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Despite a stinging rebuke at the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) today, Nick Diaz and his legal team have not given up the fight to secure the fighter a license. Diaz's lawyer Ross Goodman believes the commission acted in disregard for established and unequivocal Nevada statutory code at today's hearing. After being contacted by MMA Fighting, Goodman says Diaz and his legal advisors are strongly considering petitioning a district court to review the NSAC's decision. Should they choose to move forward, "we would file a petition for judicial review in front of a district court judge," Goodman told MMA Fighting. "It would entitle a judge to basically look at the hearing anew." Judicial review is a process by which if one requires an occupational license from the state and are denied such authorization by the relevant state agency, the petitioner can ask relevant courts to weigh assess the merits of the petitioner's claims. This method can be used in cases where the petitioner believes the state agency broke the law, acted unfairly or made a decision not based on facts. In addition to the review, Goodman contends they could also motion the judge for a stay the suspension while he or she deliberates the larger merits of the petition. Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February of 2012. For the infraction, the NSAC suspended Diaz at a hearing today in Las Vegas for one year effective from the date of his last fight and fined him 30 percent of his purse, or approximately $60,000. Diaz must also pass a drug test when reapplying to earn a license. While Goodman objected to several questions asked and conclusions reached by the NSAC, Diaz's legal case primarily rests on whether marijuana metabolites are banned substances in the state of Nevada. Goodman argued both today and in documents related to Diaz's previous lawsuit against the NSAC that marijuana metabolites are not a prohibited substance in the state. Marijuana is prohibited for fighters licensed in Nevada by virtue of NAC 467.850(2)(f), which incorporates all prohibited substances on the current Prohibited List published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). However, Goodman argues marijuana is only prohibited "in competition". Goodman maintains WADA permits use of marijuana and other cannabinoids outside of competition and per the construction of Nevada's stated regulations, in that state as well. Goodman suggested today marijuana metabolites are not grounds to find Diaz guilty of violating the law. Given the outcome of the hearing, however, it appeared unpersuasive to the commission. "It was clear by their questioning that their decision was already made up," Goodman said. "In my closing argument I basically reminded 'Skip' Avansino, who is the chairman [of the NSAC], that in the TUE hearing that occurred before us [with UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen] he said 'the presence of a prohibited substance would constitute a violation'. Those were his words. The chairman of the commission." "All you have to do is look at the ruling and tell me where it says that Nick tested for the presence of marijuana. Because he didn't. And if you're saying 'the presence of a prohibited substance would constitute a violation' then you have to show me where in the rules marijuana metabolite is a prohibited substance." "They never answered that," Goodman continued. "They never responded to that. They just made up a rule. They read the rule in there. It was like on an ad hoc basis." "[Avansino] agreed with what our whole position is: that evidence of prior use of a prohibited substance is not presence of a prohibited substance. Everyone acknowledges that marijuana metabolites means that at some point before that you used marijuana, but evidence of prior use is not a violation. You have to show presence of prohibited substance according to Nevada rules to constitute a violation. That was never addressed. That was never responded to. That was never clarified." "Effectively what they did," Goodman concluded, "was punish him for legally consuming marijuana more than a week before the fight and then having an inactive component sequestered in his fat tissue after the fight." Goodman also expressed surprise at what he perceived as the lack of basic literacy among the commissioners on Nevada's own regulations as it related to banned substances. Early in the hearing, commissioner Pat Lundvall appeared confused regarding what Nevada's laws and those of WADA did and did not say. "It was clear that the commissioners didn't really prepare for the hearing," Goodman maintained. "It was really alarming, the fact that something so basic, so clear, which is that marijuana in general is allowed out of competition but not in competition. To kick off the hearing suggesting there is no distinction indicated what was to come after that." Goodman argues Nevada borrowing WADA's Prohibited List of banned substances to help the commission regulate drugs of abuse is a key first step to regulating banned substances. If they really wish to regulate metabolites, however, then Goodman recommends they also adopt WADA's Code. "If they felt so strongly about the issue, then they should have amended the rule or modified the rule in the future to incorporate and adopt WADA's code which does constitute a violation if you have any metabolite in your system. Because the rule says any prohibited substance, it's markers or metabolites present in your sample. That's what WADA's Code says, which is something Nevada has not adopted. There's no counterpart rule in Nevada. There's nothing in the rule that says metabolites are a prohibited substance." Goodman was also dismayed at what he felt was a line of irrelevant questioning among the commissioners that attempted to portray Diaz's use of marijuana as recreational or performance enhancing. On the latter charge, Goodman notes the separation of competition testing as a refutation of the commission's argument. "You heard him testify. That's what happens when you have ADHD: you can't focus. They tried to construe that as 'oh, that must be performance enhancing'. That is absurd. There was nothing more ridiculous than that statement." "Instead of performance enhancing, it's more life enhancing for Nick. It helps him out. It helps him deal with attention deficit disorder. Of course, WADA has already determined that which Nevada adopts: that marijuana is not performance enhancing because it separates it between in and out of competition. Well, they don't do that for other performance enhancing drugs in WADA." As for Diaz's attitude after repudiation, Goodman contends Diaz is still ready continue his MMA career. "Nick was disappointed obviously, but he's in good spirits. He's in good spirits in general. He knows the truth of it. He knows he didn't lie to the commission. He knows he didn't mislead the commission and he understands he did everything he was told to do legally. He got a physician's statement, he was qualified to use it, he understands the rules do not require metabolites as a violation." And is the former Strikeforce welterweight champion still un-retired as he stated when previously filing a lawsuit? "Nick's sworn in his affidavit he's not retired. He's only 28 years old, he's at the top of his game. I don't want to speak for Nick, but I think he's looking forward to getting back in the cage as soon as he can."

Posted in: diaz, marijuana, nevada, substance, goodman

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Well, it appears we won’t be seeing Nick Diaz inside an Octagon again anytime soon. Monday, after a lengthy hearing, the Nevada Athletic Commission decided to uphold the year-long suspension given to Diaz for his failed post-fight drug test following a loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. The test showed marijuana metabolites in the [...]

