.
Jordan Breen is a journalist and radio show host for Sherdog.
Donnie Carolei, of New York, is a licensed mixed martial arts and
kickboxing referee in New Jersey and several other jurisdictions. Donnie
earned his 7th Dan from Grand Master Peter Urban in USA Goju. Donnie was
a point karate, New York State Kumite Champion, Kata Champion and holder
of several martial arts Hall of Fame awards.
Joseph T. Catlett. Jr, of Virginia, is the head instructor of the
Catlett School of Karate/Self-Defense. He is a former U.S. Army karate
and stickfighting champion and a former W.P.K.O. karate number one
contender and a Pennsylvania state kickboxing champion.
Edward Chung is a fan from British Columbia.
Brian Cimins, from New Jersey, is the founder of Grapplers Quest and
promoter of Sportfighting.
Scott Coker, of California, is a longtime combat sports promoter and
promoter of Strikeforce mixed martial arts which airs on NBC. Coker
promoted a mixed martial arts event which drew over 18,000 fans in San
Jose.
Dr. Domenic Coletta practices in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he
has been a licensed ringside physician since 1988. His medical specialty
is in the field of Emergency Medicine and he is on the medical executive
board of the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians.
Eric Colon, from New Jersey, is the owner of Tong Dragon Martial Arts,
a professional mma judge licensed in New Jersey and at the Mohegan Sun.
He has fought as a professional mixed martial artist.
Mike Constantino of New Jersey is the owner of AMA Fight Club and
manager of the school’s fight team which has had fighters compete at
every level, including the UFC.
Andrew Correa, from Virginia, has refereed professional mixed martial
arts in Virginia and New Jersey as well as at the ADCC’s, Grapplers
Quest, CBJJ and Gracie Nationals. He is the head instructor at a
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy.
Monte Cox, from Iowa, is a longtime and well-established fight promoter
and manager. He started Extreme Challenge and has promoted over 100
events.
Brian Crenshaw, from Virginia, is the mixed martial arts representative
of the WKA, an entity that sanctions combat sports, including mixed
martial arts.
Mick Doyle of Nebraska, is a former Irish kickboxing champion,
International Kickboxing Organization champion, fighter and head coach
of the United States Muay Thai team, competitor in various martial arts
tournaments and corner man for several fighters.
Paul Freitas is a fan from California.
Mark Gentry is a fan from North Carolina.
Renzo Gracie of New Jersey , is a lifelong practitioner of Brazilian
jiu-jitsu and member of the legendary Gracie family from Brazil. He has
fought in Pride, Rings, IFL, EliteXC, MARS, K-1 and the WCC. He coached
the New York Pitbulls in the IFL and has a school in Manhatan.
John Hackleman is the founder of The Pit in California. He is a
practitioner of Hawaiian Kempo who was an amateur boxing champion and
professional boxer. He has trained popular UFC champion Chuck Liddell
and other professional fighters.
Stephen Haigh of Pennsylvania, is a multiple time and multiple event
grappling champion for organizations such as NAGA and has fought about a
dozen professional mixed martial arts contests in Bodog, Reality
Fighting, Mass Destruction, Mixed Fighting Championships, BAMA Fight
Night and other events. He is an instructor at Philadelphia Fight
Factory and has trained and cornered professional fighters throughout
the world.
Nelson Hamilton is from California and has been a licensed mma referee
and/or judge in California, Nevada and New Jersey. He is the founder of
Ring Experienced Fight Specialists (www.mmarefs.com) and has worked at
UFC, Pride, Strikeforce, WEC, Elite XC and KOTC shows.
John Hankel is a fan from New York.
Matt Hughes, of Illinois, is a former UFC champion and a founder of
the H.I.T. Squad, a training center. He was an NCAA Division One All
American in wrestling.
Miguel Iturrate of Pennsylvania has worked as a matchmaker for several
organizations, including Bodog, MFC, and Euphoria, both in the United
States and abroad.
Kirik Jenness, from Massachusetts, is the ABC’s MMA record keeper,
founder of MMA.TV and author of The Fighter’s Notebook. Kirik has also
refereed numerous mma and grappling matches.
Eric Joza of New York is a mma reporter for NYCFIGHT.com and previously
worked for several years at FreeFightingIllustrated.com.
Dr. Michael Kelly, of New Jersey, is a licensed ringside physician in
New Jersey who has worked hundreds of professional and amateur mixed
martial arts events. Dr. Kelly is a trained martial artist who has
published books and articles on martial arts and fight medicine.
Kipp Kollar, from Connecticut, is the founder of NAGA and the promoter
of Reality Fighting and Mass Destruction. He has also refereed many
events, including for the UFC.
Chad Kurle is with the North Dakota athletic commission.
Tara LaRosa, of New Jersey, is widely considered to be the top
professional female mixed martial artist in the world. . Tara has fought
for Bodog, HooknShoot, MFC, and XFO. Tara has 15 wins as a pro mma
fighter.
