MMA In West Virginia--Athletic Commission Adopting Rules that will Deter Small Promotions?

Interesting article over at the Charleston Daily Mail, "Delegate says mixed martial arts rules deter promotions," detailing how the West Virginia Athletic Commission is promulgating rules for MMA -- after the recent passage of a law in the state legalizing the sport -- that would supposedly deter small MMA promotions in the state.   

Randy Swartzmiller, a Hancock County legislator and one of the sponsors of the bill legalizing MMA in West Virginia, believes the proposed rules "make it too expensive for smaller promoters to hold MMA events in the state" and he also believes "this is a conscious effort by Athletic Commission Chairman Steve Allred, who was a vocal opponent of the sport's legalization, to keep MMA out of the state."  (Note:  for more information about Allred and his opposition to MMA in West Virginia check out this article, Wild West Virginia: A Look Inside a Commission, from last year over at Sherdog).

Specifically, according to the article in the Daily Mail:

The rules include stipulations that MMA promoters insure every fighter for $100,000, said Sam Minardi, a lobbyist with a major mixed martial arts fight promotion that pushed for legalization. Boxing promoters have to insure their fighters for $20,000 for injuries or accidental death, Minardi said.

MMA rules also include a stipulation that promoters have to put forth a $50,000 bond for an event, he said. Boxing promoters in the state have to put up a $20,000 bond to hold an event, Minardi said.

'This doesn't surprise me,' Swartzmiller said. 'Steve Allred has made comments that he would set prices so high promoters couldn't come here.'

'He (Allred) doesn't care that the people in the state want this,' he said. 'He doesn't care that the Legislature passed this and the governor signed this.  He doesn't care because he doesn't want MMA in the state,'

Check out the entire article for additional prohibitive rules.

Fight Lawyer