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, carlos condit, nevada, marijuana metabolites

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On April 24th, Ross Goodman, Nick Diaz's lawyer, attacked the year-long suspension put upon Diaz by the Nevada State Athletic Commission by challenging the speediness of the deliberations. Yesterday, Judge Rob Bare has decided that the attack was to no avail and that the hearing to determine the validity of the suspension will happen later this month. Mike Chiappetta over at MMA Fighting has the confirmation: In a Monday hearing in Clark County (Nevada) district court, judge Rob Bare denied an injunction request that would have effectively overturned his temporary suspension by the the Nevada state athletic commission, stemming from a February drug test that was positive for marijuana metabolites. The official minutes of the hearing will not be available until Wednesday, but Judge Bare's executive assistant Tara Duenas confirmed the ruling to MMA Fighting. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer told MMA Fighting that Diaz's hearing with his sanctioning body would be placed on the May 21 docket. The decision to deny the injunction request and schedule the hearing for later this month is relatively normal for most cases in the legal system. The novelty of Goodman's attack maneuver upon the suspension was sufficient to raise some eyebrows, but ultimately, Judge Bare sided with the NSAC. Keith Kizer, executive chairman of the NSAC, told Chiappetta that the judge's advice to put hearing delays in formal writings would be taken into consideration for the future.

Posted in: diaz, judge, suspension, nevada, hearing

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Nick Diaz had hoped the Nevada district count would grant him an injunction in his case against the Nevada State Athletic Commission concerning a failed post-fight drug test. However, those hopes were denied Monday. That means Diaz must appear May 21 in front of NSAC. “That’s pretty much what we wanted in the first place, [...]

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nevada state, nevada, injunction

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MMA Fighting reports that the Attorney General of Nevada stated its position to Nick Diaz’s claim that his suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission violated state administrative laws and Diaz’s due process.  In a letter which preceded Diaz’s lawsuit, the NSAC framed the suspension as “temporary” not a “summary” suspension as claimed by Diaz’s attorneys. The Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto argues that Diaz’s lawsuit is misguided as the legal team “misunderstood” the suspension.  In a letter to Diaz’s attorney, the AG explained the NSAC’s actions. Via MMA Fighting: “No Notice of Summary Suspension was ever served on your client,” Masto wrote. “In this matter, Mr. Diaz was properly served with a ‘Notice of Hearing on Temporary Suspension’ and he failed to appear at the hearing. The Commission temporarily suspended Mr. Diaz’s license at the hearing. Neither Mr. Diaz nor you objected in any manner to the temporary suspension.” Under a “Summary” Suspension, the Nevada rules state that a hearing on the merits must occur within 45 days after the suspension. However, Nevada contends that the suspension was “Temporary” which does not come under the 45 day rule. A hearing on the temporary suspension was not attended by Diaz or his attorney.  The Nevada AG also argues that Diaz’s failure to produce his medical marijuana card caused the delay in part.  Nevada claims it will proceed with a hearing on the suspension although no date has been set.  Meanwhile, the injunction hearing against the Diaz suspension will occur on May 14th. Payout Perspective: This post should clarify (h/t to Jonathan Tweedale) a previous tweet in which I stated that Nevada was responding to the lawsuit when in fact it was the lawsuit was the response to the letter sent by Nevada.  One thing is correct from the tweet, in law, you have to read carefully.  The timeline of events is important here considering Nevada’s letter to Diaz’s attorney regarding the status of suspension and the failure for Diaz to object to the suspension.  Still, the Court will determine the status of the injunction on May 14th.  This may clarify the status of the suspension and hopefully the commission will set a hearing date for it to hear the merits of the case.

Posted in: diaz, suspension, nevada, attorney, hearing

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Last Tuesday, UFC welterweight Nick Diaz filed a lawsuit against the Nevada state athletic commission, claiming that the state regulation agency violated his right to due process by declining to grant him a hearing on the status of his fighter's license within 45 days of his suspension. According to the state of Nevada's office of the attorney general, the legal move is misguided. That is because Diaz's legal team, headed by Ross C. Goodman, cited a "summary suspension" of Diaz's license. According to Nevada's state codes, a summary suspension can be ordered if an agency finds that "public health, safety or welfare imperatively require emergency action."But in a written response from Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto to Goodman and forwarded to MMA Fighting, the state of Nevada asserts that Diaz's legal team misunderstood the suspension. "No Notice of Summary Suspension was ever served on your client," Masto wrote. "In this matter, Mr. Diaz was properly served with a 'Notice of Hearing on Temporary Suspension' and he failed to appear at the hearing. The Commission temporarily suspended Mr. Diaz’s license at the hearing. Neither Mr. Diaz nor you objected in any manner to the temporary suspension." The letter effectively indicates that because Diaz was not given a "summary suspension," his case does not fall under Nevada code NRS 233B.127, which requires a hearing within 45 days. A separate code, NRS 467.117, indicates that the commission can " continue the suspension until it makes a final determination of any disciplinary action to be taken against the licensee or holder of the permit."The letter also indicates that the NSAC delay in scheduling Diaz's hearing was partially his fault, caused while waiting for him to produce his medical marijuana card. "I've waited for more than a month for the card," Masto wrote.Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites on February 4, shortly after losing a UFC 143 match against Carlos Condit. On a pre-fight medical questionnaire, he denied taking any "prescribed medications" in the last two weeks. On April 4, Nevada sent Goodman a letter asking him to produce Diaz's medical marijuana card. Goodman later produced a letter from Diaz's doctor, Robert E. Sullivan, who said he had first issued a physician's statement in June 2009 which noted that Diaz had a 'serious medical condition" which would, in his professional opinion, "benefit from the use of medical cannabis." He issued a follow-up statement on Feb. 28, 2012, re-affirming the same.The Nevada attorney general's office said that they are moving forward with their complaint against Diaz, and that they would still attempt to hold a disciplinary hearing on the matter.Meanwhile, Nevada's Clark County District Court has set a May 14 hearing at 10:30 am on Goodman's request for an injunction against the suspension on Diaz's license.

Posted in: diaz, suspension, nevada, hearing, summary suspension

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UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has filed suit in Nevada District Court against the Nevada Athletic Commission, requesting relief from his ongoing suspension and any future disciplinary action by the NAC.

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, commission, nevada

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Nick Diaz and his lawyer Ross Goodman have had enough of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. So, they've sued Keith Kizer's crew.

Posted in: nick diaz, nevada state, nevada, searchable text, process lawsuit

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Retired UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is looking for his day in court. Diaz's lawyer, Ross Goodman, on Tuesday filed suit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission seeking relief for his client against a temporary suspension the camp feels is unlawful. The lawsuit was first reported by MMAFighting.com.