Rich and Karen Latta, of Pennsylvania, own and operate Renzo Gracie
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pennsylania Academy in Hatfield, PA. Rich is the
school’s head instructor, has fought in mma, trained mma fighters,
managed mma fighters and is a USA Boxing certified coach and trainer.
Dr. David Mayeda of Hawaii is the author of Fighting for
Acceptance-Mixed Martial Arts and Violence in American Society. (his
letter and book excepts have already been forwarded to the Committee)
Pat Miletich is the founder of Miletich Fighting Systems and trainer of
many world class fighters at his school in Iowa.. Pat was also a coach
of an IFL team. Pat was a UFC lightweight tournament champion and a UFC
welterweight champion.
Keith Mills of Maryland has been a reporter or photographer for mma
promotions throughout the world for many years.
Thomas Molloy is the Executive Director of the Florida Athletic
Commission.
Scott Morgan from New Jersey is the promoter of amateur mma’s, New
Breed Fighters.
Kevin Mulhall, from New Jersey, is a licensed referee in New Jersey and
the Mohegan Sun. He has refereed at UFC, IFL, ProElite, Bodog, Ring of
Combat, Yamma, Extreme Challenge and other events.
Louis Neglia from New York is the promoter of Ring of Combat which had
the first contest allowed under mma rules in New Jersey, is a former
world kickboxing champion and is the promoter of Combat at the
Capitale’s muay thai and kickboxing shows.
Cory Nye is a fan from Colorado.
Chris Onzuka from Hawaii is the head instructor of the Academia Casca
Grossa de Jiu-Jitsu (Relson Gracie Aiea Academy), jiu jitsu competitor
and official, and editor and writer for mma publications and websites.
(See onzuka.com)
Kurt Pellegrino, of New Jersey, operates a mixed martial arts school in
Belmar and has had fought 7 times in the UFC.
BJ Penn, of Hawaii, is a UFC champion in two different weight classes
and was the first non-Brazilian to win the black belt division of the
World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. He has also competed in K-1 and Rumble on
the Rock.
JD Penn, of Hawaii has worked with several promotions, such as Rumble
on the Rock and ProEliteXC in many capacities.
Mike Popp has worked as a matchmaker, manager, trainer and corner man
for mma fighters. Mike is also an mma instructor. Mike is from
California.
Bernie Profato is the Executive Director of the Ohio Athletic
Commission
John Rallo of Maryland has competed in Grapplers Quest, NAGA, ADCC
trials and fought in the WEC. John trains professional and amateur
fighters and owns Ground Control Academy in Baltimore. Rallo is a
brasilian jiu jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie. John was instrumental
in getting mma legalized in Maryland.
Mike Reilly of Minnesota has trained, cornered and managed several mma
fighters and developed a hand wrapping video for the ABC in Montreal.
Paul Rosner, of New Jersey, is the President of USKBA Action sports, a
sanctioning organization for combat sports.
Jon Sanderson is a fan from Winnipeg.
Danny Schulmann, of New Jersey, has been a multiple-time full contact
karate champion and is the involved with over 40 Tiger Schulman martial
arts academies in several states. He has trained several amateur and
professional mixed martial arts competitors.
Jared Shaw works with EliteXC and ProElite XC as a promoter and
matchmaker.
Joe Silva is the Vice President of VP Talent Relations UFC/Zuffa.
Greg Sirb is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Athletic
Commission.
Kyle Tromblee is a fan from California
Eric Van Tassel is a fan from New York.
Christopher Wagner, of New York, is a former ISKA World Middleweight
Kickboxing Champion and is a New Jersey licensed kickboxing and mixed
martial arts referee. Chris has also refereed kickboxing, muay thai,
sans shou, san da and mixed martial arts contests in several other
states and Indian territories.
Tony Williamson is from British Columbia is a licensed mma referee and
judge for seven Canadian commissions and is a purple belt and certified
brasilian jiu jitsu instructor under Carlson Gracie.
Kim Winslow is from Nevada and is the sport’s first female
professional referee. She has refereed for several organizations in
several states.
Brian Wright is from New Jersey and is the founder of Real Martial
Arts. He has fought throughout the world in kickboxing, judo, karate and
mma and has trained professional and amateur fighters. He has promoted
mma, muay thai and kickboxing events.
Sheryl Wulkan, M.D., of New York, is a licensed ringside physician with
the New Jersey commission who has worked hundreds of pro and amateur mma
events, as well as pro boxing shows.. Her specialty is emergency
medicine as she was the co-director of the emergency room for Montefiore
Hospital in New York City. She has been the primary care physician for
many professional mixed martial artists and has worked as a medical
advisor to numerous organizations such as the U.S. Tennis Open, US
Swimming and Diving championships, Golden Gloves and the United Nations
I.F. She is a trained martial artist.
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