Amateur Rules Could Change The Game.

I know most of us don’t know a lot of the “behind the scenes” of the Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission. I also know some of you think they’re the illuminati and are against you, but in the end they’re here for the fighter’s safety. With safety comes Amateur rules...and Utah’s differ from the Association of Boxing Commissions. So what are these new rules you ask? Well no we’re fighting till the death...kumate style. Ok maybe not, but here is what Bill Colbert had to say:

“We are seeking comments on whether or not the commission should implement the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) Unified Amateur MMA Rules. The major differences between the ABC adopted Unified Rules and the current Utah Amateur Rules are that kicks to the head are allowed, but contestants are required to wear shin guards. Also, there is a special category for novice amateurs for their first 3 fights where any strikes to the head of a grounded opponent are prohibited. NJ, PA and some other East Coast jurisdictions have already implemented the new rules.” So how does Utah feel about that? I know this will affect many fighters’ game plans and I know a many gyms will be angry as well. I feel the same, but Bill makes a point that I never really thought of:

“Concerning the new rules,  I was opposed to the shin guards, but the director of the Georgia commission who was on the review panel made a compelling argument in favor of them, especially if you want to allow amateurs to kick to the head of a standing opponent. I know that most promoters do not like them since they don't like the looks of them, nor want to pay for them. However, in amateur boxing, fighters wear head gear to provide additional protection to the athletes.”

Does this water down the sport? Are we evolving and becoming a legitimate sport and this is what happens? It happened in Football, NASCAR..Every major sport to date, as they progressed they became more regulated and more safety gear was instituted. The days of watching Joe Son getting repeatedly blasted in the bean bag are over *tear* but is shin guards and no head strikes to a grounded opponent going too far? Well let your voice be heard. Let us know what you think HERE or email the man himself This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Inform yourself about Utah MMA HERE.