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, nevada state, nevada

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After the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) ruled that UFC Heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem would be eligible to reapply for licensing in nine months rather than the expected year, there was a good deal of criticism leveled their way in the MMA media. Overeem, his attorney and Dr. Hector Molina testified that Molina had injected Overeem with an anti-inflammatory concoction containing testosterone in January then given Overeem the vial and instructed him on how to inject himself. Despite numerous gaping holes in Molina's testimony and the fact that the rules are very explicit that the fighter is solely responsible for any substance put into his body, the commissioners praised the "superlative" presentation and praised Overeem after the hearing. Many members of the MMA media were not impressed. Yahoo! writer Kevin Iole probably took the hardest tack in his piece headlined "Alistair Overeem's PED punishment reduced by Nevada commission, which didn't take a stand": To make a statement that ridding combat sports of performance-enhancing drugs is vital to the safety of those who compete without cheating, Nevada governor Brian Sandoval ought to fire the five members of the state's athletic commission....The commission, described by butt-smooching promoters and managers as being "the greatest commission in the world," utterly failed to make a decision Tuesday that would have conveyed it takes the issue seriously.... The only explanation for why the commission would opt to be lenient and break its own rules is money. Overeem has become a big attraction, and having him fight in Nevada on one of the biggest shows of the year had to be attractive to the commissioners. We'll hear from more writers including Ben Fowlkes and Zach Arnold after the jump... MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes wasn't quite as harsh as Iole: ...let's be very clear: accountability is what we're after. It's also what's completely missing so far. Overeem refuses to take any real responsibility for his testosterone levels, since it was all his doctor's fault. The doctor doesn't want the blame, so he claims he can't remember whether he and his patient had a conversation about the course of treatment they were about to begin. Overeem's lawyer tried to convince the NSAC that it wasn't a big deal anyway, because he was only using the mystery injection to treat an injury, which, by the way, he sustained while entertaining the masses. In other words, stop worrying about what's in the man's bloodstream and just enjoy the show. What's really amazing is that, despite its decision to keep Overeem out of action for at least the next nine months, the NSAC seemed partially moved by this argument. Commission members actually referred to Tuesday's ridiculous buck-passing session as a "superlative" presentation, and they couldn't stop praising Overeem for being such an all-around good guy through it all. Yes, he tried to avoid yet another drug test, according to NSAC executive director Keith Kizer, but he had a good excuse. Matter of fact, he had several. And sure, he engaged the services of a doctor most of us wouldn't trust to treat an ingrown toenail, but at least he showed up at the hearing and didn't call any of the commissioners ugly names on Twitter afterward. Apparently that counts for a lot. ...(Overeem) must think MMA fans are either too dumb to realize how ludicrous his defense was or too jaded to care. I hope he's wrong about that. Or maybe I'm just afraid of what it will mean for our sport if he turns out to be right. Zach Arnold engages in some informed speculation as to the genesis of Overeem's story at yesterday's hearing: Over the last few weeks, Dave Meltzer has reported on a number of scenarios that Alistair Overeem's camp was allegedly going to pursue in order to stay out of hot water over his failed ‘random' drug test in Nevada due to high T/E levels. According to Dave, the first story was going to involve a plea for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. However, Overeem had given the NSAC blood test results instead of urine test results last November. When Bas Rutten alluded to Overeem getting clearance, I suspect this is what he was talking about. Plus, Overeem had passed previous urine tests from Nevada. So, according to Dave, this strategy fell apart. The second story allegedly was going to involve a ‘Viagra defense', citing a need for Viagra & testosterone due to impotence. However, as widely reported in media circles (such as the BBC), Viagra is not recommended for those with low testosterone levels. Which leads us to yesterday's explanation, where Overeem claimed that a doctor gave him an anti-inflammatory medication that was supposedly mixed with testosterone. You can make of this what you will. Personally I think the NSAC should be commended to some degree for having the resourcefulness and will to subject Overeem to random testing. He's fought in plenty of jurisdictions and undergone either scheduled testing (Missouri) or only nominal testing (Texas) so Nevada ends up looking like the proverbial one-eyed man in the kingdom of the blind. The webs of conflict of interest, hypocrisy and anti-drug hysteria are far too tangled for any commission to unravel. They put a speed bump in front of Alistair Overeem and cost him a title shot and potentially millions of dollars. Let's not go asking public servants in our completely corrupt society to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Posted in: overeem, commission, testosterone, nevada, nsac

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Alistair Overeem will take part in a Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting today at 12 p.m. ET to address the situation with his failed UFC 146 random drug test. After turning in a sample that showed a 14:1 testosterone ratio with the highest accepted level by the NSAC being 6:1. Overeem has been removed from the UFC 146 main event title shot against Junior dos Santos, but claimed in his explanation of the failed test that he was not withdrawing his request for a fighter's license from the state. We will see what Nevada has to say about all of that today during the hearing, which Bloody Elbow will provide live updates of this afternoon. On the agenda there are thirty-six pieces of "new business" with the entry for "Request by mixed martial artist Alistair Overeem for a license, for possible action. (Record 36-11)" checking in at number 36. So, barring a motion to address Alistair's item on the agenda early, it will be a long meeting for those listening and watching for Overeem alone will be in for probably 90-120 minutes of stuff they have very little interest in. The actual full agenda in PDF format can be read here. Some familiar names will be getting their licenses, likely with nothing much to report as guys like "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Mike Brown and Mark Hunt are on the agenda because they're over 35 and have to take this extra step for licensing as a precaution. There's also a lot of Nevada boxing camps looking for state grants to travel to competitions that have to be gone through as well as assignment of officials to fights and events. So a lot of business before Overeem's turn comes up. We'll have updates during the meeting and reaction to the decisions made during the meeting throughout the day.

Posted in: overeem, alistair, meeting, nevada, agenda

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As executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, Keith Kizer plays a powerful role in the regulation of mixed martial arts.

Posted in: fight night, commission, nevada, keith, executive director

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Nearly three weeks after the news came out that Alistair Overeem tested positive for elevated testosterone levels, Overeem and his reprepresentatives have released an official statement regarding the drug test and his decision to withdraw from UFC 146. He was scheduled to challenge Junior dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight title at the May 26th event in Las Vegas. Overeem’s drug test came back with testosterone levels of 14:1, more than twice the legally allowed limit of 6:1 in the state of Nevada. This immediately put the state of the championship fight between he and dos Santos in jeopardy. Several fighters, including Frank Mir, volunteered to replace Overeem if he was forced off the card. It was expected that the UFC would wait until Overeem’s status was announced following his scheduled meeting with the Nevada Athletic Commission tomorrow. However, because Overeem decided to withdraw from the bout, the UFC went ahead and officially replaced him with Mir. Here is Overeem’s statement regarding the case: To my friends and fans, I am deeply saddened to announce that on Friday, April 20, I respectfully withdrew from the May 26 event so that I can request a continuance until my situation with the Nevada State Athletic Commission is resolved. I cannot express how sorry I am to the Commission, Junior Dos Santos, the fans, the owners and employees of the UFC, my friends and family and anyone else who this has affected. I absolutely do not believe in, nor do I use performance-enhancing drugs. I am a clean fighter and I will do whatever it takes to prove this to everyone. Prior to the UFC 146 press conference in March, I aggravated an old rib injury on my left side. My doctor prescribed, and I accepted, an anti-inflammatory medication that was mixed with testosterone. I was completely unaware that testosterone was one of the ingredients in the medication. Although I was unaware, I do realize it is my job to know what I am putting into my body. I respect the Nevada Commissioners and Executive Director Keith Kizer and what they are doing to keep the sport of mixed martial arts regulated and safe for athletes. I look forward to working with them in the days and weeks ahead. Friends and fans, I ask for your patience as I work through this matter. Please support me. I promise to return to the Octagon soon.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, testosterone, nevada, fans i

