Tag: Spencer Fisher

2021 ABC Conference agenda set for Orlando; discussion topics and guest speakers announced

The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) will hold its annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. featuring notable guest speakers and more.

After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) is set to hold its yearly conference for the first time since 2019 – and the 33rd time overall.

The 2021 ABC Conference is set to take place over the span of five days, from Saturday, July 24, to Wednesday, July 28, at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Fla. The first two days will feature referee and judge classes taught by seasoned MMA official Kevin MacDonald, while the second three will entail the presentations, meetings, and guest speakers for ABC commission members from around the country.

According to Mohegan Tribe commission director of athletic regulation and former ABC president Mike Mazzulli, all fighters are welcome to attend the referee and judging classes and/or the ABC meetings themselves (free of cost).

On Monday, July 26 speakers include ABC president Brian Dunn, referee John English, Dr. Michael Schwartz, Dr. Nitin Sethi, and WWE’s Rich Hering. Topics for the day include a retired fighters’ pension fund, boxing/MMA after the COVID-19 pandemic, what commissions should know about pre-fight medical testing, boxing and MMA rule committee updates, and tribal commissions/issues.

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On Tuesday, July 27 speakers include [autotag]Nik Lentz[/autotag], first vice president of the WBO John Duggan, Dr. Warren Wang, Dr. Wayne Lee, Mohegan Tribe director of athletic regulation Mike Mazzulli, ABC database regulators Kirik Jenness and Chris Palmquist, and former Bellator star “King Mo” [autotag]Muhammed Lawal[/autotag]. Topics for the day include weight-cutting and its complications, orthopedic injuries, and officer elections.

On Wednesday, July 28, speakers include Dr. Don Muzzi, former boxing star Nate Campbell, former UFC fighter [autotag]Spencer Fisher[/autotag], longtime MMA manager and promoter Monte Cox, and UFC hall of famer [autotag]Pat Miletich[/autotag]. Topics for the day include concussions in combat sports, bare-knuckle boxing committee formation and rules meeting, MMA before regulation, and the annual closing banquet.

Check out the full 2021 ABC Conference agenda here (updated: July 8, 2021).

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Every UFC trilogy ranked ahead of Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3

Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor will meet in the 14th trilogy fight in UFC history when they clash at UFC 264.

Another chapter in the long story of UFC trilogy fights takes place Saturday at UFC 264.

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] will clash for a third and likely final time – 2,483 days after they first fought at UFC 178 in September 2014.

McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) won the initial meeting by first-round TKO. In the rematch more than six years later, Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5 UFC) got redemption with a second-round TKO at UFC 257 in January.

Now the two lightweight contenders will compete one final time in the winner-takes-all rubber match.

It will be the 14th trilogy fight in company history, and ahead of UFC 264, we rank the others that have happened so far. Check out our list below, from worst to best.

Dana White reacts to Spencer Fisher’s CTE admission, says UFC continues to invest in research

UFC president Dana White says there’s still much to learn about brain injuries in professional sport, and admitted the issue of brain issues is “part of the gig” in combat sports.

Following recent comments from former UFC fighter [autotag]Spencer Fisher[/autotag], who revealed this week that he’s battling the effects of CTE, UFC president Dana White admitted that there is still much to learn about the issue of brain injuries, and even hinted at first-hand experience of issues caused by head trauma in combat sport.

The organization announced last week its continued collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic and its Professional Athletes Brain Health Study, and donated $1 million to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.

Speaking to MMA Junkie on “UFC Fight Island” ahead of UFC on ABC 1, White explained that the UFC is continuing to work with industry leaders as they try to learn more about the issues of brain injury in professional sports.

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“Listen, we’re all learning every day about the brain injury stuff,” he said. “We’ve been investing in this (Lou) Ruvo Center to try to figure out more. We’re now interested (about) this thing just came out on Real Sports about psychedelics, and we’ve actually reached out to the Johns Hopkins guys and we’re diving into that.

“But listen, (Fisher)’s not the first, and he’s definitely not going to be the last. This is a contact sport, and everybody who’s ever done this (while) younger, myself included, is dealing with brain issues. It’s just part of the gig.”