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Even the most casual UFC fan knows promotional president Dana White has a tendency to speak his mind even when his opinions are not necessarily in the best interest of the organization or other involved parties. As such, White has decided he won’t be sharing his thoughts on heavyweight Alistair Overeem until after the Dutchman faces the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 24 to address allegations of testosterone abuse. “We’re waiting to see what the Nevada State Athletic Commission (does). Just to address that real quick. I think I made myself pretty clear when this thing happened: I don’t have the temperament to talk about this. I will say things that you guys will love and I will hate next week,” explained White of Overeem at the post-event press conference for UFC on Fuel 2. White produced a profanity-laden rant when news of Overeem’s status originally broke, spewing venom at fighters who lack the intellect to avoid PED use. White “Beyond Pissed” About Overeem Situation “Everybody gets due process. Alistair Overeem will have his due process with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, we’ll see what happens and we’ll go from there. And, when it all goes down, somebody else will speak about this and not me,” White concluded on the matter. The NSAC will decide whether or not to license Overeem when the two sides meet in a little more than a week. Chances are he will be denied though a legal loophole or extraordinarily convincing defense could flip the tables. If Overeem is not licensed he will be pulled from a title-fight with champion Junior dos Santos scheduled for May 26. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, overeem, nevada state, state, nevada

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As most of you know by now, Alistair Overeem tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone at a surprise drug test administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) at a UFC 146 tickets on sale press conference. He elected not to have his "B" sample tested and instead filed for his fight license. His hearing to determine whether or not he will be able to participate in the main event of the promotion's Memorial Day weekend extravaganza against Junior dos Santos on May 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Aside from fan backlash, which has been swift, this entire ordeal has caused UFC President Dana White a gigantic headache he simply doesn't need. Which explains why he was so pissed off when he first heard the news and is still pissed off to this very day. In fact, the only reason White has stayed quiet on the situation is that he knows he'll blow a gasket if he gets into it. That and Overeem will get his due process in just over a week and he'll deal with the situation then. And only then. In the meantime, his first comments on the matter (via MMA Weekly) are biting, short and make it seem quite clear he's ready to cut the cord depending on how things turn out once Overeem goes in front of the Commission. "We're waiting to see what the Nevada State Athletic Commission... just to address that. I think I made myself pretty clear when this thing happened. I don't have the temperament to talk about this. I will say things that you guys will love and I will hate, next week. So let me just say this: everybody gets due process. Alistair Overeem will have his due process with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, we'll see what happens, and we'll go from there. And when it all goes down, somebody else will speak about this, not me." It's not hard to understand why White is so frustrated. For starters, Overeem told him straight up when he signed his UFC contract that he would never have a problem passing a drug test. Secondly, this little snafu has created an impossible situation. Let's say Overeem goes in and gets his license with a defense that he needs testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and he didn't actually break any rules by having elevated levels when he did (which would be true in that case). How would fans react to that? "The Reem" has been fending off drug accusations for years. Now that he's got a failed test under his belt, he's guilty as charged in the court of public opinion. Would anyone really be okay with Overeem fighting for -- and potentially winning -- the UFC heavyweight championship? Doubtful. But if contracts are already signed, it's possible White isn't able to remove "Demolition Man" from the fight as long as he's cleared by the NSAC. Which would mean the boss's hands are tied. Hell, even if he wanted to remove Overeem from the fight, who would he use to replace him? Frank Mir vs. Cain Velasquez is already booked for the same card, and White has vowed not to mess with that fight. He's also completely squashed the Rally for Mark Hunt business. He still has zero desire to deal with Fedor Emelianenko and those crazy Russians and Dan Henderson will be at UFC 145 this coming Sat., April 21 in Atlanta to challenge the winner of the Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans fight. Rock: Dana White's head: hard place. As stated previously, d-day is April 24. Until then ...

Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, nevada state, nevada

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Nick Diaz's powerful lawyer, Ross Goodman, says Nevada better have a hearing for his client on April 24th or else they will consider Nevada's suspension to be invalid.

Posted in: nevada, nick diazs, april, hearing, nevadas suspension

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Ross Goodman, the attorney of UFC Welterweight contender Nick Diaz, has filed a new complaint letter with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Diaz has been suspended since UFC 143 when he failed a post-fight drug test after losing a decision to Carlos Condit in an interim title bout. Goodman's new claim is response to an allegation by the NSAC that lied on his pre-fight questionnaire (pdf), by not listing marijuana as a prescription drug he was using and checking "no" on a box asking about prescription drug use. Diaz has a doctor's recommendation that he use medical marijuana to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Medical marijuana is legal in Nevada and California. Goodman further claims that the NSAC complaint "does not allege any facts supporting that Diaz violated a rule"and that "after the fact allegations impugning Diaz's character serve to distract from the core issue that Nevada does not prohibit inactive marijuana metabolites." More On Nick Diaz Nevada Rebukes Nick Diaz Suspension Defense, Claims He Lied On Pre-Fight Questionnaire Nick Diaz Hires Lawyer, Challenges Suspension | Nevada Temporarily Suspends Diaz' License, Open To Medicinal Marijuana Request | NSAC Explains Nick Diaz Could Have (But Didn't) Requested Exemption For Marijuana Use | Nick Diaz' Coach Shocked By Drug Test Failure | No Disciplinary Sanction Warranted For Nick Diaz Under A Principled Interpretation Of NAC 467.850 | In Defense of Diaz's Weed Habit | Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Marijuana Tests | Diaz Should Be Released By The UFC | Diaz' Drug Test Failure Was Inevitable |White: 'I Am Beyond Disappointed' | Fighters React to Diaz's Positive Drug Test | Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana That means that the presence of inactive marijuana metabolites does not indicate marijuana use immediately prior to competition -- ie there is no evidence that Diaz fought stoned. This line of argument was first publicly raised by Vancouver Athletic Commission member Jonathan Tweedale here at Bloody Elbow. Goodman also contends that his client's drug use should be considered "out of competition" as it was stopped eight days before for the fight and that marijuana metabolites do not qualify as "drugs of abuse" -- nor are they listed as a prohibited substance. Goodman's complete response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission is here. (PDF)

Posted in: diaz, nick, drug, marijuana, nevada

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The legal tango back-and-forth between Nick Diaz's camp & the Nevada State Athletic Commission continues.

Posted in: diaz, nevada state, commission, nevada, tango backandforth

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This one is far from over, folks. Ross Goodman, attorney for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Nick Diaz, has filed a new claim with the Attorney General's office this week in response to accusations that Diaz falsified information to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his five round unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, which was held on Feb. 4, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The NSAC is claiming Diaz lied on his pre-fight questionnaire (click here to see a copy), by checking "no" on a box asking if he took or received any prescription medication two weeks prior to weighing in. The presence of marijuana metabolites would argue otherwise, but technically, the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion was telling the truth. Diaz has a prescription for medical marijuana after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is legal in both Nevada and his home state of California. But since a doctor is unable to legally prescribe pot, the line of questioning could be subject to interpretation. And as Goodman further argues (via MMA Weekly), the complaint "does not allege any facts supporting that Diaz violated a rule"and that "after the fact allegations impugning Diaz's character serve to distract from the core issue that Nevada does not prohibit inactive marijuana metabolites." Goodman also contends that his client's drug use should be considered "out of competition" as it was stopped eight days before for the fight and that marijuana metabolites do not qualify as "drugs of abuse" -- nor are they listed as a prohibited substance. No date has been determined for Diaz's upcoming disciplinary hearing but he's currently enjoying a self-imposed retirement, one his brother Nate expects to last indefinitely. We'll see if the results of his hearing have any influence on that decision. In the meantime, he's expected to test his grappling chops in a "superfight" against Braulio Estima next month at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. For more background on Diaz and his UFC 143 drug test click here. To read Goodman's response to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) in its entirety click here.

Posted in: diaz, marijuana, nevada, marijuana metabolites, metabolite

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April 24th is shaping up to be one hell of a hearing in Nevada as Alistair Overeem will try to get licensed in the state to fight on the upcoming UFC May PPV.

Posted in: fight, overeem, alistair overeem, mmasupremacy, nevada

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Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem has applied for a license to fight in Nevada, MMA Fighting has learned. Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer confirmed the news with Ariel Helwani. On April 5th, Kizer revealed Overeem produced a testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 14:1 in his urine test that was administered by the NSAC directly after the UFC 146 pre-fight press conference on March 27th. The limit in Nevada is 6:1, thereby putting Overeem far over the legal threshold. Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir, Roy Nelson and Antonio Silva were also tested, but all passed. Kizer also confirmed to MMA Fighting Overeem has not yet asked for a testing of the B sample turned in during his original urinalysis. According to commission protocol, Overeem's original sample was provided into two groups. The original or A sample revealed Overeem to have the 14:1 T/E ratio. Overeem has a right to ask for the B sample to be tested should he feel the A sample inaccurately reflects his actual T/E levels. Overeem is currently unlicensed in Nevada and is therefore not subject to punishment, although he'll have to reasonably explain the cause of the high T/E ratio to obtain a license. The K-1 champion will get his opportunity to do so at a NSAC hearing on April 24th. Junior dos Santos is still scheduled to face Overeem in the main event of UFC 146 on May 26 in Las Vegas for the UFC heavyweight title. However, that bout will have to be cancelled, re-scheduled or a new opponent found if Overeem is unable to obtain a license.

Posted in: overeem, te, sample, nevada, b sample

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According to report on MMAMania.com, current #1 contender for the UFC Heavyweight title, Alistair Overeem, has officially applied for a fighter's license in Nevada. This means Overeem will appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 24th, trying to explain his failed drug test at last month's UFC 146 pre-fight press conference. In light of Dana White's recent statements about still having Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir on the card, it seems like the UFC have their "Plan B" ready, if NSAC

Posted in: ufc, overeem, drug test, nevada, fighters license

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Alistair Overeem will have the chance to appear before the Nevada commission in a couple weeks to determine if he'll get to fight at UFC 146

Posted in: fight, overeem, couple weeks, nevada, nevada commission

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Alistair Overeem has tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone and must now appear before the Nevada Athletic Commission before he can be licensed to fight at UFC 146.

Posted in: overeem, alistair, commission, testosterone, nevada

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On "No Holds Barred" radio and later in a video with CSN Bay Area, Mo Lawal apologized to Nevada Athletic Commissioner Pat Lundvall for calling her a slur for women on his Twitter account. "I was out of line for … Continue reading →

Posted in: mo, lawal, nevada, commissioner, mo lawal

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Keith Kizer & Nevada have amended their complaint against Nick Diaz over his drug test failure for marijuana.

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, nick, nevada, complaint

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It seems that the Nevada State Athletic Commission is stepping up their efforts to "randomly" test MMA fighters. This time around it was the fighters that were in Las Vegas for the UFC 146 press conference: UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir, Roy Nelson, and Antonio Silva. Ron Kruck of Inside MMA/HD Net tweeted about it a little while ago: @rkruckRon Kruck Surprise! Source tells me all 6 UFC 146 fighters JDS, Overeem, Cain, Mir, Nelson & Silva were tested by the NSAC following today's presser Mar 27 via Mobile Web Favorite Retweet Reply It makes sense to test them at this point in time since they are all in Nevada anyway, and putting them all through the wringer at once means that they look as impartial as possible. If you read between the lines a bit though, Alistair Overeem had some issues with testing for his last Nevada bout at UFC 141, and was convicted of misdemeanor assault today in a Clark County courtroom. He also owes the commission two random tests as a condition of his conditional license, so it shouldn't come as much of a "surprise". SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem

Posted in: ufc, overeem, fighter, alistair overeem, nevada

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The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted on Tuesday to place a nine-month suspension on former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal after the fighter tested positive for an anabolic steroid in his last fight.

Posted in: suspension, nevada state, commission, nevada, ninemonth suspension

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Nick Diaz hasn’t even been given a date to appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission to appeal his allegedly positive marijuana test from UFC 143 yet and already his case has turned into a fight. Having hired famed Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman, Diaz will be challenging the test results, as he only registered positive for marijuana metabolites as opposed to marijuana’s active chemical component Delta-tetrahydracannabinol-9 and did not technically violate any WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) regulations. After Diaz’s camp announced their defense, the Nevada Attorney General’s office released a statement when pressed for comment in which they stuck to the original claim that marijuana metabolites still violate WADA laws and also asserted that Diaz “lied to the Commission on his Pre-Fight Questionnaire when he swore that he had not used any prescribed medications in two weeks before the fight.” That last part is what prompted response from Goodman, who told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole that Diaz did not lie on the application, but answered in accordance to the Nevada law on medicinal marijuana, of which he supplied a copy. By Nevada law, marijuana is not considered a prescription drug since it is still a controlled substance. “Nowhere in there does it say that the attending physician is prescribing marijuana,” Goodman said. “And so, for obvious reasons, before you speak and call someone a liar, you think you’d do a little bit of due diligence and understand what the Nevada law actually says. “It’s not like you walk into the pharmacy and start looking around on the shelves and hope to pick up a bag of marijuana,” he continued. “That’s ridiculous. No reasonable person would believe that medical marijuana falls under the category of over the counter medications.” Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites after losing a controversial split decision to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in an interim welterweight title fight. UFC 143 went down on February 4 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Posted in: diaz, marijuana, law, nevada, marijuana metabolites

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Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.

Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada

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Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.

Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada

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Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.

Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada

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Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.

Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Nick Diaz's lawyer has fired off a response to his recent suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission questioning his suspension for marijuana metabolites.

Posted in: diaz, nick, suspension, commission, nevada

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

There were many lingering questions in the wake of the Association of Boxing Commissions letter sent to all it's member commissions asking that mixed martial artists from Michigan not be granted a license. The motivation for the ABC's stance was Michigan's continued failure to report injuries, medical suspensions and failure to uphold the suspensions handed to fighters from other states. Chief among the concerns was which member commissions would uphold the ban on Michigan fighters. Speaking to two reputable commissions early in the day yesterday both gave the impression that most, but not necessarily all state commissions would respect the ABC's request. With Michigan fighter Daron Cruickshank set to compete on the upcoming Ultimate Fighter 15 season, it led to some questions of if Nevada would allow him to participate or if he just lost out on a huge moment in his career. I spoke to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, yesterday evening and he informed me that Nevada does not have any plans to ban all Michigan fighters and that Cruickshank will experience no difficulties in his TUF participation. Related: Association of Boxing Commissions Tells Members Not To License Michigan Fighters "The request by the ABC is well intended in trying to look out for the health and safety of fighters, but it is a bit too far reaching to ban all fighters from a state from being granted a license" Kizer told Bloody Elbow. When speaking about the problems with results and suspensions not being reported by the state, Kizer explained "All fighters have an obligation, under penalty of perjury, to give us a detailed recent history." Kizer also explained that he has no problem looking fighters up on Google to see if they have recent history (through results posts, YouTube videos, etc.) that they are not making the commission aware of. So, very good news for Michigan fighters from the biggest commission in the game. Given that Nevada is the real trendsetter for the other commissions, this may be the push that some who were on the fence needed to make the decision to not deny these fighters a license.

Posted in: fighter, commission, nevada, michigan, michigan fighters

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

The Culinary Union, the biggest union representing workers in Nevada, stopped by the Nevada Athletic Commission's meeting on Wednesday to discuss ways to improve treatment for fighters. They want to see the NAC lead the combat sports world by pushing … Continue reading →

Posted in: fighter, sport, union, nevada, commissions meeting

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Nick Diaz won't be competing in Nevada any time soon after being officially suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday.

Posted in: diaz, nevada state, commission, nevada, ufcs diaz

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Not that this is some big surprise but a meeting was held today in Nevada to suspend Nick Diaz's license stemming from his failed drug test at UFC 143 this past Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas. The meeting held today was more or less a formality and simply a way for the Commission to temporarily suspend Diaz's license while preparing for a disciplinary meeting later on. MMAFighting.com has more: During Wednesday's meeting, commission chairman Skip Avansino requested notes and minutes from the 2007 Nevada matter, as well as any related disciplinary information from other states in preparation of Diaz's upcoming hearing. The stage was also set for a possible defense that could include a retroactive request for a medical marijuana exemption, as Eccles noted a belief that "the question will come up" given Diaz's personal license for medical use in California. It's interesting to point out that Diaz could use his medical marijuana license in California has a defense for his failed test in Nevada. There's no real precedent for a matter such as this at present time so there's no discernible way to tell exactly what that will mean regarding potential discipline or lack thereof. All we know is that this is the second time Diaz has failed a drug test in Nevada and the Commission is going to attempt to punish him accordingly. Diaz's drug test failure marred an event that was already crawling in controversy, thanks to the main event bout going to a five-round decision finish that few were satisfied with. In fact, Diaz retired in disgust after the bout, proclaiming his dislike for the scoring system in place in MMA. His team, led by Cesar Gracie, immediately started campaigning for a rematch, so that didn't last long, of course. Jake Shields, a teammate of his, believes he'll rediscover his love for MMA during the suspension that is surely coming, whenever that may be. And for however long it may happen. Unless, of course, the retroactive marijuana medical exemption defense actually works. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for further updates to this story as they happen.

Posted in: diaz, commission, meeting, license, nevada

Read the full article at MMA Mania

A temporary suspension of Nick Diaz's fighter license was issued during a Wednesday meeting of the Nevada state athletic commission, stemming from the positive drug sample he produced during the weekend of UFC 143. The suspension was requested by Nevada deputy attorney general Christopher Eccles, and unanimously approved by the commission until a follow-up disciplinary meeting can be scheduled. At that hearing, Diaz will have the opportunity to present a defense. He was not present at Wednesday's meeting. When he does sit before the commission, he will likely have to answer not only for his recent drug screening failure which saw him test positive for marijuana metabolites, but also for a previous failed screening back in February 2007, also for marijuana. At that time, he was suspended for six months and fined 20 percent of his purse. During Wednesday's meeting, commission chairman Skip Avansino requested notes and minutes from the 2007 Nevada matter, as well as any related information from any states in preparation of Diaz's upcoming disciplinary hearing. The stage was also set for a possible defense that could include a retroactive request for a medical marijuana exemption, as Eccles noted a personal belief that "the question will come up" given Diaz's personal license for medical use in California. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer recently told MMA Fighting that no fighter had ever applied for a medial marijuana therapeutic use exemption, but that the commission would take the same steps as normal when considering the request. In addition to as much as a one-year suspension, Diaz faces the possibility of a financial fine, as the commission asked to receive "full data" on his purse as well as any bonuses. Diaz earned a salary of $200,000 for the bout, but likely received undisclosed bonuses that can also be affected. Diaz has hired Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman to defend him during the upcoming hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Posted in: diaz, commission, meeting, marijuana, nevada

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Las Vegas, Nevada – Dana White, President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship© organization, has issued the following statement on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s report on UFC 143 interim welterweight championship contender Nick Diaz. "I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana," said White. "It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.”

Posted in: diaz, nick, nevada state, state, nevada

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This weekend's main eventers Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit continued their preparations for UFC 143 in an open workouts session in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight will crown the Interim UFC Welterweight champion, who will face the currently-injured undisputed champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre. UFC 143 will go down this weekend at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Don't forget to submit your

Posted in: ufc, carlos condit, carlo, nevada, workouts session

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Bellator Fighting Championships is considering a trip to Nevada. The Nevada State Athletic Commission today revealed that the tournament-based promotion has applied for a promoter's license in the state, and MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with promotion officials that the state is under consideration for a future Bellator fight card. "Nevada has a spectacular fighting sports history," Bellator CEO Bjorn Reney told MMAjunkie.com. "In the coming year, we may look to bring a Bellator event to the great state of Nevada."

Posted in: bellator, promotion officials, state, nevada, tournamentbased promotion

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal tested positive for the steroid Drostanolone in his most recent bout, the Nevada State Athletic Commission disclosed on Tuesday.

Posted in: heavyweight, nevada state, tuesday, lawal, nevada

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Filed under: StrikeforceMuhammed "King Mo" Lawal, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion who returned to the cage on January 7, may not be back in the cage any time soon after testing positive for a banned steroid. Lawal tested positive for Drostanalone, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced today. Drostanalone can be used as a medication for lowering cholesterol and is sometimes prescribed to cancer patients, but it is also used as a performance-enhancing substance. It is particularly known as a steroid that athletes and bodybuilders use when they are attempting to maintain strength and muscle mass while cutting weight. The Nevada Commission did not say what discipline Lawal will face, but fighters who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs typically have their license suspended for anywhere from six months to a year. Lawal's TKO victory was viewed as likely to earn him another shot at the Strikeforce light heavyweight title, but that apparently won't happen now. Lawal is the second well-known Strikeforce fighter to fail a performance-enhancing drug test recently. Cris Cyborg, the promotion's 145-pound female champion, also tested positive for steroids at her most recent fight. The Nevada Commission announced that all the other fighters who took part in the January 7 Strikeforce show tested negative for all banned substances. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: strikeforce, lawal, nevada, nevada commission, performanceenhancing substance

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STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker released the following statement today regarding Muhammed "Mo" Lawal and the recent announcement from the Nevada State Athletic Commission:“STRIKEFORCE has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any performance-enhancing drugs, including the requirement that all incoming athletes be tested and cleared for PEDs.  Therefore, we fully support the drug testing efforts of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and we will fully cooperate with the Commission regarding the matter pertaining to Mr. Lawal’s test. We also recognize that Mr. Lawal has administrative process rights under Nevada law, and we hope that he is not prejudged before exercising such rights.”    

Posted in: nevada state, lawal, nevada, process rights, mr lawal

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Four fighters from Saturday’s UFC 141 have been handed potential six-month medical suspensions by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Posted in: ufc, saturday, month, nevada state, nevada

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Thiago Silva's career is back on line - at least in theory. The UFC light heavyweight on Sunday served the final day of his license revocation from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Silva's name is no longer present on a commission registry that tracks fighters with administrative actions against them, and he is now free to reapply in Nevada or elsewhere.

Posted in: nevada state, nevada, commission registry, license revocation, revocation

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UFC 141 delivered an exciting line-up last night from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and, after stepping inside of the octagon for their final fight of 2011, many of the card's biggest stars were available to discuss their match-ups, as well as what may lie ahead in their fighting future.

Posted in: ufc, la, garden arena, nevada, hendrick

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Mere hours before he's set to do battle against Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141 tonight (Fri., Dec. 30, 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada, Alistair Overeem got news that his fight purse is being held in escrow. Which basically means he can't touch the $264,285 he'll make for showing up nor the $121,428 bonus should he win. That's because his former management team, Knock Out Investments (KOI) and Golden Glory, is suing "The Reem," claiming he did not pay a 30-percent commission for his fight against Fabricio Werdum. They also helped him negotiate his jump to the UFC and eventual bout against Lesnar. At which point he bailed on them. But now they're back to get the money they feel they deserve. Surprisingly, a Nevada District Court wasted little time today putting Overeem's fight purse in escrow while he and his former management team settle their differences. ESPN.com has more: In its order, the Nevada court, citing an existing an enforceable contract, asked Zuffa to "issue a check from the portion of the purse owed to Overeem in the respective amount of $241,285,49, made payable to Knock-Out Investments; and that the Nevada State Athletic Commission shall hold" the check pending further order of the court. ... Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer told ESPN.com that he was aware of the order. "My understanding is if the plaintiff posts the $200,000 bond and promptly serves the UFC, the UFC would give us a check to hold in that case," Kizer said. "I don't know why we hold it, but that's the court order. That's fine. What we probably want to do then is give it to the court. They can put it in escrow pending the case." As if fighting Brock Lesnar isn't enough. Trouble has been brewing for some time, dating back to when Dana White had a well-publicized spat with Golden Glory that resulted in the release of all its fighters from every Zuffa-owned promotion. Shortly thereafter, Overeem announced his split from his longtime fight camp, eventually relocating to Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas to help prepare for his upcoming Octagon debut. "The Reem" is headed to the cage. Then, he's probably headed to court. Just a day in the life of an Ultimate Fighter. Be sure to check out the rest of the fights on the UFC 141 main card with our bell-to-bell, LIVE coverage of the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" pay-per-view (PPV) event right here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, court, nevada

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Today, Gabriel de Oliveira will leave his home in Brazil and head to Las Vegas, Nevada. When he arrives, he will commence training Vitor Belfort for his...

Posted in: head, belfort, brazil, nevada, belfort recruits

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Today, Gabriel de Oliveira will leave his home in Brazil and head to Las Vegas, Nevada. When he arrives, he will commence training Vitor Belfort for his...

Posted in: head, belfort, brazil, nevada, belfort recruits

Read the full article at Fighters Only

The Nevada State Athletic Commission Thursday confirmed the live viewership figures for UFC 137, announcing that the Oct. 29 event was attended by 10,313 spectators for a live gate of $3,900,650.

Posted in: nevada state, commission, nevada, commission thursday, viewership figures

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UFC 130: Rampage vs Hamill Date: May 28, 2011 Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena Location: Las Vegas, Nevada   gate: $2.57 million attendance: 12,753 Fighter Awards & Bonuses ($70,000 each) - Knockout of the Night: Travis Browne - [...]

Posted in: ufc, vs, browne, knockout, nevada

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As UFC 137 fast approaches, featherweight Tyson Griffin has selected a winner for his Impact Fight Charities fundraiser to benefit the Boys Town of Nevada.

Posted in: charity event, nevada, griffin, tyson griffin, boys town

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He may originally hail from Sacramento, California, but for all intents and purposes, featherweight contender Tyson Griffin might as well be considered a Las Vegan, considering that it’s been his base of operations for much of his five year career in the UFC. And as such, Griffin is looking forward to contributing even more to his adopted hometown.“I wanted to do something more for the community and something that hit home was Boys Town Nevada and the work they do with families and kids without families,” said Griffin, who is preparing for a UFC 137 bout against Bart Palaszewski. “I wanted to find a way to give back, and me and my manager (Tom Call) came up with a fundraiser / raffle for my next fight. For $25, you can buy a raffle ticket and possibly win tickets to UFC 137 and get after party passes, and all the money is gonna go to Boys Town Nevada.”Based in Las Vegas, Boys Town Nevada has positively impacted the lives of 20,000 children and families each year since launching in 1991 through a variety of programs to help those in need. For the 27-year old Griffin, the plight of the children in the Boys Town programs is one he is all too familiar with.“Growing up, my mom and my dad were locked up, and we got sent through foster care a little bit and then to my grandma eventually,” he said. “I was in those kids’ shoes at one point and I could have been there longer, so I really like what they do. To be honest, I was too young to actually remember, so I can’t speak on being there firsthand (in a foster home). But being there only with my grandma and having to go visit my mom in jail and not knowing dad growing up and things like that, I realized that I still came out ahead and a lot of those kids may just need a little bit of support. And there are families there too that just need help in being a better family, and to me, that’s what stood out and what I think is lacking in today’s society - just better, closer families working together.”And while this is the first time Griffin is doing a fundraiser like this, he’s no stranger to talking to young people, including those at Boys Town Nevada about his struggles coming up and how he overcame them. His story is an inspiring one, and he isn’t shy about sharing it.“Everyone comes from different walks of life, everyone’s gonna have challenges, and it’s up to you to make the most of it and embrace it,” said Griffin, who is coming off a June win over Manny Gamburyan. “Don’t be scared of who you are and where you come from. I’m sure a lot of kids are embarrassed by their situation, but everyone has their own things to deal with. We’re all different, no one’s perfect, and no one’s ‘normal,’ as they say. This is life, so you’ve got to deal with it as it comes.”

Posted in: family, boy, nevada, griffin, town

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It's possible that the biggest fight the UFC can put on right now (that doesn't involve weight class jumping) doesn't involve Brock Lesnar or Georges St. Pierre. It just might be the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. After Sonnen demolished Brian Stann at UFC 136 he got on the mic to announce that Anderson Silva "absolutely sucks" and challenged the long time middleweight champ to a WWE style stipulation match on Super Bowl weekend. Of course, Chael's status in Nevada may present a little bit of a snag when it comes to making that fight. The Super Bowl weekend card is always held in Vegas to capitalize on the high rollers that flock to the city and they're not likely to change that any time soon. But should Chael's prior suspension for elevated testosterone levels stand in the way of him getting a new license to compete in the state? Dana White doesn't think so, and he's bringing a boxing superstar's name into the mix. Via MMA Weekly (ht: MMA Mania): Chael Sonnen has paid his dues (and) has done his thing, has done whatever. Floyd Mayweather fights in Nevada. This guy's been arrested. He's got 50 lawyers defending him right now and all that crazy stuff and he's fighting in Nevada. Don't even get me going on that one. There's no reason why they shouldn't license Chael. It shouldn't even cross my mind. The thought of whether Chael could get licensed in Nevada or California or anywhere else should be the least of my worries. The guy did everything that he was told to do. When guys like Floyd are getting licensed in Nevada, why should I have to worry about Chael? A few things here. First off, Floyd's outside the ring actions and Chael's actions which directly related to the fight are apples and oranges. A more appropriate comparison would be to bring up that Antonio Margarito is going to be fighting in Madison Square Garden in New York City in a matter of weeks and his offense was more dangerous and all around worse than anything Chael did. And I fully believe given the way the state handled the Margarito situation that he should be getting licensed at this point, but that's a discussion for another day. In the end Dana is right that Sonnen did his time and the point of a suspension is a set amount of time as a punishment. Any state failing to license Chael at this point is grandstanding and nothing more.

Posted in: anderson silva, sonnen, chael, nevada, license chael

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Everything seemed to be setting up a little too nicely. First, Chael Sonnen runs through Brian Stann last night (Oct. 8) at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, submitting him in the second round in the most dominant performance of his Octagon career after 14 months away from fighting. Fittingly enough, Anderson Silva is in the building thanks to the Fan Expo that was also in town for the event. Then, Sonnen lays down a challenge in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. He tells Silva how he "absolutely sucks," which the crowd explodes for, while the camera pans to "The Spider," who does not look amused. Uncle Chael goes on to say he wants Silva on Super Bowl weekend in a veritable "loser leaves town" fight. The live audience eats it up, the Internet damn near explodes and UFC President Dana White can't help but feel the influence. He later claims he would be "stupid" not to set up the fight. But if he wants to do so during the promotion's annual Super Bowl weekend card, it would have to be in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Sonnen has yet to kiss and make up with Keith Kizer, the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Which means it's all too possible Sonnen would struggle to get licensed for the fight. And how does White have to say about this (via aaMMA Weekly)? "Chael Sonnen has paid his dues (and) has done his thing, has done whatever. Floyd Mayweather fights in Nevada. This guy's been arrested. He's got 50 lawyers defending him right now and all that crazy stuff and he's fighting in Nevada. Don't even get me going on that one. There's no reason why they shouldn't license Chael. It shouldn't even cross my mind. The thought of whether Chael could get licensed in Nevada or California or anywhere else should be the least of my worries. The guy did everything that he was told to do. When guys like Floyd are getting licensed in Nevada, why should I have to worry about Chael?" Sonnen's initially landed in hot water with the Nevada Commission after telling tall tales during his steroids appeal in front of the California State Athletic Commission last year. Naturally, this caused quite the stir with Kizer. He was scheduled to meet with the Commission a number of times in an attempt to get back in their good graces but that never came to be. The situation is at a standstill as we speak, and it would seem that if there is a fight between Silva and Sonnen over the Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, it won't come before a fight in front of the NSAC. Then again, as White alluded to, controversial boxer Floyd Mayweather has gotten licensed while battling through a list of legal woes that runs a mile long. Maybe it won't be a problem. Wishful thinking or actual possibility?

Posted in: fight, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, nevada

Read the full article at MMA Mania